Carpet adds warmth and color to any room and covers the floors of almost 70% of American homes. As of late there have been concerns regarding chemicals emitted from the fibers, VOC levels, and environmentally friendly manufacturing practices. Over the past few years a number of companies in the carpet industry have led the way towards cleaner practices and providing products that are healthy for people and the planet.
When looking into installation and shopping for carpeting products there are a few things to be conscious of. Ideally you want to select high quality fibers made from natural materials such as wool, or from recycled synthetic materials. This is a good practice because these materials require much less petroleum to manufacture making them greener than most carpet options.
If you are interested in synthetic carpet be aware of the post-consumer recycled content, because the more content present the more waste that is dirverted from landfills. Recycled carpet has the same aesthetic look and feels the same as a virgin-fiber synthetic carpet. Overall, you want to purchase products from companies that guarantee they will take the carpet for recycling at the end of its life.
When choosing your carpet, pads, and adhesives it is important to select products that have certified low emission levels of VOCs and formaldehyde. Another option is to skip the adhesive part altogether and tack down the carpet. Check out a past blog post regarding eco friendly flooring options.
If you follow these few tips you can feel confident that your carpet is healthy for your family and the planet. If you have any additional questions regarding eco friendly carpeting please comment below.