What flooring is sustainable?

When considering sustainable flooring options, it’s important to do your research, not only in the materials themselves but also how and where they are manufactured. You should also consider the floors durability; a long-term investment is far better than something you will replace in 5-10 years’ time. With this in mind, we’ve weighed up a few options both in terms of material and durability so you can make a sound investment in your home as well as the environment.

We’ve ranked various flooring options in order of their eco-credentials, the top being the best currently available (with no budget constraints).

• Bamboo
• Concrete
• Natural Stone Tile
• Cork
• Porcelain Tile
• Hardwood
• Natural Linoleum
• Natural Rubber
• Wool Carpet
• Luxury Vinyl Tile
• Laminate
• Vinyl

But nothing is ever black and white, so we’ve delved deeper into the grey areas to show the ifs and buts to some of the most common flooring options and what makes them sustainable or not so eco-friendly.

Cork is made from the outer bark of the cork oak tree making it 100% natural and as it’s harvested from the bark of the tree without harming it, it’s sustainable. This versatile material is also reusable, recyclable and biodegradable making it one of the best materials for a sustainable design. However, as an investment, cork isn’t a great option for your home’s floor. It isn’t much cheaper than bamboo or hardwood flooring and it doesn’t wear as well giving it a shorter life span.

Cork is easily susceptible to damage, whether by pets, heavy furniture, water or even sunlight. It will need multiple layers of a quality sealer applied which will need to be reapplied periodically. Although it needs little cleaning, when not done correctly it can stain, warp and discolour.

Extremely strong and durable, concrete floors will certainly last if you maintain them properly. Primarily made up of limestone, you have some environmental impact however limestone is one of the most abundant materials on Earth and most of its other ingredients can be sourced from waste from other manufacturing processes. It can also be recycled at the end of its life, typically into aggregate. Concrete floors are also energy efficient as they have a high thermal mass allowing you to use underfloor heating to take off the chill.

However, there are a few downsides. The floor must be installed correctly, otherwise it can bubble and even crack. It will also need to be periodically sealed to protect it from water damage. Due to its hard, cold nature, concrete flooring can be unsafe particularly for children as it can be slippery when wet and it’s also unforgiving if you drop something.

Compared to the likes of carpet and vinyl, vinyl flooring can last up to twenty years and can be recycled over 10 times without losing any of its performing properties. However, you can’t get away from the fact that vinyl is made from PVC which is harmful to the environment and the glue that it is stuck down with can be harmful to humans even post installation.

If you really want the look of wood and cannot afford the real thing then we’d recommend a luxury vinyl tile instead of traditional vinyl flooring. It uses less PVC in its makeup, and you can opt for a click system which requires no glue to fix it down. This means this highly durable flooring, that is often scratch resistant, will last you much longer than other flooring options whilst also being more budget friendly.

Laminate flooring is often made from recycled materials and doesn’t contain PVC so from that standpoint it is a more sustainable option than the likes of vinyl. However, laminate is restrictive as it is not particularly durable and doesn’t cope with moisture making it a short-term investment and therefore a costly one, both for you and the environment.

Wood is considered a carbon-neutral product, even after it has been harvested, however it must be through sustainable harvesting to have a low environmental impact. Another aspect of its environmental credentials is that there is little waste in wood production as wood chips and sawdust can make a range of other products. It is also long lasting; we often see people renovating and rediscovering the original wooden floors that they then reinvigorate. If kept in excellent condition the only thing that can really destroy the wood itself is termites.

That being said, it isn’t particularly practical. Using the wrong cleaning products, steam mops, high heels, pets, the wrong vacuum attachment, sunshine, even rugs with a rubber backing will all damage a hardwood floor. If you don’t consistently refinish the floor then scratches, marks and stains will all become permanent. You also need to avoid rapid changes in temperature, this can cause issues in both summer and winter and although you can use certain types of underfloor heating, it will not retain the heat as efficiently as other flooring options.

When looking at rubber flooring, the first thing to ensure is that it is natural rubber. Synthetic rubber is made from petroleum products and is not biodegradable. Natural rubber though has a lower environmental impact, it is made from latex extracted from rubber producing plants and doesn’t require the tree to be cut down. However, only 2,500 species have been found to contain this rubber so it is in short supply making it more of a demand on the environment to harvest. But, on the plus side, it can be recycled and will also decompose in landfill so unless you have a latex allergy it can be a good floor choice.

As with other flooring options, there are some disadvantages. The floor won’t appear seamless and these seams can let water through to the subfloor so you need to be careful where you are using it. Smooth, untextured rubber will also be slippery when wet and, the look (and smell!) of rubber is not particularly domestic friendly.

Although tiles require a lot of energy in production, it is one of the largest areas in industry being improved by technology. Not only are the use of recycled materials becoming more common place in a tile’s biscuit, but sustainable glazing options are also being experimented with. But also, the manufacturing process itself, new technology means lower water and energy consumption as tiles can be fired at lower temperatures without affecting their quality.

If you opt for a porcelain tile, they are durable and long lasting with no surface maintenance required meaning they will last for years and years without the hassle of sealing or refinishing. And natural stone tiles require less energy to produce than other tiles so with minimal sealing, they are a better environmental offering as they have longevity beyond other materials.

Tiles also work well in conjunction with underfloor heating which is a more energy efficient way to heat your home and if they are textured, or have a slip resistant surface finish, tiles are safe in every room of the home.

So, when looking for tiles, check their recycled content and how they have been produced, install them correctly and ensure you pick a style that has longevity.