What is the most eco-friendly flooring?

Eco-friendly flooring, also known as sustainable flooring, is all about sustainability and using less harmful products or processes to create flooring for our homes. It helps to protect our environment while looking chic all at the same time! So, if you want to make the change to more sustainable flooring in your home without compromising on style, read on for our expert advice.

In this guide:

What is eco-friendly flooring?
What is the best eco-friendly carpet?
What are the best eco-friendly wooden floors?
Is vinyl flooring sustainable?
Find the perfect eco-friendly flooring with Tapi

What is eco-friendly flooring?

Eco-friendly flooring and sustainable flooring are becoming ever more important in a world fighting climate change, plastic mountains, and pollution. The most sustainable flooring options include products that reduce their impact on the environment. For instance, flooring products made from renewable and recyclable materials.

Wool carpets are very eco-friendly, as sheep regrow their wool every year, making this a great resource that we know can be easily replenished.

Sustainable wood is also taken from renewable sources or forests that have been certified as following international standards of responsible forestry management. As well as using sustainable flooring materials, eco-friendly flooring manufacturers should follow green practices as much as possible throughout the entire production process.

There are several key points to consider if you want to pick the most sustainable flooring:

Does the material used to produce it come from a sustainable source that’s easily replenished?
Can it be recycled at the end of its lifespan?
What chemical treatments are involved in its production?

How we celebrate sustainable flooring at Tapi

Here at Tapi, we understand the importance of sustainability and the impact that our products can have on the world around us. Our favoured suppliers support the environment by using recycled materials and eco-friendly products, such as water-based paints, wherever possible, as well as conforming to low emissions and high environmental standards. So, you can be certain we’re working very hard to provide eco-friendly flooring for you and the environment.

Watch out for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo next to our laminates, which guarantees environmentally responsible practices at every stage of the production process – that’s no mean feat!

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What is the best eco-friendly carpet?

Pure wool carpets are one of the top eco-friendly carpet options. They’re good for the planet and feel wonderful underfoot. Also, because of their hard-wearing nature, they’ll last for a really long time in your home and won’t need frequent replacing.

Remember, a cosy carpet will warm up your room and can save up to 20% on heating bills, so you’ll save on energy and be as snug as a bug in a rug – literally!

Other natural fibres for carpets include sisal, coir, or jute, which are all made from sustainable plants. A luxurious, durable carpet that adds texture and character, sisal is a totally natural choice made from 100% plant-based organic fibre. Learn more about the difference between jute and sisal with our guide.

What is the best eco-friendly underlay?

There are two options when it comes to eco-friendly flooring insulation:

Clean and re-use the original underlay – However, you’ll need to consider the condition of the underlay as this may affect the wear and life of your new carpet.
Buy recycled or sustainable underlay – Opt for eco-friendly underlay made from rubber crumb or recycled PU foam.

Or you could try our latest underlay innovation: Tapi underlay made with Nike Grind. It's made with at least 20% Nike Grind recycled foam from manufacturing scrap. Available in a 9mm and 11mm thickness, this recycled underlay provides a super springy feel underfoot and uses clever technology to prevent fungi and bacteria growing to keep your underlay fresh.

A more sustainable alternative to regular carpet underlay, not only can Nike Grind help to prolong the life of your carpet, but it can also help to dampen noise and reduce heat loss.

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What are the best eco-friendly wooden floors?

If you’re comparing eco-friendly flooring options and wondering which one to choose besides carpet, we have the answer! If you want to go for smooth flooring, some of the most sustainable flooring products in the market include cork and bamboo flooring, which are long-lasting, natural options from renewable sources. However, they can be very pricey, easily scratched, and susceptible to moisture damage.

Tapi offer many other laminate and wood options that are both affordable, sustainable, and hard-wearing, including engineered wood. Our Landscape collection preserves the beauty and quality of genuine wood, made from certified sustainable sources at a price you’ll love. Meanwhile, the Quick-Step laminate collection is made from 80% sustainable wood – and it’s water resistant.

There’s been a huge increase in the popularity of hardwood alternatives in recent years. Many of our laminate and engineered wood products are made from sustainable flooring materials. They’re manufactured in modern production facilities that are subject to strict emissions and environmental standards and often have their own energy and heating cycles, making them ideal sustainable flooring options for fans of wood or laminate.

We’re proud to say that our largest suppliers are completely self-sufficient, replanting all trees used for production and using surplus materials to power their manufacturing plants.

Is vinyl flooring sustainable?

Resilient and long-lasting, luxury vinyl planks or tiles and vinyl flooring can be a real eco-superhero because it has a strong life cycle. And with all Tapi vinyl flooring being low VOC (volatile organic compound) and the major proportion being recyclable, it can be a good eco-friendly flooring choice.

If you’re replacing your existing vinyl flooring with us, we can help arrange expert flooring removal and fitting to ensure that it’s disposed of correctly at a waste recycling centre.

What is the best eco-friendly vinyl flooring?

The most sustainable vinyl flooring options are products that are low VOC, meaning they will have fewer chemical emissions in your home. We work with responsible suppliers, including those who operate wind turbine farms, to supply the energy needed to run their manufacturing plants, and we’ve also worked really hard to ensure any plastics used in our products are low VOC.

It’s also worth remembering that both vinyl, wood and laminate flooring promote clean air, as they don’t trap dust mites or mould spores that can aggravate allergens or sneezing.

Tapi Top Tip: Hard floors can contain 100 times fewer allergens than carpets!

Find the perfect eco-friendly flooring with Tapi

There are plenty of eco-friendly carpet and flooring options available out there, so why not book a free home visit today so that one of our flooring experts can come and give you a great quote on your own eco-flooring?

Or, if you’re feeling confident and ready to purchase your new flooring, pop into your local Tapi store today to see all the samples we have available. For more inspiration for creating a sustainable home, head to our Conscious Living lookbook and explore every type of eco-friendly flooring on offer and how to style them.

Post author

Charlie Harris Buying Director

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Published: 22-09-2025