Earth Weave Natural Wool Non-Toxic Carpet & Area Rugs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are your carpets durable? How long will they last?
What is your stance on the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle)?
Isn’t it better to use a recycled carpet?
Where does your wool come from?
I have heard that wool carpets shed. Is this true?
How long have you been in business?
Do you manufacture area rugs in addition to wall to wall carpet?
How are you different than any of the other environmentally friendly carpet companies out there?
Can I buy your wool pad to use under my carpet from a different manufacturer?
Are your products LEED certified?
How does one clean your carpets?
I am chemically sensitive; will your products work for me?
Can your carpeting products be used over a radiant heat floor?
Does your product require hand sewing or special installation procedures?
Do you manufacture carpet tiles?
ANSWERS
Q: Are your carpets
Durable? How long will they last?
A: Many of the synthetic flooring manufacturers would have you believe
that wool carpet with jute backing is not as durable as the products
they make. This is simply untrue. In fact, wool carpeting has a useful
life of 20-25 years before it needs to be replaced. Typical synthetic
residential carpets will need to be replaced about every 7 years. These
carpets do not truly wear out, they simply are no longer aesthetically
pleasing to look at. They will, however, stay around in a landfill for
an extremely long time...some experts estimate 10,000 years or more.
Naturally durable materials, such as wool carpeting, require less frequent
replacement and generate less waste. They may also realize lower long-term
costs because having such a long useful life will reduce the cost per
year.
Q: What is your stance on the three
R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)?
A: Earth Weave is very serious about the environment and protecting
it through proper implementation of the "three Rs." They do
everything they can to REDUCE waste in their operations and products.
They feel that efficiencies are best accomplished through Mother Nature.
Since the beginning of time, nature has been able to perfectly REUSE
natural materials that are discarded into the environment. Although
there is no waste in this system, the nutrients most often do not replenish
Earth in exactly the same state. As an example, leaves fall to the ground
and bio-degrade to become nutrients for all sorts of living plant life.
Of course, the nutrients are therefore RECYCLED into the natural world.
It really is a perfect system, but it depends on natural raw materials
at both the input and output stage.
Q: Isn’t it better to use
a recycled carpet?
A: Over four billion pounds of carpet enter the solid waste stream in
the U.S. every year, accounting for more than one percent by weight
and about two percent by volume of all municipal solid waste. Furthermore,
the bulky nature of carpet creates collection and handling problems
for solid waste operations, and the variety of materials present in
carpet makes it difficult to recycle. Earth Weave's carpets rely on
the ultimate manufacturer—Mother Nature—and all her extensive know-how
to deconstruct the materials in the carpet and get them back into the
nutrient stream.
Q: How soft are your carpets?
A: Earth Weave's carpets are constructed using the highest quality wool
available. This provides not only an extremely durable product, but
a luxuriously soft one as well. These carpets are not coarse like many
natural fiber products such as sisal, sea grass, coir and jute. Earth
Weave's products are often used in nurseries because of the softness.
Request FREE samples to see for yourself.
Q: Where does your wool come from?
A: Earth Weave uses British wool due to its excellent crimp and fiber
characteristics. The sheep breeds used are the finest available, and
raised in a free range environment without the use of pesticides. The
sheep are outside in all types of weather, both harsh and pleasant.
This dynamic environment causes them to grow a very hardy fleece that
allows Earth Weave to produce the highest quality carpeting.
Q: How do you get your colors?
A: The colors are derived from the wool as it is naturally grown on
the sheep. Just as you, your family and friends have a specific color
of hair, so do the sheep have unique colors based on particular breeds.
These naturally colored fleeces are blended to achieve the beautiful
colorations of the carpets. No dyes or harsh chemicals (including moth
proofing) are applied.
Q: I have heard that wool carpets
shed. Is this true?
