Eco-friendly is a phrase that’s thrown around plenty, but what exactly are eco-friendly products and why are they important? We’ve been asking these questions in regard to rugs and want to shed light on why eco-friendly rugs can make a big impact.
What Makes A Rug Eco-Friendly?
Eco-friendly rugs are ones that do not cause harm to the environment. The materials used, manufacturing practices and distribution all play a role in making this possible. Looking to see what materials the rug is made with and if they are biodegradable is a good place to start. Synthetic plastic-based fibers such as polyester, polypropylene and acrylic take up space in landfills while contributing to pollution. Natural materials such as wool, rather, have the innate ability to biodegrade without damaging the earth. Further, wool rugs are very durable and keep their form in high-traffic spaces. They can last for generations which also help reduce textile waste. Similarly, rugs made from recycled materials have a longer lifespan and use fewer new resources. Ultimately, when it comes to the amount of resources and energy used to make and distribute the rug, less is more.
Why Do Eco-Friendly Rugs Matter?
Most discarded carpets end up in landfills. Plastics make up the majority of carpets on the market, a material that takes hundreds of years to biodegrade. Sadly, the runoff from landfills carrying these toxic chemicals can contaminate water sources and have harmful health effects on surrounding communities. Moreover, the EPA has discovered that landfills are a major source of methane emissions, a greenhouse gas, which contributes to climate change. Currently, carpet waste sent to U.S. landfill equates to 4-5 billion pounds of material each year. For these reasons, eco-friendly rugs made with natural materials help reduce the problem. Made to last, they are less frequently sent to landfills and biodegrade at a much faster pace without causing harm.
Greenwashing And How To Identify Deceptive Marketing
While many companies call themselves eco-friendly, it is still necessary to make sure that their practices aline with their promises. It’s inspiring when a company takes on greener policies, charitable works and other sustainable actions. Still, if the rugs themselves are made with plastic-based fibers, in reality, they are not environmentally friendly. When choosing an eco-friendly rug ask these questions; What are the materials? Are they natural, biodegradable or recycled, or are they synthetic? Are they durable and made to last, or will I have to buy a new rug every few years?
Our Commitment To The Environment
This year SAMAD is working towards becoming a more sustainable company. We’re re-evaluating our practices to find new ways to reduce our carbon footprint. We can proudly say that our hand-knotted rugs are crafted with ancient methods and natural materials. Collections such as Seville and Horizon use recycled yarn and Caspian and Flatweave rugs use natural vegetable dyes. Still, there is much more we can do to improve our manufacturing practices and give back.
Visit our blog What is Handspun Wool Yarn? to learn more about the materials used in our rug making process.
Keep an eye out for updates on our new sustainability initiatives in the works!
