Deciding on what type of flooring material to use for your kitchen can be confusing these days. This is due to the many designs, patterns, and colors available; the different attributes, advantages, and disadvantages of the various materials out of which the floors are made; as well as the difficulty of balancing these with the cost of the floors. As if these are not enough, there is also the growing importance of the question of floors’ being green.
Vinyl tiles, as far as cleaning and durability are concerned, can be deemed green. They do not require cleaners with harsh chemicals that can pollute the environment. They are also long-lasting so you won’t need to replace them for a long time. They are, however, made of PVC, which is made using chlorine and crude oil. A number of environmental and health issues have been raised with PVC and this lowers the environmental rating of vinyl tiles.
Although the cutting of hardwood for flooring materials may appear downright environmentally sinful, if the forests where the trees are cut are Forest Stewardship Council or FSC-certified, they may actually be greener than some engineered wood. The FSC monitors responsible forest management globally and they certify those that employ sustainable practices. Also, unlike some engineered wood, they do not contain VOCs, formaldehyde, or solvents.
If engineered floors do not contain formaldehyde, they pass the environmental test. The reason is they are typically made from wood waste that would otherwise constitute additional waste thrown into the landfills. Like vinyl tiles, engineered wood do not need chemically harsh cleaning materials, thus also helping minimize pollution.
Cork floors are made from cork oak trees, but the trees are not felled. Instead, their barks are skinned. These grow back in nine years, and will continue regenerating for 200 years. This makes cork a very green material. Apart from this, cork floors can also be recycled from used wine or champagne corks.
Another very environmentally friendly flooring material is bamboo floors. Bamboo is a very fast growing reed that reaches full maturity from 3 to 5 five years. Different species grow in both the tropical and temperate zones. Both are suitable for making flooring materials. Like wood, leftover bamboo can also be processed into engineered bamboo, which makes them even greener.