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When it comes to environmentally friendly floor coverings, the green options are, well, sprouting.

While I am writing this, my computer chair is perched on a bamboo floor. Although in the botany world it is considered to be a grass, bamboo has tough stalks that make a durable and eminently renewable flooring material. It is also beautiful and has all the advantages of wood. Depending on the manufacturer, bamboo comes in a range of colors from light natural to richer brown carbonized. You can also choose different looks depending on whether the grain is horizontal or vertical.

Another renewable floor material is cork. Cork is the soft bark of the cork oak, which is grown in the Mediterranean areas. Cork flooring is durable, comfortable under foot and is a terrific insulator for both sound and heat. Cork is also hypoallergenic. Cork flooring is even suitable for a kitchen. It does require some maintenance so check the manufacturers instructions carefully.

Believe it or not, concrete is a smart green flooring product. It does not give off harmful fumes because it doesn’t contain glues. Concrete is versatile and has many different applications. In the hands of an expert, concrete can be amazingly beautiful when stained, stamped or otherwise finished. It is a tried and true product that has been given a new, green twist.

Here’s a video that shows some concrete floors and answers the question: Are concrete floors cold?

Another tried and true product that has green underpinnings is linoleum. I’m not talking about vinyl, which is sometimes misidentified as linoleum, but the true, old-fashioned linoleum product. To produce linoleum, oxidized linseed oil (obtained by pressing the seeds of the flax plant) and rosin are mixed with the other raw materials to form linoleum granules, which are pressed onto a jute backing, making linoleum sheets. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns. When considering linoleum, be aware that the linseed oil does have a distinct - although not harmful – odor. Also, like a few wood products, the color is prone to change when first exposed to light.

On the other hand there are really new offerings in the green flooring market, as well. Ever hear of recycled leather or rubber tire tiles?

The recycled leather tiles are warm and inviting. My toes want to curl up in them. The leather tiles can be used for walls as well as floors. Ecodomo is a good place for a gallery of images and more information.

The rubber tire tiles have more texture and also much more potential for use in tough, high-use areas like entryways. Check U.S. Rubber for more information.

The bottom line on green flooring is now your choices are limited only by your tastes and your imagination.