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Abaca:
Aluminum: This metal is often considered to be "ecofriendly", and it can be. But it requires more than three times the energy to mine a pound of aluminum (extracted from bauxite ore) than a pound of iron, and a hundred times that needed to harvest a pound of wood. However, aluminum is relatively inexpensive and easy to recycle, except for the many aluminum products which are treated (like "powder coating") to withstand weathering. This is why EcoDecorating looks for products that are made of recycled aluminum or are themselves recyclable.
Asbestos: Natural doesn't always equal good. Asbestos is one of six fibrous minerals (predominately chrysotile) that was once used heavily in in building because it is resistant to heat, flame, and electricity, is insulating, flexible, and can be woven into fabric. Asbestos can be found in joint compound and caulking, siding, shingles, vinyl tile, and more.
Bamboo: There are over 1000 species of bamboo, the largest member of the grass family. Bamboo is used in many areas of construction and furnishing around the world. The bamboo generally used in flooring reaches maturity in 3-6 years, compared to decades for hardwood timber, and the same root system can produce stalks for tens of years, making it an excellent, renewable alternative to hardwood--It's even harder and experiences less expansion and contraction. Bamboo fiber is now being used to make fabric. It grows faster than cotton and doesn't require pesticides.
Banana:
Brick: A block, typically of fired clay and sand, used in masonary construction and pavements.
Certified Lumber: Timber and wood products which has been certified as coming from sustainable harvesting practices. For example, one certifying group, the Forest Stewardship Council, is "a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests [which] sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way." (fscus.org)
Coir: A course fiber which comes from the thick outer shell of a coconut. Coir is the only natural fiber resistant to salt water and is used in many products like floor mats and tiles, mattresses, and rope. There has been some criticism of the way coir is often extracted: by soaking the husks in slow moving water, often rivers, for several months, releasing natural pollutants and bacteria. Also, the leftover portion of the shell, about 2/3 of it, while technically boiodegradable, takes up to 20 years break down. However, this is now being used as mulch, soil conditioner, and a peat substitute. Because coir is a renewable resource (coconuts grow year-round), which uses the byproduct of edible coconut production, and the fact that coconut palms are going to produce coconuts whether or not they are used, we believe coir remains an ecofriendly material.
Cork: A material taken from the bark of the cork oak, which can be harvested every nine years. Cork is lightweight, resistant to liquid, resilient, acoustic and insulating, making it an excellent alternative to vinyl sheet flooring and tiles. The material used to make floor tiles is the byproduct of bottle stopper production, which, at this time, accounts for the largest use of cork. Because cork is natural, sustainably harvested, and is and can be recycled, we think it is a superior choice in flooring. (Note: Some cork flooring uses a PVC backing, which obviously reduces its "greenness". Also, use low VOC adhesives and finishes when installing your floor.)
Cotton: The most widely used natural fiber. Cotton is harvested by removing the "boll" but leaving the cotton plant intact. While cotton requires a signicant amount of pesticides and fertilizers (though there is a small but growing organic cotton community) and water, we still prefer it to synthetics.
Flax: Now known as a good source for omega-3 fatty acids, flax has been used for thousands of years to make linen. Flax is also the source of linseed oil, used as a paint binder, wood finish, and in the production of linoleum. On wood, it soaks into the grain, rather than just coating it like varnish, but it is not quite as hard or resistant to moisture. "Boiled" linseed oil is thicker and dries faster, but it may contain petroleum-based solvents.
Hemp: Industrial hemp is a remarkable plant that should not be confused with the subspecies known as marijuana. Unfortunately, though it contains an insignificant amount of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the connection has complicated efforts to cultivate hemp, especially in the US. While it's uses are numerous, we list hemp here as a source of paper, biodegradable "plastic", and fabric. Internationally, hemp fiber may be added to cement to strengthen it. Hemp crops are fast growing and require little if any pesticides and yield more fiber than cotton or flax (linen) grown over the same area.
Jute:
Kapok:
Kenaf: A type of hibiscus with characteristics similar to jute, and used to produce rope, paper, cloth, insulation, and engineered wood.
Linen: One of the earliest known textiles, linen, made from fibers from the stem of the flax plant, is stronger than cotton but lacks the elasticity and easily wrinkles. Linen is absorbant but resists stains, and is used for table cloths, window treatments, wall coverings, upholstery, and more.
Linoleum: A resilient and water-resistant floor covering produced by combining linseed oil (from flax) with wood flour, cork dust, rosin, or limestone, with a backing jute, burlap, or canvas. Linoeum is said to be hypoallergenic. Though it might still be refered to as linoleum, most rolled sheet flooring used now is actually PVC (polyvinyl chloride).
Managed Forests (See Certified Lumber):
Piña:
Raffia:
Ramie:
Reclaimed Lumber:
Rubber:
Seagrass:
Silk:
Sisal:
Stone:
Terracotta:
Terrazzo:
Wicker:
Wool:
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