Interior Materials
FLOORING--Made from Recycled Materials: By selecting recycled materials for flooring or reusing flooring materials, you conserve natural resources, reduce the toll that manufacturing from virgin materials takes on the environment, keep useful items out of the landfill and reduce pollution. Several types of flooring may outlast the original installation, and you can remove it to reuse in another place.
Flooring made from recycled rubber, fire reclaimed wood, and recycled plastic
ECO-FRIENDLY FLOORING--Rapidly Renewable Natural Materials: Eco-Friendly flooring is any flooring that is sustainable, eco-friendly, contains recycled content, is recyclable, leaves a small carbon footprint or has low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). There are different degrees of green when referring to different types of flooring. Cork, bamboo, carpet, stone, hardwood, linoleum & ceramic tile are all examples of types of eco-friendly flooring.
Eco-Friendly Flooring made from cork, bamboo, carpet, or vinyl (linoleum)
FLOORING--Wool, Hemp, or Biobased Carpeting: The health benefits include improved indoor comfort and climate. While eco benefits include the use of renewable raw materials--and not using fossil resources.
Wool, Hemp, or Biobased Flooring
WALL MATERIALS: Standard sheetrock doesn’t pose any health issues, but there are options that are more eco-friendly–like those made from recycled materials or plant fibers. Next, you have to consider joint compound and in the case of this product, you do need to consider toxic chemicals and health impacts. Finally – what goes on top? Choose from non-toxic paints and finishes, natural plasters, plant fiber wall-coverings.
Reclaimed Barnwood Siding Wall Material
SEALANTS--Low VOC: A VOC is a “Volatile Organic Compound.” The way a chemist uses that phrase, the word “volatile” describes a liquid that evaporates at room temperature, and the word “organic” means it is a compound that contains carbon. Thousands of different VOCs, some natural and some man-made, can be found in the air. In caulks and sealants, VOCs are used as solvents, or thinners, that work with the resin–the part that binds together all the ingredients of the sealant and allows it to adhere to the building materials. The phrase “Low VOC” is used to describe a product with a VOC content at or below 150 g/L.
PAINTS--Low VOC: Emitted from paint as potentially harmful gases, volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are a hot topic when it comes to indoor air quality. The number generally accepted for a low VOC paint is less than 50 grams per liter; a zero-VOC paint has fewer than 5 grams per liter.
Zero VOC Paint, Solvent Free Paint, or Low VOC Paint
Go back to Eco Friendly Home Ideas
*Our website contains affiliate and partner links. Some of the links, such as our optional marketing services, product suggestions and advertisements, are affiliate links. Meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.