How To Make More Sustainable Hardwood Floor Choices

In a world full of greenwashing, empty corporate promises, and ever-increasing climate problems, sustainability is at the forefront of every conversation. Plastic straws are being replaced with paper. Toxic cleaning supplies are being replaced by natural alternatives. And fast fashion is beginning to go out of style. While the world still has a long way to go before converting to a fully sustainable way of life, it’s important to make these small changes to push the needle in a positive direction. But what about sustainability when it comes to hardwood floors? Today, we need to talk about making more sustainable hardwood choices.

Images of clear-cut forests, displaced animals, and toxic wood treatment processes come to mind. While this may have been the case years ago, and remains to be the case in some instances, there are plenty of sustainable eco-friendly hardwood alternatives on today’s market. Hardwood is one of the most sustainable flooring options, it can be refinished countless times, it is biodegradable, and it only takes roughly 12 trees to floor a 1,200 square foot home. If you want to go green with your hardwood, read on for for ways to make more sustainable hardwood choices.

Check Your Sources

When it comes to sustainability with hardwood floors there is one major concern, deforestation. Responsible forest management is the name of the game when it comes to selecting the most sustainable hardwood floors. Thankfully, the Forest Stewardship Council provides certification to companies that meet their 57 criterium for sustainable hardwood. These brands are available on their website. Or, they can be found by simply looking for the FSC certification logo on hardwood websites or packaging.

Watch How You Wash

One big factor in sustainability that often goes unnoticed is the products that you use to clean your hardwood floors. Harsh floor cleaners, with bulky single-use plastic packaging, are two unsustainable options that most people use frequently. Opt instead for brands that use recycled plastic packaging and gentle ingredients. Or, make your own cleaners using a half cup of vinegar, a gallon of water, and a few drops of essential oils.

Refurbish And Reclaim

One of the biggest trends in sustainable hardwood flooring right now is reclaimed wood. Whether it comes from an old house, a dilapidated barn, or a business that has gone under, reclaimed hardwood flooring is a great way to add character to your home. Additionally, if your current hardwood floors are looking worse for the wear, consider refinishing instead of replacing them. Not only is it a more sustainable option, but you can also get a whole new look out of the same old floors.

Go With Grass

While it’s completely sustainable to replace your current flooring with a grass lawn, that’s not exactly in many people’s design aesthetics. What is a great, grass-driven alternative however is bamboo flooring. Yes, bamboo is technically a grass. An incredibly sustainable, fast-growing grass that makes for beautiful flooring. It is available in a variety of stains, and at first glance, looks almost indistinguishable from regular hardwood floors. As a bonus, it is often less expensive than most hardwood given the natural abundance of bamboo.

If you are looking for a sustainable option for your hardwood floor, or are looking to refinish your existing floors, look no further than Troendle Hardwood Floor Company. With over a century of experience, Troendle is the name to trust with the sustainable refinishing of your hardwood floors. We help people make more sustainable hardwood choices every day!