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These carpet tiles can be clustered in big or small groups for maximum versatility.

Carpet Tiles

If you want to step lightly, modular carpet tiles are a great green option. Several eco-friendly companies offer models that are made from recycled materials, like old carpeting and bottles, and colored with nontoxic dyes.

Pros:

• Carpet squares are modular, so you can replace or wash an individual square if it gets dirty.
• The squares are easy to install, and do not need to be supported by toxic padding.
• The tiles are made from plastic bottles; this process keeps them from piling up in landfills.
• When you're finished with a tile, you can ship it back to the manufacturer to recycle.

Cons:

• Carpet tiles use much more energy to produce than harder materials. About 50 2-liter bottles are needed to produce one carpet square.
• Like any carpet, it's more likely to get dirty than a hard surface floor. That means you'll have to replace the tiles more often.
• There are fewer color and style options than traditional carpet types.
• Buyers typically prefer hard surface floors to carpeting.

Bottom Line: If you have your heart set on a soft floor, these carpet tiles are the way to go. If you're looking for the "greenest" choice, it's more eco-friendly to keep an existing hard-surface floor or invest in a longer-lasting floor product.

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