Eucalyptus Versus Bamboo Flooring, Which Is More Eco?

Eucalyptus and bamboo flooring are two of the most popular sustainable options for home or office floors. They are both strong, durable and eco-friendly. But which one is better?

Eucalyptus Flooring is a beautiful product that can add warmth, character and function to any home. It is highly durable with a thinner kerf width than oak making it easy to install. Eucalyptus is naturally resistant to moisture and insects which makes it a very eco-friendly flooring option. 

Bamboo's biggest advantage is that it grows much faster than eucalyptus trees. Bamboo has a higher density than eucalyptus, which means it doesn't need to be milled as much to become usable. That also means bamboo doesn't have to be transported as far as eucalyptus in order to be used in flooring products.

In addition, bamboo takes less water to grow compared to eucalyptus trees. However, some of this advantage may be negated by the fact that bamboo has been shown to require more pesticides than eucalyptus.

Bamboo isn't the only green alternative to traditional hardwoods. Eucalyptus is a fast growing, renewable resource that can be used to make flooring in a variety of styles, textures and colors.

Eucalyptus and bamboo are both considered "green" flooring options because they come from fast-growing plants that are often harvested and replanted for future harvests. Bamboo is technically an agricultural crop, but eucalyptus trees can grow up to 3 feet per day under ideal conditions, so it's not hard to see why many people think eucalyptus trees are even more sustainable than bamboo.

The biggest difference between the two natural resources is that eucalyptus trees are grown on plantations while bamboo comes from mature forests or bamboo farms. That means that if you choose bamboo for your new flooring, you'll be supporting sustainable farming in developing countries — which is great! However, if you choose eucalyptus as your green alternative, you'll be supporting sustainable forestry practices right here at home.

Bamboo flooring is a popular alternative to traditional hardwood floors, with its eco-friendly reputation and affordability. But bamboo isn't the only choice when it comes to environmentally friendly flooring.

Bamboo is technically a grass, not a tree, so it can be harvested without killing the plant. However, in parts of China and Indonesia where bamboo is grown, large swaths of forest are cleared to make way for plantations. Destruction of forests increases greenhouse gasses and releases other harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.

Eucalyptus trees, on the other hand, regenerate quickly after being harvested. The leaves fall off naturally after several years and new ones grow in their place. Eucalyptus doesn't require replanting or replanting as often as other hardwoods so it can be sustainably harvested year after year without destroying more natural ecosystems.