Have you thought about the chemicals, energy, transport costs and sustainability of the materials?
Over the last few years we have seen a much bigger interest in the effects that the flooring industry has on the natural world. Gone are the days when factories were so energy hungry, the disposal of old flooring was just something for the consumer to consider and inefficient delivery meant wasted fuel and time.
Innovation is coming from all areas:
Factories
- Wind turbines are starting to provide a significant part of the power
- Regulation and voluntary registration for chemical used is much tighter (see: REACH http://www.reachready.co.uk/about_us.php)
- Locating closer to customers – saving on long-distance transport/air or freight miles
- Limiting packaging and using recycled materials
- The use of recycled or natural materials such as old plastic bottles, corn & wool for carpet
- The use of recycled plastic in hard floorings such as vinyl tiles
- The use of old lorry tyres and waste wool to make underlay - http://bit.ly/1KkgGeV
- Water based instead of chemical dyes
- Anti-Allergen treatments for carpet
- Recycling schemes – i.e. returning old carpet like ECOCORD from Leighspinners - http://bit.ly/1VtVeaG
(Manx Carpet's Eco Style - part recycled bottles)
Our Shop
- The recycling of old carpets rather than into landfill – used to form loose surface for racehorses to train on.
- The offer to allotment holders to drop off woollen carpet to help weed suppression/create paths
- Energy efficient lighting, recycling of paper, cardboard tubing, plastic
- The occasional cycle to work when time and weather allows!
If saving the environment matters to you then please do ask in store for details of those products and companies that can help you do just that.