Did you know that nearly a million acres of forest vanish around the world each week. This alarming statistic is causing many countries to seriously rethink the way they look at manufacturing and business.

After all, it takes sixty years to replace a sixty foot tree that's been cut for market. A sixty foot piece of bamboo, however, takes less than sixty days to replace, making it a viable substitute for many of the uses we generally put wood to, plus many more.

Bamboo is the world's fastest growing plant. It's as strong as steel in some applications, being used to replace concrete rebar and building steel. One place that bamboo is excellent for use is in the flooring industry, where it substitutes well for timber.

Flooring made from bamboo has many of the same benefits as timber flooring. It's easy to clean, doesn't harbor allergens, feels natural and is simple to install. In addition this material has a unique look of its own and is both sustainable to produce and environmentally friendly when grown under the right conditions.

Flooring made from bamboo comes in many kinds, but the majority is compressed bamboo. There are solid planks and veneered bamboo flooring out there, so it's important to know which you're getting.

In addition, most bamboo flooring comes prefinished and ready to install, and can be installed on a number of different surfaces. That makes it much simpler and more convenient to put in place than hardwood.

Remember to find out what bamboo species your supplier uses, and which conditions the plant is grown in. One of the best traits about using bamboo as a wood replacement is that not much fertilizer or pesticide application is required, and often, none at all is needed.

However, that doesn't mean that all bamboo flooring is as eco-friendly as the best products. Some cheaper products are made with inferior bamboo, include cheap and toxic glue, or are made with bamboo that's been grown as a monoculture to get more out of the land. All these methods are undesirable if you want a truly sustainable flooring option.

If you're in the market for a new floor, and you want to have the lowest negative impact on the environment you can, bamboo is a wonderful choice. After all, this material can cut down on carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, is great for naturally reducing erosion from water, and can even help to restore land that's been degraded by other activities.

If you're concerned bamboo flooring won't match your home, don't be. You don't have to have a Polynesian or Asian decorating style in place to have a gorgeous bamboo floor.

These types of flooring come in many different looks, depending on how the floor is made, as well as a number of different colors. While the color range available is mostly in the brown range, you can find bamboo flooring to match any type of decorating scheme. Just remember that darker floors will be softer - ordinarily extremely tough and durable, bamboo's longevity is slightly reduced by the heat treatment process that darkens the surface.