About Cork

See our blog Cork Chronicles for more information

Cork Comes from a Tree  - the cork oak tree (Quercus suber). They grow primarily in Portugal, Spain, and North Africa. Cork oak trees live 200 to 400 years. During that time, they give us gifts on a regular basis. Cork oak trees are one of the very few trees on the planet that can be stripped of its bark without harming the tree. The first harvest of the bark can be done when the tree is about 25 years old and then on average every 9 years after that.

Cork expands when the weather is warmer. The trees actively grow mostly between May and August. During the high growth times are the best times to harvest its bark.

Premium Cork Stoppers Are About 43 Years In the Making - Most cork wine stoppers are created from the third and subsequent harvests of the tree bark at around age 43. The first two harvests typically become raw materials for other consumer goods such as insulation and flooring, and other products in the fashion, health, sports and even aerospace industries. Roughly 75% of all cork harvested is made into wine bottle stoppers.

Cork Makes Great Insulation - Sound and Temperature. Cork is increasingly being used for sound-proofing materials and flooring tiles.

Cork is Resistant to Fire and High Temperatures - Cork burns without a flame and does not emit toxic gases during combustion.

Cork is Sustainable and Good For the Planet - For every 1 ton of cork produced, 73 tons of CO2 are removed from the atmosphere, making cork one of the most sustainable materials on the planet. Cork can also be recycled many times over. A premium cork can be used again for crafting projects or bobbers or can be ground up and compressed to be reused in something else such as a trivet, coaster, floor tile, shoe sole, or cork board. 

Due to its unique cellular structure, cork is also naturally soft, durable, water resistant and antimicrobial.