What’s In Your Carpet?

I was shopping in a home store this week and saw a really nice carpet. When I read the tag to see what it was made of, the tag said it was made of unknown man-made fibers. I kid you not. Not exactly compelling advertising, huh? Of course I left it in the store. If the manufacturer doesn’t know what the product is made of, who does? Although, carpet is a traditional floor covering in most homes in the United States, contemporary carpets are not a healthy or environmentally sustainable product.

Modern carpets are made of synthetic fibers such as nylon, acrylic, polyester, or polypropylene. Carpets are also treated with fire retardants, anti-static treatments, fungicides, and dye — of course. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) containing adhesives add to the dangerous chemical mix. Adding insult to injury, it’s backed with polyurethane, synthetic latex, or PVC. Since it can’t be recycled, it goes into the landfill. These materials can be toxic, and contain a number of chemicals that often leach into the ground and water supply over the years.

If you’re concerned about your decor’s ecological impact, avoiding this kind of carpeting is important. Instead of a traditional carpet, think outside the box and look for other options. There are healthier, greener carpets out there that will work just as well.

You can improve the situation by buying carpet with a low VOC adhesive or by installing modular carpet tiles, so that a single piece can be replaced instead of the entire floor. Keep in mind the resources used in making carpet are still non renewable and not the healthiest of options. Fortunately, there are some ecologically friendly alternatives available.

Carpets made from recycled materials are becoming more popular. These carpets are made of discarded plastic bottles, wool, cotton, nylon, and even old carpet. These products would have otherwise gone to the landfill. You can also get recycled carpet pads. Tacking your carpet to the floor instead of gluing it removes concerns about VOCs from adhesives, and the carpet remains attractive and soft.

Before the age of synthetics, carpets were made from cotton or wool and vegetable dyes for color. You can still get natural fiber carpet made from wool or cotton which are biodegradable and renewable. This carpeting has a richer texture and lasts longer, as well as naturally being resistant to dirt, fire, static, and moisture.

Synthetic carpets became popular because of their resistance to stains, but this comes at the price of chemicals. Wool carpet is also less hospitable to dust mites than synthetics. However, most wool carpeting is treated with an anti-moth chemical, which may off gas. Look for untreated wool carpet with a jute backing that is dyed with natural colors. This material is more expensive than a synthetic, but it’ll last longer and feel better.

Plant fibers are another option. Since they are biodegradable and VOC free they are a green choice. Also, sisal and sea grass carpeting also a possibility. Carpeting made of jute, coconut fibers (coir), and abaca are also popular. They’re usually backed with urethane or latex, and may be undyed. That’s because many plant fibers don’t dye well. If you like the natural green or tans of sisal and coir, however, they make excellent choices.

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