Buying Green Carpeting

I found this website - Green.FindAnyFloor.Com - that outlines the questions you should ask before purchasing any carpet. Key areas include:

* What is the carpet made of? - Look for recycled content or renewable resources.

* What chemicals are in the carpet? - Look for the Green Label Plus certification, which has limits on VOC's (volatile organic compounds).

* How much energy was used to make the carpet? - Where was the carpet manufactured? Were non-renewable resources used? i.e. petroleum-based content.

* What is the lifetime of the carpet and is it recyclable? The longer the lifetime, the less energy is used and waste produced.

* What adhesives are used? - Look for the Green Label Plus certification that limits VOC's (volatile organic compounds) in adhesives.

In the past, we would have carpeting installed that had that "new carpet smell", most likely emitting VOC's (volatile organic compounds). When the carpeting was worn out, we would have it pulled up, throw it in the landfill and start all over again.

Most carpets are made from OIL! Nylon, polypropylene, and polyester are all petroleum-based fibers.

Alternative fibers include recycled nylon, recycled P.E.T. polyester (made from recycled plastic bottles), or renewable resources such as sugar derived from corn.

To maintain Green Label Plus certifications, carpet and adhesives must undergo initial, quarterly, and annual testing. Green Label Plus products may contribute to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

For detailed information, click on the logo for a downloadable pdf.

InterfaceFLOR has been producing environmentally-friendly carpet tiles since the 1970's. CEO Ray Anderson has helped to dramatically change this industry. With carpet tiles, you can just replace worn tiles, not the whole carpet.

Over the years they have gradually developed manufacturing processes which reduce waste and eliminate toxins from their products and facilities. Their Mission Zero promise is to completely eliminate any negative impact on the environment by 2020.

Mohawk GreenWork's mission is to be a leader in the area of sustainability and environmental responsibility for the flooring industry. They are constantly looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint. They are doing this by:

* Recycling carpet and carpet samples through their GreenWorks Center.
* Reducing number of carpet samples through digital applications and recycling
* Reducing pollution and water use in the manufacturing process
* Reducing waste through recovery methods for backing, yarn, shrink wrap, cardboard, and pallets
* Reducing emissions of phosphorous and other greenhouse gases

Their ReCover program helps consumers dispose of their old carpet. Just call 877-3RE-CYCL (877-373-2925) to get the job rolling. You'll receive a quote for the removal within 24-48 hours.

Mohawk GreenWorks website was very beautiful and explained their sustainability initiatives very well. However, finding carpet was not so easy. From what I figured out, their carpeting brand is Karastan, which takes you to a different site. The "green" types of Karastan carpet include:

* New Zealand Wool - definitely renewable but not so environmentally friendly for me since it comes from half way around the world.
* SmartStrand - a new generation of carpet fibers made from corn-based polymers, a renewable resource; uses 30% less energy to produce; CRI Green Label Plus certified for low emissions.

Search by color, texture, and fiber (choose SmartStrand) and then find a retailer near you. Karastan Carpets

To determine where you can recycle your old carpeting, visit: Carpet America Recovery Effort

I found out that there is a carpet recycling company called Kruse Carpet Recycling about a ten minute drive from my house. The most environmentally-friendly carpet manufacturers, like the ones mentioned above, have policies whereby their carpet can be returned for recycling.