If you're renovating and want to build your new home with the environment in mind, there are materials you can opt for.
This first part covers materials for your walls and floors.
(Pictured is the Ragno Bistrot tiles — see next slide.)
Ragno tiles from Rice
Italian tile brand Ragno has stylish but also eco-friendly ranges, such as Brick, which are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) –certified by the US Green Building Council, for its recycled material content of at least 40 per cent.
From www.rice-fields.com
Mafi engineered wood flooring
Mafi handmade engineered wood floor boards are sustainable and durable. The product, from Austria, is FSC-certified, contains no chemicals and is free of volatile organic compounds.
From www.mafi.com.sg
Wooden flooring from WOW Floors
The hardwood used in this flooring have been certified by the FSC and awarded the Green Label. You can select from species, such as maple, black walnut, white oak, hickory and more.
From www.wowwow.com.sg
Kebony timber cladding
Kebony is a sustainable softwood, enhanced with a bio-based liquid to become an alternative to tropical hardwood! Used as exterior decking and cladding, it is resistant to rot, mould and decay, and doesn’t require maintenance. The product has various certifications.
From www.mafi.com.sg
Neostone tiles from Hafary
This collection of porcelain tiles is made of recycled materials. The product has been awarded the Green Label by the Singapore Environment Council.
From www.hafary.com.sg
Symphony wallpaper from Goodrich Global
Wallpaper by Symphony is produced in New Jersey, according to standards that meet the US Environment Protection Agency requirements, Clean Air and Water Acts. The brand’s printing facility is also designed to recycle printing inks, using a closed-loop ink system.
From www.goodrichglobal.com
Quercus & Co wallpaper from E&A Interiors
This Australia-based wallpaper brand makes use of eco-friendly paper to create its hand-drawn designs. Made from renewable and sustainable resources, with 30 per cent being recycled post-consumer waste, the wallpaper is also made to order — meaning no stock is held and wastage is minimised.
From www.eandainteriors.com
Belka
An alternative to wallpaper and paint, Belka is an eco-friendly wall coating made of premium recyclable cotton, cellulose fibres and mineral flakes, bonded together by a natural adhesive. As such, there are no chemicals, pollutants and volatile organic compounds. Just add water to apply it or remove it!
From www.belka.sg
Nippon Paint
Nippon Paints, such as the Odour-less Premium all-in-1 and the Odour-less Easy Wash, have low levels of volatile organic compounds. Besides being non-toxic, the paints are water-based and formulated with a solvent-free resin, which reduces air pollutants.
From www.nipponpaint.com.sg
Dulux paint
Dulux Light & Space paint is not only Green Label-certified, but also has low volatile organic compounds. Having the brand’s Lumitec technology — reflecting twice as much light as normal emulsion paint, to brighten your space, means it also saves energy as you need less artificial lighting!
From www.dulux.com.sg