50 Simple Steps to Kick Our Oil Habit by The Green Patriot Working Group

Author:The Green Patriot Working Group
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1893910-50-8
Publisher: Freedom Press
Published: 2012-08-10T16:00:00+00:00

Another healthy petrochemical-free solution for floor coverings is offered by Forbo, www.forbo.com, best known for their Marmoleum linoleum, a natural product made from linseed oil, wood flour, pine rosin, jute and limestone. Often used in medical facilities, Marmoleum is ideal for those suffering from respiratory disorders. It is also exceptionally easy to clean and has natural antimicrobial properties, helping cut down on the breeding of microorganisms such as dust mites and allergy-causing bacteria. Considering the fact that floor coverings are often the most abundant source of toxins in the home, this is an exceptional record.

And to top it off, Forbo is just as committed to a healthy global environment as they are to a healthy indoor environment. And it’s not just lip-service. In a life-cycle analysis used to quantify the potential environmental impacts of a product system over the life cycle (i.e., from the extraction of the raw materials to the disposal of the product at the end of its useful life), Marmoleum ranked first as a nature-friendly floor covering, along with pure, unlacquered wood.

Another flooring company doing its part to reduce the nation’s addiction to oil is Interface. In 1973, Interface Flooring, www.interface.com, created the first legitimate “free lay” carpet tile, a non-sewn textile created by directly adhering fibers to a patented backing system. It was extremely stable and dense, allowing it to be installed with a minimum of adhesive and yet still perform extremely well. This was a step, perhaps unconsciously undertaken, in creating green carpeting, as it allowed for minimal waste in installation.

At Interface, the company continues to look for ways to encourage sustainability through their product and beyond. The designers think through the entire life cycle, from manufacture to reclamation and recycling. The goal is for all of their products to be sustainable. To make sustainability a reality in the long run, Interface has focused its green path on seven fronts including eliminating waste, benign emissions, renewable energy, closing the loop in recycling, resource efficient transportation, sensitizing shareholder and redesigning commerce.

And to top it off, Interface has been recognized on several occasions for their design and style. The company is currently developing carpet from hemp and natural dyes; hemp’s durability and quick growth cycle make it an excellent sustainable carpet material. The drawback: currently laws forbid growing industrial hemp in the United States.

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