Carpets aren’t great for the environment. The biggest issue is disposing of the carpet. Each year, around five billion pounds of carpeting ends up in landfills (source). It takes hundreds of years for carpets to degrade.
The other issue is that most carpeting is still made from plastic (source). In commercial settings, almost 100 percent of carpeting is made from plastic. That’s why choosing natural fibers like wool is essential.
Another issue is, of course, the VOCs the carpet emits. Most carpets are treated with anti-stain or flame retardant treatments made from toxic chemicals. When this off-gasses into the air, it reduces the air quality around you.
That’s why we recommend checking for the Green Label Plus logo, which ensures that the carpet has lower VOCs. It also meets California’s Indoor Air Quality Programme, which is the best in the country.
If you want to choose a carpet but also want to consider the environmental impact, then choose a durable carpet. This is the best thing you can do to ensure that your carpet doesn’t end up in a landfill a few years down the line.