The Chinese are one of the largest producers of seagrass carpets in the world, and they quite literally have seagrass farms set up on dry land, much like rice fields, or crawfish farm fields are constructed. Seagrass has long been known as a source of textile fiber that can be spun into a heavy-duty thread that can be used to make anything from clothing, bedding, sheets, carpeting, and a very popular shopping bag in Asian countries. The closest competitors this natural material has would be Sisal, and Coir, which are made from the Agave plant and coconut fibers respectively.
The use of seagrass carpets, as regular everyday floor covering is very popular in countries like the Philippines, Japan, and even Korea, not to mention its widespread use in almost all provinces of China. This material is made into area rugs and wall-to-wall carpeting just as we have in the United States. Americans have started to adopt natural carpeting such as seagrass and coir recently, as it reduces our waste footprint. These carpets can be actually chopped up and put into compost bins when they have outlived their usefulness in the home. Do not worry, as they will last just as long as the conventional floor covering choices we already have in store currently.
One way to start converting your home over to more natural or organic products is to use seagrass carpet tiles in rooms where you would like to upgrade the flooring. This is an easy process, and you and your spouse or mate can install a complete bedroom in just a couple of hours. This product cost about the same as any carpet tiles offered but will give you the satisfaction that when it is eventually disposed of it will degrade naturally in a landfill or your vegetable garden. The colors are usually neutral as the base material is very resistant to holding moisture, and prevents dies from penetrating its cells. Be sure and do not to glue the tiles in place as they will be almost impossible to remove in the future.
The employ of seagrass carpeting is slowly becoming popular here in America, but it will take time to catch on in the mainstream consumer marketplace. The easiest and most cost-effective way to purchase this type of natural product is in the natural area rug category of most online and local resellers of throw or area rugs. They work just as well indoors as they will in your exterior living areas or patios. Seagrass will withstand the horrid heat of the southern states, as well as the bone-chilling freezing frost of the north. They are effortlessly maintained by using a simple outside watering hosepipe, and a stiff-bristled broom. During rain storms, the rugs out in the weather will quickly evacuate the moisture once it stops storming, and will dry out quicker than anything else on your patio.
The options for seagrass area rugs are almost limitless in size, shape, and varying degrees of quality. There are carpet loom companies here in the states that have already started making their own area rug collections for sale, and order the basic fibrous twine from Chinese exporters to make their products. One day they may even farm seagrass in the U.S.A., but for now, they can make the finished product here. Do not get too excited about colors as the only way accent shades can be added is by incorporating non-natural fiber materials into the weave of the seagrass area rugs. Be sure and try to find rugs that have edging sewn onto the perimeter of them to prevent the edges and especially the corners from turning up after they have been in use for a period.