Recycled Plastic Rugs

From LoveToKnow GreenLiving

Recycled plastic rugs are a great way to add a touch of style to your home while also being kind to the environment.

Rugs made with recycled materials

At first sight, plastic rugs may not seem like the ideal product for people who are interested in green living. The brightly colored and stylish plastic rugs that can be seen gracing the pages of style magazines and websites may look far from the traditional image of a 'green' product. Many of these, however, are manufactured from recycled plastic products, such as plastic bags, and this makes them a great alternative to other products. Rugs that are made from recycled plastics have all of the benefits of a plastic rug, without the potential harm that is caused to the environment during manufacture.

Benefits of Recycled Plastic Rugs

There are many benefits of recycled plastic rugs. These include:

Environmental Benefits

There are many real benefits in the recycling of products. Recycling waste keeps discarded items from filling up landfill sites. Recycling and repurposing items into different products also reduces the amount of virgin materials that go into making new goods as well as reducing the energy that is spent creating new goods. Recycling plastic is a great way to produce hard wearing items, such as rugs, without introducing a further negative impact on the environment.

Unusual Items

Recycled items are typically a little different from other products. This is because there are many features of recycled items that makes each one slightly different. Rugs that are made from recycled plastic material, for instance, will each be slightly different in color or texture, depending on the recycled materials used. This makes recycled items ideal for people who are looking for something different in their home.

All Weather

Recycled plastic rugs can be used indoors and outdoors and are suitable for all weather conditions. Plastic rugs are great for muddy boots and can easily be cleaned by washing the rug down in clean water. Many recycled plastic products are also light fast, meaning that the colors will not fade even if they are left in the sun. This means that plastic rugs can be ideal for putting on a sunny porch or even for taking to the beach.

Buying Rugs Made From Recycled Plastic

Rugs made from recycled plastic can be purchased from green living stores as well as online. Some stores that sell a good range of eco-friendly plastic rugs include:

Celery Street – a range of different types of rugs
Bambeco – rugs made from materials that would otherwise take 700 years to decompose
Cottage Simple – an outdoor recycled rug

Making Plastic Rugs from Recycled Bags

While it is possible to buy rugs made from recycled plastic, it is also possible to make rugs at home from discarded plastic bags. This is a great way to use plastic bags, keeping them out of the landfill, while also making a unique rug that is bound to be a talking point. Many people make plastic rugs from crocheting plastic bag yarn (sometimes referred to as plarn). All that is required is a few crochet skills and a lot of patience to cut up the plastic bags! Crafters also weave rugs from plastic bags and this is an interesting alternative. Here are some websites with more information about making your own rugs from recycled plastic: