What is the most eco-friendly flooring?

Eco-friendly flooring, also known as sustainable flooring, is all about sustainability and using less harmful products or processes to create flooring for our homes. It helps to protect our environment, while looking chic all at the same time! So, if you want to make the change to more sustainable flooring in your home without compromising on style, read on for our expert advice.

What is eco-friendly flooring?

Eco-friendly flooring and sustainable flooring are becoming ever more important in a world fighting climate change, plastic mountains, and pollution. There are several key points to consider if you want to pick the most environmentally friendly flooring: does the material used to produce it come from a sustainable source that’s easily replenished? Can it be recycled at the end of its lifespan? What chemical treatments are involved in its production?

Wool carpets are very eco-friendly, as sheep regrow their wool every year, making this a great resource that we know can be easily replenished. Sustainable wood is also taken from renewable sources or forests that have been certified as following international standards of responsible forestry management. Watch out for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo next to our laminates, which guarantees environmentally responsible practices at every stage of the production process – that’s no mean feat!

As well as using sustainable flooring materials, eco-flooring manufacturers should follow green practices as much as possible throughout the entire production process. Here at Tapi, our favoured suppliers support the environment by using recycled materials and eco-friendly products, such as water-based paints, wherever possible, as well as conforming to low emissions and high environmental standards. So, you can be certain we’re working very hard to provide eco-friendly flooring for you and the environment.

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What is the best eco-friendly carpet?

We understand the importance of sustainability and the impact that our products can have on the environment. That's why we've developed a range of eco-friendly carpets called our TreadKindly range, which are not only beautiful, but also made from 100% recycled materials derived from reclaimed plastic. Most of these carpets also have a backing made from natural wool felt, which is a completely renewable and recyclable material.

Pure wool carpets are one of the top options for eco-carpet - they are good for the planet and feel wonderful on the feet. Also, because of their long-lasting, hard-wearing nature, they’ll last for a really long time in your home and won’t need frequent replacing.

Remember, a cosy carpet will warm up your room and can save up to 15% on heating bills, so you’ll save on energy and be as snug as a bug in a rug – literally!

Other natural fibres for carpets include sisal, coir, or jute, which are all made from sustainable plants. Sisal is a totally natural choice, made from 100% plant based organic fibre. A luxurious, durable carpet that adds texture and character, find out more about sisal carpets, or discover what the difference is between jute and sisal. You can actually pick your favourite wool or sisal carpet from our collection and use our whipping service to make it into a rug that’s just the right size for your space.

What is the best eco-friendly underlay?

There are two options when it comes to eco-friendly insulation. The first is to clean and re-use the original underlay, however you’ll need to consider the condition of the underlay as this may affect the wear and life of your new carpet. The second option is to buy recycled or sustainable underlay made from rubber crumb or recycled PU foam.

Or you could try our latest underlay innovation: Tapi Eleven underlay made with Nike Grind. It's made with at least 20% Nike Grind recycled foam from manufacturing scrap. Available in an 11mm thickness, this recycled underlay provides a super springy feel underfoot and uses clever technology to prevent fungi and bacteria growing to keep your underlay fresh. A more sustainable alternative to regular carpet underlay, not only can Nike Grind help to prolong the life of your carpet, but it can also help to dampen noise and reduce heat loss.

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What are the best eco-friendly wooden floors?

If you’re wondering, 'what is the most eco-friendly flooring I could use besides carpet?’, we have the answer! If you want to go for wood or laminate flooring, then the most sustainable flooring in the market would include cork and bamboo, which are long-lasting natural options from renewable sources. However, they can be very pricey. Tapi offer many sustainable other laminate and wood options. Hard wood from certified sustainable sources is also a good consideration, with our Quick Step laminate range made from 80% sustainable wood. Just look for the FSC certified wood and laminate symbol on all flooring to ensure the wood has been harvested sustainably.

There’s been a huge increase in popularity of hard wood alternatives in recent years, including laminate flooring. Made from sustainable products, it’s manufactured in modern production facilities that are subject to strict emissions and environmental standards and often have their own energy and heating cycles, making it an ideal eco-flooring option for fans of wood or laminate.

We’re proud to say that our largest suppliers are completely self-sufficient, replanting all trees used for production and using surplus materials to power their manufacturing plants. Keep an eye out for the FSC label on our products, which guarantees responsible forestry management and conservation.

What is the best eco-friendly vinyl flooring?

Resilient and long-lasting, luxury vinyl planks or tiles and vinyl flooring is a real eco-superhero because it has a strong life cycle. And with all Tapi vinyl flooring being VOC free and the major proportion being recyclable, it can be a good eco-friendly choice. We work with responsible suppliers, including those who operate wind turbine farms to supply the energy needed to run their manufacturing plants, and we’ve also worked really hard to ensure any plastics used in our products are VOC free.

It’s also worth remembering that both vinyl, wood and laminate flooring promote clean air, as they don’t trap dust mites or mould spores that can aggravate allergens or sneezing. Fun fact: hard floors can contain 100 times fewer allergens than carpets!

There are plenty of eco-friendly flooring options available out there, so why not book a free home visit today so that one of our flooring experts can come and give you a great quote on your own eco-flooring? Or, if you’re feeling confident and ready to purchase your new flooring, pop into your local Tapi store today to see all the samples we have available. Alternatively, for more inspiration on the different types of flooring on offer and how to look after them, head on over to our care guides.

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