Bamboo Flooring: Is It Worth The Hype?

Consumers across the United States and the world are continually developing their environmental awareness. With this, companies are quick to discover that billing themselves as "green" or "environmentally friendly" is an excellent strategy for growth and increasing profit and market share. Unfortunately, the problem is that we, as consumers, rarely hear the entire story and are subject to falling victim to greenwashing. For example, a cork flooring company might advertise that their product is manufactured from the outer part of an old-growth tree and will regenerate and continue to sequester carbon for hundreds of years. But, that company would certainly not publicize nor mention the large embodied energy footprint associated with shipping a relatively heavy product from Portugal to California.

The Rising Popularity of Bamboo

In recent years, bamboo has received enormous hype and exposure as a sustainable and environmentally friendly home and construction alternative. This grass species, which originated in Asia and Africa's humid and tropical regions, has long been used in vernacular architecture in many different parts of the world. Today, you can find bamboo in a wide range of home products, including bamboo flooring, kitchenware, household linens and clothing, and even a plywood alternative. While there are certainly sustainability advantages that come with bamboo flooring, we think it is essential that homeowners also hear the "other side of the story" to make an educated decision about the products you purchase for your house.

Later, we will look at some of the detrimental environmental effects of bamboo that are sometimes concealed from end consumers. First, we will offer a quick rundown of some of the sustainability benefits and ecosystem services that bamboo offers.