Saving the environment is the need of the day. With more architects, product/interior designers and companies becoming aware of this, the variety of sustainable options available in the market is increasing. Before you make your choice, it is important to understand the materials that contribute to a green lifestyle.

WOOD

Wildernest, an eco-resort that's literally carved out of a jungle on the Goa-Karnataka-Maharashtra border, has employed acacia wood (from a certified wood plantation) in the construction of its beautiful cottages. The flooring has been crafted out of old railway sleeper wood. It is interesting to know that the state governments of Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have set up certified wood plantations where you can buy acacia wood. It is eco-friendly because the tree, Mimosoideae, from which the wood is obtained, grows rapidly, uses less water and is commonly found.

In fact, many forward-thinking architects are looking at sustainable, reclaimed wood options. Used for flooring and furniture, the wood comes from managed forests which, unlike regular ones, are never destroyed in one clear sweep. Only select trees are removed. Each area then is maintained and replanted, allowing the trees to regenerate. A few companies like FunderMax India buy untreated wood waste from sawmills across the country, which is then used to fashion organic fibre panels that avoid using synthetic resin. A new collection of wooden floors called Eco Core, from European company Kährs Impex, essentially has a middle layer of post-industrial wood waste that ensures a low carbon footprint.

BAMBOO

Internationally, designers are talking about India's stunning success with bamboo and jute. A bamboo grove releases 35 per cent more oxygen into the air than a similar-sized strand of other trees. It matures and can be replanted within seven years (as compared to 30 to 50 years for species like teak, sal, oak, etc). It also helps improve soil conditions and prevents erosion along the way. Bamboo grows so fast that it can yield 20 times more timber than trees in the same area.

In Tripura, young designers have come up with simple bamboo and jute products that minimise the use of hardware. Rhizome, a social design firm, which works with the Kotwalia community of Gujarat and runs Bamboo Canopy in Ahmedabad, has a raft of products — from new-age bookshelves to quirky stools.

Pondicherry-based architect Fabian Chirou has innovated with Bamboo Mat Corrugated Sheets (BMCS) as a roofing material. To manufacture BMCS, bamboo is converted into mats that are hand-woven by artisans. A commercial plant at Burnihat, Meghalaya, then processes these mats into BMCS. The roof is thick, keeps the home cool and is durable, unlike a tiled roof which tends to crack and break with time.

COCONUT SHELL

Kirei Coco Tiles (from American company Kirei) are largely imported, but easily available to designers and architects. It is fashioned from reclaimed coconut shells, low volatile organic compound (VOC) resin and sustainably harvested wood. This eco-friendly product can be used as decorative tiles or panels, placed horizontally or vertically. It features several colour options. Coconut shells are also being crafted into sustainable bowls, lamps and the like. Such merchandise is easily available at stores like Tribal Route (Mumbai) and Mother Earth (Bangalore and Mumbai).

RATTAN

Rattan is a thin climbing plant that grows very similarly to vines in tropical regions such as Indonesia. Rattan furniture is either made by hand or machines by weaving the material around a cane framework. It is considered to be one of the world's most eco-friendly furnishing options. Nowadays, this material is used for both indoor and outdoor furniture.

CORK

Rapidly renewable cork is employed as floor tiles. The material comes from the bark of the cork oak tree which can be harvested every 10 years. It is rot-and fire-resistant, transmits little sound, and low on VOCs. Its manufacturing process produces almost no material waste. Another option is linoleum, which is made from dried and milled flax seeds mixed with other plant materials such as pine resin, wood flour and ground cork. More importantly, it is 100 per cent biodegradable.

STONE

Locally available stone, like granite, slate and limestone, used largely in construction, is now finding application even in furniture, especially outdoor furniture. Designer Rimzim Abha often uses natural stone to fashion products like tables, benches, washbasins, etc, as they season well, look stunning and are eco-friendly. In Rajasthan, designers like Jaipur-based Raghav Behl, are trying out blue and brown kota stone to make outdoor furniture.

Besides furniture, architects like Goa-based Dean D'cruz and Gerard da Cunha are using stone to construct houses. Liberal use of locally-available laterite is evident in their residential projects within the state. In Rajasthan, too, yellow and green kota stone are being used in the construction of havelis and villas, a centuries-old practice. In fact, in areas like Bikaner, stone was extensively employed in homes, a tradition that is seeing a revival.

RECYCLED GLASS

Made by melding sand, soda ash and lime, recycled glass is considered a better alternative to the traditional variety. Sometimes, industrial waste is also used to fashion this green-tinted glass. It finds application in flooring, worktops, partition walls, panels, lampshades and even dinnerware! Interestingly, it is resistant to heat, acid and staining.

ECO PAINTS

Unlike conventional paints, which might be toxic, eco-paints have low emission levels. Paints with low VOC/ no VOC are finding a place in the portfolio of paint manufacturers. Furthermore, they are odourless as they don't contain injurious chemicals. Though it isn't possible to create 100 per cent non-toxic and non-allergenic paints, these have a lower concentration of the harmful elements.

Now that you know which materials will help conserve our planet, do your part and incorporate these eco-friendly materials in your home.

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