In the world of LEED certificaiton, it’s not just about bamboo, straw bale and other green building materials. Fabrics and textiles now play an increasing role and have added their own certifications as well.

Many companies and builders have found that by using sustainable fabrics in décor, they can earn extra points for indoor air quality with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design ratings (LEED). According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air quality in an average home is 10 times more polluted than outdoor air, so LEED points can be accrued through the Design Innovation and Rapidly Renewable Resources areas.

"Designers of LEED buildings are looking for green products, and manufacturers are responding," said BuildingGreen president Alex Wilson.

In the last year, more fabric suppliers have increased the number of green options for use in the hospitality business and home decor, according to recent research conducted by Green Lodging News. Be it polyester fabric or high thread-count bedding made from recycled plastic bottles, or fiber made from eucalyptus trees, organic cotton, hemp or linen,  there are more options now than ever before. 

Fabric manufacturers such as Pollack, Twill Textiles and O EcoTextiles, just to name a few, have announced new technologies used in the production of eco-friendly fabrics. O EcoTextiles was rated one of BuildingGreen’s Top 10 Green Building Products in 2008, and offers some of the very first Global Organic Textile Standard fabrics, which have been tested by an indoor air-quality testing lab to measure chemical emissions.

What should you look for when searching for green textiles? Check for certifications such as a Cradle-to-Cradle certification from McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), Scientific Certification Systems and Global Organic Textile Standard, and of course in homes or businesses, look for LEED points gained for indoor air quality.