The solution might just be Ecotextures. These architectural panels manufactured by Architectural Systems, Inc. are made from environmentally friendly OSB (oriented strand board). Their beautiful grain texture makes them attractive enough to be used for column covers, feature walls, millwork and furniture.

The manufacturer’s eco-friendly approach is shown not only by the use of rapidly renewable timber. No urea-formaldehyde is used, and component lumber is SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certified.

Easy to install panels come in different patterns (like Tiers, Basketweave, Pyramids, and Stripes), colors and sizes. You can also add coordinating flat panels and flooring.

strand woven bamboo flooring

Green construction includes a category of building materials called rapidly renewable materials, which have a  harvest cycle of 10 years or less. Building components that are able to regenerate in such a short time include bamboo, cork, wool, wheat and rice straw, and even sunflower seeds and sorghum stalks. Linoleum is also considered a rapidly renewable material, since it is made from linseed oil, cork dust and wood fiber.

To qualify for the LEED points in building certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, 2.5% of the total value of materials in a project needs to be rapidly renewable.

Some of the materials in the rapidly renewable category are less green than others. Not all meet other sustainability criteria, like local sourcing. Most of the bamboo flooring comes from China, and most linoleum from Europe. There are also concerns about forestry practices, the toxicity of binders, quality control and worker safety.

However, architects and interior designers have to regard not only environmental aspects, but also performance, durability and cleanability of specified materials. Let’s see how we can use them in our own homes to make our space not only healthier for ourselves, but also less burden on the environment.

Bamboo is a fast-growing grass used in flooring and furniture construction. You can choose between different colors, patterns (vertical and horizontal), even hand-scraped textures. Strand woven variety, great for high-traffic areas, is 1.5 times harder than red oak. Bamboo plywood and veneers have been adopted by furniture-making companies to manufacture casegoods (e.g. kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, countertops, etc.)

Cork is impermeable, fire retardant, lightweight and flexible. It’s main use is in flooring. I love to specify cork floors in kids rooms, where the material provides warmth and softness underfoot, and the texture hides any surface dents and scratches.

Wool has been use in interiors since prehistoric times. Wool carpets are more durable than synthetic, they’re hypoallergenic, and have a natural water-repellent coating -  a fat called lanolin. Wool is fire-resistant and absorbs environmental contaminants. It also regulates interior humidity levels thanks to it’s hygroscopic nature. Wool is also used in construction as a wall insulation.