Beautiful, natural floors can be made from wood, bamboo, earth, and stone. The sustainability of each option depends on the embodied energy of the cultivation and manufacturing involved in producing it. Wood and earthen floors can be very sustainable options when the trees and dirt are taken from the building site or the local region.
Wood: Wood floors are extremely beautiful and can take on a variety of looks, depending on individual preference. It can be a very sustainable flooring option if the trees are grown and harvested properly. We should make a conscious effort to find recycled wood flooring wherever possible, and at the very least, avoid woods that are endangered. Many exotic hardwoods are illegally harvested and many are endangered, making it important for us as consumers to be knowledgeable about the source. We love earthen and bamboo floors and try not to use wood whenever possible.
Bamboo: Conventional bamboo flooring is made from bamboo poles that are sliced into strips, de-starched by boiling, glued together to form boards, and then milled. While the bamboo itself is a fast growing building material and a sustainable option if it is farmed responsibly, modern floor manufacturing often involves gluing the wood together with toxic adhesives, although non-toxic boards are increasingly finding their way into the market. Today, most conventional bamboo flooring used throughout the world is manufactured in the Hunan province of China and so manufacturing standards aren’t necessarily the same as in other parts of the world, and the energy used in shipping materials across the world increases the intrinsic embodied energy of bamboo flooring, making it less sustainable than if it were locally produced.
Bamboo naturally harvested and not processed using the boiling and gluing method, provides beautiful, creative options for laying flooring, decks, and other flooring needs.
Earth and Stone: These floors are in direct connection with the earth and are therefore extremely energy efficient. In hot environments, earth and stone floors stay cool because of the large, cool thermal mass of the earth. Earthen floors are less durable than stone, but unlike stone floors, they are renewable. Many natural pigments can be mixed into earthen floors to provide an array of colors and techniques. Linseed oil sealants provide lasting protection, are easily applied for maintenance, and can be used to achieve results that mimic the appearance of anything from buffed suede to polished concrete or marble.
