Many people associate carpet with a plush underfoot feel and the aesthetic beauty it can bring to interiors, but the health benefits of carpeting are equally important. According to research, properly maintained and cleaned carpets help trap airborne allergens, pollutants, and pathogens and prevent them from becoming airborne and being inhaled. They can also reduce the number of germs in the home and lower household cleaning costs.
The carpeting industry should adopt a holistic approach to sustainability and consider environmental, social, and economic impacts of its products. This could include incorporating environmental performance criteria (e.g., VOC emissions, toxicity, and biodegradability) into design specifications, as well as setting performance standards for the proper installation, maintenance and disposal of carpet and educating consumers on best practices.
Conventional new carpet can off gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and SVOCs (sulfuric acid vapors) that are associated with adverse health effects such as eye irritation, respiratory symptoms, nerve damage and cancer. Carpet can also off gas the chemical styrene butadiene rubber, which releases styrene and 4-PCH, both of which are respiratory irritants at low levels of exposure. Additionally, the adhesives used to install and remove carpet can release chemicals such as formaldehyde, which is a known human carcinogen.
As long as they are kept clean and the fibers don’t come in contact with moisture, most carpets can provide a soft landing for falls, reducing injury risks. This is a valuable safety feature for homes with young children or elderly residents.
Carpets can also promote a healthy home environment by helping to control indoor humidity. This is particularly important for humid climates, where humidity can increase the growth of harmful organisms such as mold and mildew. Carpets, especially those made from natural fibers, can act as a barrier against these toxins and help regulate indoor temperature.
What to Look for in a Non Toxic Carpet
The most environmentally friendly carpets are those that are made from renewable, recycled or sustainably harvested natural fibers such as cotton, wool, sisal, jute, and hemp, which require few pesticides to grow. They should also be treated with low VOCs and free of flame retardants, stainguards and waterproofing treatments, as these often contain perfluorinated chemicals or PFCs, which are extremely toxic to humans and do not break down in the environment.
When selecting a carpet, look Does carpet cleaning kill fleas for the Green Label Plus certification from CRI (Carpet and Rug Institute). This process screens out many of the most toxic chemicals that are typically found in commercial and residential carpeting. Another option is FLOR, which uses 100% recycled face fibers and comes in modular squares that can be laid in any room of your home and is available with or without a pad. You can also opt for a carpet with no added topical protection to further limit the amount of toxins in your home. These options are available at most flooring stores in Nutley, NJ.