The truth is, the recognizable smell of a new car or fresh coat of paint actually comes from Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). The new survey, conducted by FLOR, a manufacturer and marketer of design-inspired carpet tiles, found that 91 percent of Americans are concerned about the environment, but only 10 percent say they are familiar with VOCs — and why they are unsafe.

VOCs are harmful gases released by everyday household items, including paint, carpets, cleaning supplies, aerosol sprays, air fresheners and some cosmetics. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air consistently contains 10 times the amount of VOCs as outdoor air. Given that Americans typically spend 80 to 90 percent of their time indoors, many people face prolonged exposure. The problem? VOCs can lead to asthma and other respiratory problems.

While an overwhelming majority, 91 percent, of respondents expressed concern about the environment, 61 percent reported that they throw unwanted carpet in the trash or place it on the curb for someone to take, according to the recent FLOR survey. What people fail to realize is that it can take 50 years for wool to break down in a landfill, and 250,000 years for man-made fibers, like nylon and carpet backing, to completely decay.

The FLOR survey also uncovered that a small percentage of people actually opt for some of these other disposal solutions, with only 15 percent of consumers choosing to recycle their old carpeting, and 25 percent choosing to donate it to others. But, FLOR is doing its part to offer people a more responsible alternative. Consumers can participate in the company’s environmental efforts through FLOR’s Return & Recycle Program, where old FLOR tiles can be returned to be recycled into new product. Many FLOR products contain renewable or recycled materials and meet the Carpet and Rug Institute’s (CRI) Green Label Plus standard for VOC emissions.

“FLOR has always been a believer in providing smart solutions for the home,” says Greg Colando, president, FLOR. “We want to help consumers understand the range of eco-friendly issues and products out there when it comes to renovating or updating home décor.”

For more information, visit http://www.FLOR.com.

No one knows exactly how much illegal hardwood enters the United States, but estimates range from $250 million to $375 million worth per year — much of which is used for high-end flooring.

Most illegal hardwood comes from tropical rain forests, delicate ecosystems with high biodiversity. Tropical hardwoods protect the soil — removing them prevents other plants from growing and allows rain to strip away nutrients from the soil. Studies have shown that rain forest deforestation accounts for 18 percent of greenhouse gases.

In December 2008, the U.S. government amended The Lacey Act, its oldest wildlife protection statute, to discourage illegal hardwood imports. According to the amendment, anyone involved in the import, purchase or sale of illegal wood is subject to one to five years in prison and $100,000 to $500,000 in fines per violation.

The U.S. Customs Service monitors suspicious cargo, but too much wood is imported into the U.S. to catch every illegal shipment. However, consumers can take steps to avoid the purchase of illegal hardwood. Shaw, a company that supplies easy-to-install hardwood products, provides the following tips for Americans looking to enrich their homes with gorgeous hardwood without destroying rain forests:

Look for hardwood that is made in the U.S. Choosing American-sourced wood not only supports the country’s economy, it helps to ensure that the hardwood is legally harvested from managed forests, which are a truly renewable resource.

Beware of exotic wood products. Woods like Brazilian cherry or mongoy are much more likely to have been harvested illegally than non-exotic woods.

Do your homework. Ask questions before purchasing your floor to make sure it is from a retailer that sources its hardwood products from a trustworthy, legal distributor.

Consider domestic species of hardwood. Although woods like hickory, oak, birch and maple are grown in America, advanced staining techniques allow these species to have the exotic looks many homeowners desire without the risk of purchasing illegally harvested products.

Look for eco-friendly laminate products. Shaw’s Luminiere collection mimics exotic woods like Ipe heartwood and teak, but doesn’t require any illegal harvesting. Better yet, the laminate uses 98 percent less newly harvested wood than most hardwood products and features a high-density-fiber core made from recycled wood.

For more information, visit http://www.shawfloors.com.

Each reusable grocery bag can eliminate 1,000 plastic bags over the course of its lifetime. Even better, consumers can purchase reusable grocery bags that benefit good causes. For example,
two organizations that benefit poverty-stricken families, Americans Helping Americans and Running Strong for American Indian Youth, recently started printing their logos on grocery bags containing 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.

So, why do so many people fail to carry reusable bags? Despite the planning that goes into creating shopping lists, it is mostly a store-time decision when deciding what they will use to carry their groceries.

For shoppers who want to get the most out of reusable bags, keep these tips in mind:

Keep some extra bags spare. Purchase several bags. Keep some in your car and in a visible location in your home. Fold lightweight bags, and keep them in your purse or a large pocket.

• Designate bags for different purposes. Label separate bags for vegetables, meat and fish. You might also want to purchase one or two insulated bags for frozen or refrigerated foods. If cold foods sweat and dampen the bags, let them air-dry on a clothesline before storing them.

• Put your reusable bag on your list. When you write out your shopping list, make a note to remember your bag.

• Think beyond the grocery store. Keep one or two bags for non-food use, and take them with you when you go to the mall or convenience store.

• If you do forget a reusable bag, purchase a new one. Hopefully, if you purchase enough new bags, you will start remembering to take them to the store. Make your money count by purchasing bags from reputable charities like Americans Helping Americans and Running Strong for American Indian Youth.