Not just for pandas anymore, bamboo is an up-and-coming option for flooring. This eco-friendly alternative to hardwood is a fast-growing, hollow-stemmed grass with a scrappy nature: It regenerates itself (no replanting required), needs few or no pesticides or fertilizers, and can be harvested every three to five years. (By comparison, an oak tree can take 60-120 years, or more, to reach maturity for harvest.) The flooring is naturally moisture resistant, so it doesn't swell or warp with seasonal changes, and is a good choice for damp environments.

The not-so-bright side: Bamboo floorboards are commonly (not always) laminated with urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesive, although quantities used are low and manufacturers are experimenting with less toxic alternatives. In addition, most bamboo flooring sold in North America is produced in the southern Chinese province of Hunan; as a result, American distributors have little control over the manufacturing or labor conditions there, and it requires a long fossil-fueled journey to get the U.S. There's good news for pandas, though: The species used for floorboards isn't one these bamboo-munching bears live on, so the industry won't leave them hungry.

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