To be considered a rapidly renewable resource, a material must regenerate naturally in less than 10 years. When compared to metals and stone, which take thousands of years to form naturally, or even hardwood trees which take 50 to 100 years to reach saleable size, rapidly renewable resources have much less of a lasting impact on the environment.

Examples of rapidly renewable resources include bamboo, cork, cotton, wool, linoleum, soy-based products, and poplar. Even some agricultural waste is being turned into building materials and fits in this category, like wheatgrass stalks, straw, and sunflower seed husks. These materials can replace many less environmentally friendly options and be used as:

• Hardwood flooring — cork, bamboo, poplar
• Kitchen flooring — linoleum, marmoleum
• Carpeting — wool, cotton
• Insulation — straw, wool, soy (spray foam)
• Cabinetry — poplar, wheat board
• Furniture — wheat board, bamboo
• Fabrics — wool, cotton, cork
  

Because agricultural waste is often incinerated, using it as a building material not only reduces demand for virgin resources but prevents unnecessary creation of atmospheric pollution, as well. This also significantly benefits farmers who have a market to sell these once-wasted products.

Using rapidly renewable materials also qualifies building projects for points under the LEED Green Building Rating System. A project is eligible for one point if 2.5 percent of the building materials are rapidly renewable, based on cost, and two points if 5 percent or more are.

Note that rapidly renewable resources can also have unsustainable properties as well that compromise their appeal as a green building material. Nonorganic cotton, for example, is a rapidly renewable resource that is responsible for high levels of pesticide use and potentially high VOC levels. Additionally, almost all bamboo used in America is grown in China and contains the embodied energy of shipping the materials overseas. Therefore, while rapidly renewable resources are more environmentally friendly than many alternative materials, it is important not to lose sight of the whole picture and consider a product’s impact from many different perspectives.