Tuesday, November 14, 2006

FLO(o)R


(via greenhomesguide.com, ecochic.blogspot.com, buildinggreen.com)

I have ALWAYS disliked carpet.
Carpet is an eye-sore and one of the dirtiest aspects of the home.

Then I found out that carpet also represents the worst of our fossil-fuel based, disposable society. Not only are the materials and dyes toxic for our health and the environment but the adhesives and installation are a huge part of the problem. Carpet promotes mold growth and allergens in the air as well. Not to mention it's the most difficult to clean. There's always ScotchGuard, right?

NOW I HATE CARPET, DESPISE CARPET.

Bamboo and concrete are wonderful alternatives for the green minimalists -- aesthetically pleasing, safe for the environment and easy to clean. I love them.

But, part of me also misses the warmth and comfort of carpet. When done right carpet can artistically add color and material variety. But the pros do not out number the cons.

UNTIL NOW...

Thanks to companies like FLOR we can have our cake an eat it too. FLOR is a modular carpet flooring system that allows you to create your own rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting of any size. Modern and simple in design and construction, their modular carpets works well in any home (contemporary, modern, green, traditional) to give it that warm bright feeling while promoting earth-friendly materials like Kenaf (a fibrous African plant), Coir and Sisal, PLA (a derivative of corn), hemp, woold and recycled nylon materials.

FLORs commitment to sustainability extends to their installation methods and backing materials as well. These floorcoverings have been specifically designed to emit few air pollutants. The backing of all FLOR tiles are treated with a low-toxicity antimicrobial to inhibit stain and odor causing molds and bacteria. FLOR tiles are secured to the floor surface with low-tact, nontoxic adhesive dots in each corner, so there are no fumes from toxic adhesives.In addition, the modular pieces result in less waste from cutting to size, and worn spots can be pulled up and replaced without replacing the entire carpet. Worn carpet pieces are accepted by the manufacturer for recycling and recycled back into new carpet.

According to their web site, all FLOR products recycle like a champ and all have the lowest VOC (new carpet smell) in the industry. If you are interested in recycling old FLOR, call our customer service at 866.281.3567 to find out how.

I never thought I would say this but, I want some carpet!!

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