Is the cork material sustainable?

Yes! Our cork is 100% sustainable and eco-friendly!

Cork is the outer bark of the cork oak tree, quercus suber, which grows mainly in the Mediterranean region. It is part of the periderm (skin) system that covers the stem/trunk of the tree.

It is a material that is 100% natural, recyclable, reusable and renewable. This is why it is regarded as a raw material of excellence with favorable consequences for natural resources and for Planet Earth. The material is dust and stain-repellent, anti-bacterial, washable and waterproof – which makes it wonderful for multiple applications.

Cork is harvested every nine years on a sustainable basis, without any trees being cut in the process. The bark is stripped off the tree in sections without hurting the trunk by highly skilled professionals, always between May and August. A cork oak tree can live, on average, 200 years, and can be harvested up to 20 times during its life cycle, making cork a truly inexhaustible natural resource.

The “montados” (cork oak forests) are vital for the maintenance and preservation of the flora and fauna. They are the basis for one of the 35 most important biodiversity conservation global ecosystems. Over two hundred animal species and 135 plant species find here the ideal conditions for survival. The “montados” also protect against erosion and consequent desertification. They are an anti-fire barrier, due to the weak combustion of cork, and play a significant role in regulating the hydrological cycle. They also provide a significant contribution with regard to the air we breathe because they fix carbon dioxide. It is estimated that every year the cork forests retain up to 14 million tons of CO2, a precious help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the main cause of climate change. Equally surprising is the fact that a harvested cork oak tree, during the natural regeneration process, retains, on average, five times more CO2. The ability to retain carbon dioxide also extends to cork manufactured products, which continue to fulfill this function of CO2 fixation.

DAM Portugal

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