What is an Eco-Friendly Carpet?
Carpets are comfortable, soft underfoot and sound-absorbing, making it a popular flooring choice in many homes. Unfortunately, it also tends to be hard on the environment and on the quality of the indoor air, off-gasing volatile organic compounds and toxic chemical substances. Buying an environmentally friendly carpet is an easy solution that allows you to retain all of the advantages of carpeting without the drawbacks. But then again, how do we consider a carpet to be environmentally friendly?
Material
Eco-friendly carpet is available in virtually all varieties, ranging from area rugs and wall-to-wall installations to customizable tiles. Carpet made of natural, renewable fibers tends to be the most environmentally friendly, with sisal, seagrass, coir, organic cotton, jute, organic wool and bamboo included.The materials used to create these carpets are biodegradable and need not produce many fertilizers and pesticides.
Recycled carpets are yet another environmentally friendly option. Some carpet manufacturers are using pre- and post-consumer plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate ( PET) bottles, or industrial scraps, rather than making carpets from petroleum and other fossil fuels.PET carpet, sold under brand names such as Resistron and Permalon, is made of 100% recycled plastic beverage bottles, and can be down-cycled into insulation or furniture stuffing when wearing out.
Certifications
How can you tell whether a company is really producing eco-friendly carpet? Look for green carpet certifications like Cradle to Cradle, The Sustainable Carpet Standard (NSF 140), CRI Green Label Plus, BRE Environmental Assessment, MyHijau(Malaysia) and SIRIM Eco-Labelling Scheme(Malaysia). Each of these certification programs uses various assessment methodologies to ensure that the carpet meets environmental criteria such as use of healthy materials , energy efficiency, emissions from manufacturing, water use and waste.
Round Up
An Eco-Friendly Carpet is defined by the production processes as well as by the materials used in the production. Eco-friendly Carpets are generally made from natural, renewable resources with a production process which minimizes the environmental impact.
Designing an interior which is attractive, comfortable and conducive to productivity is no longer enough; furnishings are now held to the higher standard of being environmentally correct. Many of today ‘s contract clients are concerned with each product’s environmental footprint, a complex record including: manufacturing processes and materials; emissions of volatile organic compounds ( VOCs); Typical lifespan of a product; and disposal recycling options. It’s a complicated challenge, but individuals willing to do their homework can find an environmentally sound carpet, as well as an esthetically pleasing one.