The U.S. Green Building Council has ruled that Forest Stewardship Council-certified bamboo plywood and flooring can now be included in calculations for LEED certification.

The ruling followed a credit interpretation request submitted by a project team who specified Smith & Fong’s Plyboo FSC-certified bamboo flooring for a multi-use project in North Carolina.

After reviewing the request, the USGBC determined the bamboo products specified for the project met LEED criteria.

The review concluded that bamboo is often used in many of the same applications as wood products, and is considered by the FSC to be a forest product despite its technical classification as a grass. FSC-certified bamboo building products will now be recognized within LEED’s MRc7 Credit.

Smith & Fong received certification for its in April 2008.