Discover the world
of cork
THE WORLD OF CORK
Natural, sustainable, recyclable…
Natural cork has earned, all on its own, a privileged spot as an organic material. Thanks to its properties, it gives us an infinite amount of possibilities.
Where does cork come from?
Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber L.), a plant tissue (phloem) that covers the trunk. A large part of the cork oaks originate in large areas of Mediterranean Europe and North Africa. Spain ranks second in the world, behind Portugal, for the production of cork. Andalusia, Extremadura and Catalonia are the regions that monopolize the landscape of cork oaks.
Cork is obtained by peeling the outer layer of the cork oak trees. The removal doesn’t damage the trees since this bark grows back on its own. It is very smooth despite its hardness and resistance. Each year a new epidermis grows and overlaps the old, thus forming the cortex. The cork removal is carried out approximately every 9 years, the first being done around its 30 years of life, which is always discarded because it does not yet have the required qualities.
Properties of the cork
It is a natural, renewable, organic, biodegradable and 100% recyclable material. It is also light, waterproof, resistant, and a great acoustic and thermal insulator.
Cork is an antimicrobial material and does not rot. Its aesthetic is warm and comfortable, and it’s very easy to clean and maintain. Cork has a simple appearance but great potential that offers great possibilities in footwear, architecture, decoration, toys, furniture and decorative elements, among others.
Renewable resource and 100% sustainable
Cork is a 100% sustainable product thanks to being a natural product obtained from a renewable resource through an environmentally-friendly process. The more cork used, the more cork oaks need to be planted, thus creating an ecological and healthy cycle for the environment. Therefore, without removing the cork, the ecological stability of the fragile and threatened Mediterranean ecosystem – the cork oak forest, could not be maintained.
The cork oak forest is a pasture system of great ecological value. It has a unique flora, with endemic species that only live in the shade, being one of the last refuges for many species of endangered fauna, including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
