By Annette Stelmack, Owner, Inspirit (sustainability consultant)
When did your journey to be green begin for you? For me it was during my childhood, spending precious hours in my grandparents’ magical garden. They were immigrants and grew everything—flowers, roses and blooming shrubs and, of course, fruits and vegetables in a rainbow of colors, textures and flavors. Everything was used, nothing went to waste—a practice they had learned back in Europe based on necessity.

The three generations of men in our family were definitely the “hunters.” They fished and hunted on the weekends to provide food for the family table. The women were naturally the “gatherers.” When geese were in season, the entire bird was valued—the meat was roasted, the bones made soup, and the feathers were washed and dried for lush down comforters and pillows.

In many ways, today is not as simple; we are inundated with choices. Should we use plastic or paper bags? The best choice is bringing your own bags as they can be used over and over again. Should we be eating organic foods? Absolutely! Eating seasonal, local, organic foods simultaneously supports local economies and personal health while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Global climate change is categorically a scientific matter that is directly related to human activities and behavior, technology, equity, economy, environment and peace. The choices we make can change the course of global climate issues and reverse the extreme weather we are experiencing. How? By integrating sustainable choices in our personal and professional lives—by constantly searching for eco-friendly practices, strategies and products—we take full responsibility as environmental stewards.

So, what does this have to do with flooring? Flooring is one of the primary elements within the built environment with endless choices. How do we qualify products and ultimately the final selection of an environmentally preferable flooring material? Begin by asking questions of manufacturers and suppliers focused toward the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; the conservation of energy and water; the use of renewable raw materials; the improvement of indoor air quality; the support of renewable energy sources, etc.

To follow is a start on questions related to flooring types such as stone, tile, terrazzo, bamboo, leather, cork, wood, linoleum, carpet, concrete and more.

Manufacturer’s sustainability

• Is there an environmental policy in place on the company’s Web site?

• Does the company openly provide an annual sustainability report?

• Are products made using sustainable manufacturing practices first reducing and reusing, then recycling?

• Does the company participate in reforestation or giving back to the community?

• Does the manufacturing process use resources such as water and energy efficiently?

Product composition

• What are the raw materials? Where do they come from and/or how are they harvested?

• What are the materials’ contents?

• Where is it quarried? How rare is it?

• Did the hides for leather flooring come from humanely and organically raised animals? Are they tanned with vegetable-based tanning agents?

• Is it made from renewable resources?

Product characteristics

• Is it third-party certified such as Forest Stewardship Council, GreenGuard or Scientific Certification Systems?

• Is it formaldehyde free?

• Is it treated with chemicals or preservatives?

• Does it include binders or adhesives? If so, what are they made from?

• What colorants, dyes, finishes and/or sealants were used? Are they toxic or benign?

• What percentage of the material is from recycled content?

• If reclaimed, where is it from and is it free of lead, nails, tar and creosote?

• If there is a backing, what is it made of?

• Does the product off-gas or emit toxins during the manufacturing process, and to installers or end users?

• What is the product’s life-cycle cost— including durability, embodied energy, maintenance, recycling and disposal?

Packaging/transportation

• How is the product packaged?

• Can packaging be returned for reuse or recycling?

• How is the product shipped and from where?

Recycling/disposal

• What happens to by-products from the manufacturing process?

• Can the product be recycled at the end of its life?

• Is the waste safely disposed of or reused?

It is imperative that we educate ourselves on the continuum of sustainability. By understanding the bigger picture of globalization— people, animals, plants and ecosystems— and that everything is connected, we learn bamboo flooring made in China affects the quality of life in Greenland and wool carpet from New Zealand can affect the health of people in the U.S. Armed with a multi-layered understanding of a product’s environmental declaration we can actively engage in the reality that everything we do has an impact on the planet.

As consumers, we have an inherent responsibility within the power of the choice. They can improve the quality of life for all, eventually restoring and regenerating our planet which we need to sustain our lives and the lives of future generations.

Why wouldn’t we want to nurture the future of the planet, which we are essentially borrowing from our children, with the greenest solutions? Dr. Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of the Green Belt Movement, says, “Peace on earth depends on our ability to secure our living environment.”