product: Durapalm
manufacturer: Smith & Fong
web: durapalm.com

Another environmentally sound wood product is Durapalm, a plank flooring and plywood material made from multiple layers of coconut palm. Smith & Fong harvests the wood from palms—typically between 80 and 100 years old—that have ceased producing coconuts, and have been discarded by coconut plantations. Durapalm is made from the outer surface of the tree, which is harder than oak or maple.

product: Kirei board
manufacturer: Kirei USA
web: kireiusa.com

When your kids are playing with their Cheerios, they may actually be testing the ingredients of new building materials. Another cereal, sorghum, is used to make Kirei board. Technically considered an engineered wood, Kirei is produced from the stalks of the sorghum plant, a grass that has broad, cornlike leaves and is grown worldwide. The stalks left over after harvest are heat-pressed with a nontoxic adhesive to form strong, lightweight panels, which can be used for interior millwork applications, including wall coverings, ceilings, cabinetry, furniture, retail displays, and flooring.

product: cork flooring
manufacturer: Globus Cork
web: corkfloor.com

Cork has long been employed for its thermal and acoustical properties, but is now enjoying a resurgence in wall and ceiling applications. Globus Cork makes its flooring from the bark of oak trees grown in the Mediterranean. The bark is harvested every nine years, leaving the forest largely undamaged, according to the manufacturer. In addition to being made from a renewable resource, the tiles are water-based and solvent-free. Globus offers more than 20 tile shapes and sizes and 36 standard colors, with custom colors and sizes available as well.