Bamboo is known as a "rapidly renewable resource." It's actually a fast-growing grass that can be harvested in three to seven years—a relatively short cycle compared to slower-growing trees. Using bamboo and other rapidly renewable resources like cork reduces pressure to harvest natural forests.

Bamboo flooring, which is as durable as most hardwoods, is manufactured by cutting bamboo stalks into narrow strips and gluing these strips together. Typically this bamboo layer is then glued to a backing made of compressed wood fibers, such as medium-density or high-density fiberboard (MDF or HDF).

Bamboo has become a very popular for residential flooring, so you'll find many brands and a wide selection of styles. To help you get started, we've highlighted a few bamboo flooring products that are particularly green—they are either third-party certified to have low VOC emissions, FSC-certified to have come from sustainably managed sources, or both.