A: It is true wool carpets shed a bit. This is because they are made
from short “staple” fibers. In fact, all staple fiber carpets shed a
little, even synthetics made from staple fibers. Staple fibers are any
that are not continuous filament. The only natural fiber that is continuous
filament is silk. And, of course, silk would not be as durable as wool
for use in carpet. In spite of the shedding that occurs with staple
carpet products you can be assured that it is minimal and will not be
noticeable in the appearance or durability of the carpet. You may see
small fibers in your vacuum cleaner if you were to look inside the collection
bag, but this is typical and no cause for alarm. Note that shedding
lessens over time.
Q: How long has
Earth Weave been in business?
A: Earth Weave was founded in 1997. This was well before the new wave
of “green business.” Earth Weave is not a new fly-by-night company,
nor one of the growing numbers of carpet manufacturers that are jumping
on the green wagon. Please look closely at these other manufacturers
to see what they produce in addition to their green lines. You will
often find that they are a large conglomerate primarily producing synthetic
products.
Q: Do you manufacture
area rugs in addition to wall to wall carpet?
Yes, Earth Weave manufactures area rugs. The same natural yarn that
is used on the face of the carpet is used to serge the edges for a high-end
look. This edge finish is durable, as well as being more elegant that
the binding procedures some manufacturers implement.
Q: How are you different
than any of the other environmentally friendly carpet companies out
there?
Many companies are just “green washing” the public by claiming to recycle
and/or use recycled products. Earth Weave does not feel that synthetics
are sustainable, and therefore are not "green" or eco-friendly.
As we all know, petroleum is a finite, non-renewable resource, so using
materials made of petroleum is not sustainable. By having sustainable
products that are based on nature, the planet is replenished at the
end of a product’s lifecycle. From Nature To Nature™.
Q: Can I buy your wool pad
to use under my carpet from a different manufacturer?
You can use Earth Weave's pad with carpeting from a different manufacturer,
but you should consider why you would want to do this. Many companies
have products that will be termed natural, or be said to be in a natural
collection. If you look closely you will find a synthetic backing on
the carpet. If you want the healthiest carpet and padding combination,
it does not make sense to put a natural wool pad under a synthetic-backed
carpet. You should just use a synthetic padding product.
Q: Are your products LEED certified?
A: Buildings are LEED certified, NOT products. Our products meet criteria
for accumulation of LEED points.
Low Emitting |
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Renewable |
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Manufacturing Distance |
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Regional Materials |
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Construction Waste Management |
MATERIALS & RESOURCES
MR Credit 4.1: Recycled Content -- 1 point
For this credit, the total project must contain 10% (based on cost)
recycled content, in a ratio of 2:1 post-consumer to post-industrial
recycled content.
MR Credit 4.2: Recycled Content -- 1 point in addition to MR credit
4.1
This credit requires the total project to contain 20% (based on cost)
recycled content in a 2:1 ratio of post consumer to post-industrial
recycled material.
MR Credit 5.1: Regional Materials -- 1 point
This credit is earned if 10% of the total materials needed for a project
are extracted, harvested or recovered, and manufactured within a 500-mile
radius. If only a fraction of the material is from the region, that
amount by weight will contribute to the regional credit value. Map
MR Credit 5.2: Regional Materials -- 1 point in addition to MR credit
5.1
This credit is earned if 20% of a project's total materials meet the
criteria outlined in section 5.1. Map
MR Credit 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials -- 1 point
To qualify for this credit, 2.5% of the total value of all building
materials and products used in the project (based on cost) must come
from materials made from plants that are typically harvested within
a ten-year cycle or shorter.
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EQ Credit 4.3: Low-Emitting Materials: Carpet Systems -- 1 point
The requirements of this credit are met if all carpet installed in the
building interior meets the testing and product requirements of the
Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label Plus program. Additionally, all
cushion used must qualify for CRI's Green Label program, and all adhesive
must meet the prerequisite standards of EQ Credit 4:1 VOC limit of 50
g/L.
