With consumers trying to reduce their impact on the environment, bamboo products are practically spilling off the shelves. And we’re not just talking about the bamboo bowls, utensils, and cutting boards churned out by Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, and other large retailers. We’re talking about its use in larger surfaces – kitchen countertops and floors, in particular.

But when EcoTimber, a sustainable wood supplier, launched its new line of strand-woven bamboo flooring this month, we finally had to ask: Is bamboo really as green as it’s cracked up to be?

Here’s the good news: bamboo, a grass-family plant, is a rapidly renewable natural material, reaching maturity in 3 years as opposed to 120 years for oak. As Environmental Building News put it, “Environmentally, it’s hard to argue with a wood substitute that matures in three years, regenerates without need for replanting, and requires minimal fertilization or pesticides.”

But there are reasons to be skeptical: The majority of wood sold in North America is imported from China, leaving a larger footprint than locally grown wood. And while bamboo flooring earns builders brownie points with the Green Building Council, use of toxic chemicals during harvesting and processing can fly under the radar.

The lesson to learn here is that buying bamboo does not automatically earn you a shiny, green halo. It’s as important to be mindful of your supplier as with any other product you buy.