When you make the conscious decision to choose eco-friendly materials for your home, you embrace a lifestyle with long-lasting benefits. Eco-friendly options, like reclaimed wood and bamboo, significantly reduce environmental impact by conserving natural resources and minimizing waste.
Besides building a healthier environment by avoiding toxic chemicals often found in conventional building materials, you’re also designing a home where each piece of furniture or accent wall tells a story.
So, if you’re ready to design your dream eco-home, let’s have a look at the type of materials you can use and where to source them.
Types of Eco-Friendly Wooden Materials
Wooden materials offer durability, aesthetic appeal, and versatility. Moreover, they act as carbon sinks by storing CO2 throughout their lifecycle. Plus, using wood over non-renewable materials can reduce a building's carbon footprint by up to 50%, which is a fantastic step forward toward designing an eco-home.
So, yes, wooden materials are a fantastic option. But which ones and how do you make sure they are obtained responsibly?
Here are the most well-known sources of guilt-free wooden materials:
Reclaimed Wood
Reclaimed wood comes from old structures like barns or warehouses (just an example). Overall, it’s wood that was salvaged from old buildings and other structures and is strong enough to be used again. By repurposing this material, you prevent deforestation and minimize waste.
Due to its unique patina and visually striking features, reclaimed wood is great for furniture and accent walls. It’s an easy way to add character to your interior design while also promoting sustainability.
Still, not all reclaimed wood is safe to use for your home. So, before making any purchase, make sure you know the source and the treatment it underwent.
Bamboo
Bamboo stands out due to its rapid growth (some species grow up to 35 inches per day) and its ability to regenerate quickly after harvesting without needing replanting. This makes it an excellent source of sustainably obtained wooden materials.
Bamboo is an excellent choice for flooring due to its hardness (comparable to red oak) and cabinetry because of its resilience.
Cork
Cork is harvested from the bark of cork oak trees without harming them. Furthermore, the bark regenerates, allowing repeated harvests every nine years (on average). Known for its insulation properties (both thermal and acoustic), cork works well in flooring applications where comfort matters or as an insulating layer within walls.
Certifications to Look For
Sadly, there are many retailers out there looking to make a quick buck without putting in the effort. As a result, you’ll find a wide range of home project materials that claim to be eco-friendly or sustainably sourced without any real proof.
The same is true about contractors, should you choose to hire one for renovations or other projects. To make sure you’re working with reliable people who take their work seriously, have a look at the type of tools and materials they use. For instance, contractors that use centralized management platforms, like Joist, aren’t interested in scamming you. They care about their business and want to connect with serious customers.
If you choose to do everything by yourself, including finding eco-friendly materials, you should know about specific certifications that guarantee sustainability.
Here are the two most important ones:
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification - The FSC certification ensures responsible forestry practices. Products with this label come from forests managed in ways that preserve biodiversity, water resources, and local communities' rights. According to the FSC, over 200 million hectares of forest worldwide are certified under their standards.
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) - PEFC is another vital certification program recognized internationally. It promotes sustainable forest management by endorsing national standards that meet its rigorous criteria. With more than 300 million hectares of certified forests globally, PEFC-certified products guarantee responsible sourcing and environmental care.
Both FSC and PEFC certifications help you make informed choices about your materials. They ensure your wood comes from well-managed forests that prioritize ecological balance and social responsibility.
Wrap Up
In summary, choosing eco-friendly materials for your home projects not only supports sustainable practices but also enhances your living space with quality and unique designs. Pay attention to certifications like FSC and PEFC, ensuring you select responsibly sourced wood.
By making mindful choices, you can contribute to a healthier planet and create a beautiful, lasting home environment. Ready to start? Make your next project eco-friendly!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nurlana Alasgarli
Content Specialist
Nurlana Alasgarli is a professional copywriter with more than 6 years of creative writing experience. Having lived and experienced all over the world, there are many writing genres that Nurlana follows, including nature, arts and crafts and the outdoors. Nurlana brings life to content creation, captivating her readers.
