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....that is the question. Is bamboo the answer for your flooring needs? Does bamboo damage the environment? Tell us about how you're using bamboo in and around your home . And stay tuned for "Bamboo Two" next week! Let’s talk about bamboo. And let’s just say, there is a lot to talk about with regards to bamboo, so for this week, let’s focus on building materials and next week, we’ll go again with the brilliantly entitled, Bamboo Two, where the discussion will be about bamboo fiber used for clothing, sheets, etc. About Bamboo Bamboo grows faster than any other plant on the planet, has the quickest harvesting timeline and can be planted in soil damaged by careless farming and overgrazing. Think about this: it takes an Oak tree 120 years to fully mature. It takes bamboo three! Which makes sense because technically, bamboo is not a tree, it’s a grass. And similar to other grasses, it’s so easy to replenish, it practically replants itself. Clearly, bamboo is a sustainable no-brainer as an option for flooring, wall paneling, fencing, counter tops and raw materials for construction. So why isn’t everyone using it? Environmental Issues While there isn’t an FSC (Forrest Stewardship Council) certification for bamboo, it is considered a green building resource by LEED, (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) there are sourcing and production elements to be factored into the equation. You can’t just buy bamboo and assume that it’s a green product. Where the product was harvested and what methods that were used in production are important factors, and then there’s the social component to think about. According to a report by Environmental Building News, many bamboo farmers use chemicals (pesticides, fertilizers and weed killers) even though bamboo is so hardy, they aren’t necessary and the weeding and tilling practices often increase erosion and leave the soil uninhabitable for anything else to grow. Another issue is that bamboo needs to be contained to "plantations" with a strict emphasis on controlling the crop and keeping it from taking over natural forested areas, thus upsetting the natural balance in those areas. Bamboo that has been harvested from wild sources tends to be immature, not as high in quality as plantation bamboo and then there’s the fact that bamboo is an important element in the eco-balance of the planet so removing it willy nilly is bad too. Then there’s the environmental cost of shipping from overseas, because the truth is that most of the bamboo used in the US comes from China, Vietnam and Taiwan. Social Issues In the same vein as no FSC certification, there is no Fair Trade regulation, monitoring wages and conditions for workers in the bamboo industry. According to treehugger.com, "6 million people in China work in bamboo and 600 million people worldwide rely on income from it." That’s a lot of people probably working for almost nothing and we’re paying prices comparable to regular wood. Hm. The good news is that there are a few companies that manufacture in other countries (Vietnam, Taiwan) where they do a better job of monitoring pay and working conditions and some even own their own factories for that reason. In Conclusion Bamboo is certainly a worthy option for building materials and should continue to be a consideration for any home or business owner looking to make their space more sustainable. Just be sure you purchase from reputable sources that are committed to buying from sustainable plantations that employ socially responsible practices. Here are a couple of time-tested companies that can get most any enviro-consumer started. Smith & Fong Company http://www.plyboo.com Bamboo Hardwoods http://www.bamboohardwoods.com