Q: Why should I use
your product instead of a synthetic carpet that will provide me with
the same amount of LEED points at a lower cost?
A: This is one of the main failures of the LEED program. In a lot of
cases, it does not reward or encourage the implementation of truly sustainable
products. This is an area where a lot of “green washing” has taken place.
It seems that the large corporations have been able to influence the
program to meet the criteria of the products they produce, instead of
the other way around. It is not like this in all cases, but if one looks
closely these shortcomings are quickly evident. Environmental health
and planet welfare are about more than accumulation of “points” and
who has the most money to influence policy.
Q: What is your warranty?
A: Earth Weave has a 5-year manufacturer’s defect warranty. Natural
fiber carpets vary in texture and color. Slight variances in texture
and color are normal and do not constitute a manufacturing defect. Matting,
crushing, soiling, staining or any other changes in appearance are not
considered manufacturing defects and are excluded from this warranty.
No warranty is made as to individual reactions, physical or otherwise,
regarding this carpet and its effects. Individuals who are sensitive
to animal fibers or the smell of wool, natural rubber, hemp, cotton
or jute should contact us for a free product sample
before ordering.
Q: How does one clean
your carpets?
A: Earth Weave suggests customers use Host
Carpet Cleaning Products. Host makes do-it-yourself products, and
also has a nationwide network of carpet cleaners who use their professional
system. As with all quality natural fiber carpets, vacuuming with a
suction-only vacuum cleaner is recommended, as beater bar vacuum cleaners
may damage the surface pile of this product. Proper vacuuming on a regular
basis will improve performance, however Dyson vacuums are not recommended,
as their suction is too great. Use only wool-approved cleaners for removing
stains. Do not vigorously rub the affected area. Lightly blot area instead.
If stain persists, contact a professional cleaner and be sure they use
cleaners designed for wool and natural fibers.
Q: I am chemically sensitive;
will your products work for me?
A: While Earth Weave has many chemically sensitive customers who have
had a great experience with these carpets, they cannot guarantee nor
comment on any individual’s reaction. It is up to each person to decide
on their own if our products work for them in their environment. No
warranty is made as to individual reactions, physical or otherwise,
regarding this carpet and its effects. We suggest that you contact
us for a free product sample before ordering.
Q: Do you ship to a residence?
A: Earth Weave can ship to a residence, but they strongly suggest shipping
to a commercial address for ease of unloading and storage. Often installers
have access to a commercial location, or the installer can pick up the
carpet at the trucking terminal. As you can imagine, carpeting is a
large and bulky item, and best handled by a professional that is familiar
with the receiving process. Commercial delivery typically costs about
$85 less, which should more than make up for any additional cost your
installer may charge for this service.
Q: Can your carpeting
products be used over a radiant heat floor?
A: Definitely! Earth Weave has test data that shows carpets can be used
favorably with radiant floor heat systems. This is real-world testing
in an actual room-size test chamber. The data validates what Earth Weave
has always known, and of course this is great news to our customers
who want the comfort and softness of non-toxic wool carpet instead of
a hard-surface floor covering.
Q: Does your product require hand
sewing or special installation procedures?
A: No, hand sewing is not required with Earth Weave products. If you
have an installer who can sew the seams and you prefer that method,
there is nothing wrong with it, but it is generally more expensive to
sew the seams. They suggest that you find a competent installer who
has experience with wool carpeting and access to a low/no VOC seam tape.
Your installer will find that Earth Weave products install very nicely
because they do not contain stiff fillers like synthetic products.
Q: Do you manufacture carpet
tiles?
A: At this time Earth Weave has not been able to develop a process that
allows us to manufacture carpet tiles in way that is natural and non-toxic.
All the current carpet tile manufacturers use synthetic materials throughout
their product. As much as they would like to make a carpet tile, the
bigger issue for Earth Weave is to make it in a sustainable way. As
you know, natural is the only true road to sustainability.
