Bamboo is one of the hipper flooring materials right now, and it's also incredibly good for the environment, especially when compared against traditional hardwood flooring materials. If you're looking to improve your eco-friendly credentials, these four points should convince you that bamboo flooring is the way to go.
1. Bamboo Grows Faster
As most people know, common hardwoods take a long time to reach maturity. In fact, it can take decades for an oak tree to reach full maturity. Cutting down a single stand of hardwood trees will mean that that part of a forest is going to be bare for quite some time – it's just not very sustainable.
In contrast, bamboo actually holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest growing plant species on earth. They tracked some species as achieving up to 91 cm (35 in) per day, and even average bamboo stands can grow around 5 cm (2 in) per hour. This means that bamboo can be regrown quickly, making it a more sustainable option.
2. Bamboo Yields More Building Materials
Bamboo plants can grow very close together. In contrast, common hardwood trees need plenty of space since they must consume an incredible amount of resources in order to thrive. This means that you can grow more bamboo in a single area than you could if you were using hardwoods. You'll use less resources while doing so, and the abundance helps keep prices low and stop foresters having to go after other materials.
3. Bamboo Is Easier on Developing Countries
The fact that bamboo grows well in tropical climates means that it can provide economic sustenance to developing nations and impoverished populations. Its fast growth rates and high yield make it an easy farming option for communities without access to the latest equipment, and bamboo can be grown easily without the use of chemicals, fertilizers, or even manure – all you need is water. Cultivation requires little in the way of investment and doesn't result in adding potentially-hazardous manmade resources to the local environment.
4. Bamboo Releases More Oxygen
Everyone knows that plants take in carbon dioxide (CO2) and release oxygen, which is pretty useful for humans. Bamboo is a real winner when it comes to this process, absorbing more carbon dioxide and releasing up to 35% more oxygen compared to similar-sized hardwood trees. As bamboo gains in popularity as a building material, it is hoped that more of it will be cultivated, resulting in a noticeable reduction in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
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