Buying carpets and rugs

Tread carefully when choosing a new carpet

Avoid synthetic-pile carpets (nylon, polyester and polypropylene), which may have been chemically treated and although cheaper, are costlier on the environment as they are based on non-sustainable, oil-based raw materials. Combined with an artificial underlay such as sponge rubber, the result is chemical overkill, and when sent to landfill, they could take 20,000 years to biodegrade.

The greenest option is wool-rich pile with a jute or hessian backing, on top of felt made from leftover yarn (such as Axfelt 65 from Axminster) or rubber crumb, produced from recycled tyres; Interfloor uses three million a year that would otherwise be dumped.
"The majority of wool used in the industry is from British sheep farmers," says David Whitefoot, Technical Director of The Carpet Foundation. "Imported New Zealand wool is used in very pale carpets, but for high-quality coloured carpets, British is best."

An advantage is that a natural-fibre floor covering will biodegrade, but you can also give it a second life. Take clean, unwanted carpets to a charity or school; use as a garden mulch, position under a pond liner to protect against sharp objects, use it to cover a compost bin; or cut up sections to use as doormats and squares to place under the feet of heavy furniture. Then again, perhaps all it needs is a good professional clean - with eco-friendly products, of course

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