Earth Weave’s McKinley Collection is made with the same material as their signature carpets. These rugs are tufted, textured loop pile and are made from zero-VOC 100% undyed wool that has not been treated with pesticides or stain retardants. Earth Weave use a primary backing made from natural hemp and cotton, bound to the yarn with all-natural rubber, and a secondary jute backing. All edges are serged using the same colored yarn as the rug, and area rugs take around 3 weeks to make after ordering.
Earth Weave McKinley Collection Area Rugs
Highlights: Rugs are made from zero-VOC 100% undyed wool that has not been treated with pesticides or stain retardants. Best suited to lower traffic areas, such as bedrooms and guest rooms. Safe for everyone, including the chemically sensitive and young children.
Table of Contents
Earth Weave McKinley Collection Area Rugs at a glance:
Made in: US (using UK-sourced materials)
Materials: Wool, industrial hemp, cotton, natural rubber latex and jute
Certifications: None listed
Overview
The McKinley rugs are not as thick as the Catskill collection (44 oz vs. 65 oz) and are best suited to lower traffic areas such as bedrooms and guest rooms. They are thicker than the Pyrenees and Dolomite rugs though, and Earth Weave also offers a natural rubber pad for their rugs, which can add extra cushioning and extend the life of the rug.
See our full roundup of eco-friendly rugs here.
The McKinley rugs are made with 100% wool, industrial hemp, cotton, natural rubber latex and jute, are available in 10 colors in 4’x6′, 6’x9′, 8’x10′ and 10’x12′ sizes and are non-toxic. That means they do not contain VOCs, formaldehyde, insect repellents, mildewcides, fungicides, toxic dyes or PBDEs (flame retardants), making them safe for everyone, including the chemically sensitive and young children.
Earth Weave is a carpet mill that makes all of its own Bio-floor carpet in the USA. They were the first carpet manufacturer to use only natural materials such as industrial hemp and natural latex, all of which are 100% biodegradable. Unlike most carpet manufacturers that use toxic dyes, moth-proofing and stain protection, Earth Weave uses nothing synthetic in the face yarns, backing or adhesive.
Earth Weave rugs are pretty much as eco-friendly as you can get. They are made with completely renewable resources, are 100% biodegradable, actually improve air quality by capturing contaminants, allergens, and dust, are more durable and cleanable than rugs made with nylon, polypropylene and olefin, and are naturally fire resistant without chemicals. They are also excellent at absorbing sound and insulating a space to make it feel cozy while also reducing your heating bill. What’s more, the McKinley Collection is LEED qualified (MR Credit 4.1, 4.2: Recycled content, 5.1, 5.2: Regional Materials, 6: Rapidly renewable materials, EQ 4.3: Low-emitting materials).
One thing to note, however, is that because these rugs are made with natural fibers, some variation in color does occur. Area rugs are also made to order, meaning that they are not returnable.
To care for your McKinley rug, vacuum with suction only (remove the beater bar as this may damage the surface pile). Use only wool approved cleaners for removing stains and do not rub at stains too vigorously. Instead, lightly blot the area after using a spatula or palette knife to remove residues.
These rugs come with a 5-year warranty, use materials from the United Kingdom, are made in the US, and meet or exceed the Methenamine Pill Test for flammability. They have a pile height of 12/32″ and are soft enough to use in a nursery or children’s playroom.
Earth Weave vs. Hook and Loom vs. Organic Weave
Earth Weave are the second-best option for eco-friendly wool rugs, offering a variety of pile weights, colors, and designs. They have been in business as an environmentally sustainable carpet and rug manufacturer for more than two decades and have long led the field. That said, they’re oddly devoid of third-party certifications, so we’re going largely on the basis of this long reputation and lack of complaints against the company.
Hook and Loom are another good option for eco-friendly rugs (View Prices on Hook and Loom) but get third place in this category behind Organic Weave and Earth Weave. Hook and Loom produce undyed, handwoven, and hand-bound rugs made without glues, bonding agents, latex, dyes, or other chemicals that can be harmful to human health and the wider environment and also claim that their rugs are free from child labor, but they lack certifications for any of these things. They do, however, ship their rugs in minimal packaging to reduce environmental impact and they carry the Green People seal of approval, which is one of the less weighty eco-certifications but does help to weed out companies simply ‘greenwashing’.
Organic Weave are easily the best in class for wool rugs. They carry serious third-party eco-credentials you can trust and also have a large number of very happy customers. They not only use GOTS certified organic wool, FSC natural latex (where needed), and GOTS certified organic cotton, they are GoodWeave certified to ensure no child labor is involved in the manufacture of their rugs. Organic Weave are committed to sustainability, safety, and social fairness, and have demonstrated this right from the beginning by never selling a rug that doesn’t meet these standards. While other companies produce the occasional eco-friendly and/or Fair Trade certified wool rug, if you’re looking for a top-quality rug from a company with a solid set of ethics, look to Organic Weave.
All in all, Organic Weave are the best choice for eco-friendly wool rugs and have enough variety in colors, patterns, and styles to satisfy almost every demand. And, if you don’t find what you need, they are very open to custom orders.
Earth Weave McKinley Collection Area Rugs
Highlights: Rugs are made from zero-VOC 100% undyed wool that has not been treated with pesticides or stain retardants. Best suited to lower traffic areas, such as bedrooms and guest rooms. Safe for everyone, including the chemically sensitive and young children.