Rotem Eylor is the founder and CEO of Republic Floor.
The desire for eco-friendly buildings has gone mainstream. Today’s consumers, businesses, investors and more want buildings that are energy-efficient and constructed using sustainable materials, and many are willing to pay more for those upgrades.
In response, builders and real estate developers are turning to materials and systems that enhance sustainability. New construction and remodeling projects use innovative insulation products that are manufactured more sustainably and that lower energy costs. Recycled materials, including concrete, glass and steel, are used in building projects in a variety of ways to reduce production impacts. Even building techniques are being modified to improve sustainability, such as utilizing prefabrication and modular construction to reduce waste.
Flooring materials, a core component of any building project, can play a key role in efforts to improve sustainability.
What is sustainable flooring?
To qualify as sustainable, flooring must include several core features. The first involves utilizing sustainable materials.
With wood flooring, for example, using renewable materials like bamboo increases a product’s eco-friendliness because it only takes a few years to reach maturity, compared to traditional hardwood flooring materials like oak or tropical hardwoods, which can take decades. Choosing products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ensures raw materials are sourced from responsibly managed forests.
Another option is to remove the wood from “wood flooring” altogether. New technology, such as stone plastic composites, allows flooring manufacturers to produce materials with the look and texture of wood without cutting down a single tree. These products celebrate the beauty of nature without damaging the natural environment.
Maximum durability is another feature that supports sustainability. Lengthening the life cycle of flooring products reduces the amount of waste introduced into the environment as well as the amount of flooring that must be produced, which has a positive impact on the use of energy and other resources.
Recent innovations have improved durability by making flooring more water-resistant. By eliminating wood components and utilizing moisture barriers in flooring backing, manufacturers have developed products that are virtually impervious to water. These products are less susceptible to common forms of water damage, such as flooding, while also being resistant to mold and mildew that can damage flooring in areas with high humidity.
The presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is also a factor that must be considered when seeking to increase sustainability. VOCs are chemicals that evaporate at room temperature. When used in building materials, which is common, VOCs can decrease indoor air quality.
The impact of VOCs on humans ranges from mild irritations like burning eyes to more severe health impacts like kidney damage. Certain VOCs, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde, are considered carcinogenic.
The good news is that flooring manufacturers take several steps to limit the use of VOCs in their materials. For example, utilizing water-based finishes, as opposed to traditional solvent-based finishes, limits the amount of VOCs in flooring. Reducing VOCs in the adhesives used in engineered flooring is another crucial step. When sustainable materials such as bamboo or cork are used, flooring production cuts down on the amount of VOCs being released into the atmosphere.
What are the benefits of sustainable flooring?
The overarching goal of eco-friendly flooring is to build a greener future. By improving durability, sustainable flooring cuts down on costs for maintaining and replacing flooring. Some sustainable options may have higher upfront investments but save building owners money in the long run.
Certain sustainable flooring options can also improve safety through their fire-resistant qualities. Linoleum, for example, is a sustainable option made from renewable flame-retardant materials. By choosing materials that are naturally fire-resistant, property owners can avoid the use of fire-proofing treatments that can increase the presence of VOCs.
Finally, embracing eco-friendly building products can improve a building’s overall value.
What are the challenges?
However, business leaders may encounter some challenges when choosing sustainable flooring, including higher costs and more limited options due to the time it takes to ethically source and manufacture eco-friendly flooring alternatives.
Additionally, when researching options like bamboo flooring, for example, they must consider that not all types of bamboo are truly sustainable, which can lead to quality issues when it comes time to install the flooring if it has not been properly harvested or tested for moisture content or mold.
Before selecting an eco-friendly flooring option, business leaders should consider both where and how the material is sourced to ensure it meets industry standards. For instance, when selecting an eco-friendly carpet to install, they should consider tacking it down instead of gluing it to avoid introducing hazardous pollutants into their office environment, which will require staff to be updated on how to properly maintain the carpet to avoid future damage.
What should builders, developers and other professionals consider?
Professionals considering sustainable flooring for a particular building should consider several factors beyond its eco-friendly attributes.
First and foremost, ensure the type of flooring you select is not only sustainably sourced and produced but also installed and maintained. For instance, while hardwood flooring or recycled carpet may complete the rustic look you’re going for, will it be installed in a place and manner that ensures it will remain free of water damage or exposure to heightened moisture levels? If your building tends to be more humid inside, then options like sustainable linoleum flooring may prove better in the long run.
The difficulty of installation must also be taken into account. Options like rubber or concrete flooring can prove more difficult to install than vinyl and, if not installed properly, may have to be redone entirely. If you plan to install flooring options like these in a busy office environment that experiences a higher amount of foot traffic each day, you will need to consider how it could disrupt daily operations and if those disruptions will hinder workers’ productivity.
Conventional building materials can put a considerable strain on the environment, utilizing a wide range of nonrenewable resources and creating high volumes of waste. Sustainable flooring plays a key role in contributing to the green building movement by limiting construction’s environmental impacts.
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