What is cork?

Cork is the outer bark of the cork tree; which is harvested by hand without harming or killing the tree.
Once harvested, the bark regenerates, making it a renewable and sustainable resource.
Cork is an inherently sustainable resource, both renewable and biodegradable.
The cork oak tree (Quercus suber) is unique in that its thick bark can be stripped off every decade to extract the cork without damaging the trees, which can live 170 to 250 years on average.

25,000 species supported

Cork oak landscapes cover approximately 2.7 million hectares of Portugal, Spain, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Tunisia and France. As well as providing a vital source of income for more than 100,000 people, these landscapes also support one of the highest levels of biodiversity among forest habitats, including globally endangered species such as the Iberian Lynx, the Iberian Imperial Eagle and the Barbary Deer.
The Mediterranean is one of the 25 global ‘hot spots’ characterized by a high level of species diversity (Myers & al, 2000.) It has 13,000 endemic plant species, the second highest number in the world after the tropical Andes (Birot, Merlo & Paiero, 2005). In cork oak landscapes, plant diversity can reach a level of 135 species per square meter, and many of these species have aromatic, culinary, or medicinal uses.

Green resource

Cork is a truly sustainable product – it is renewable and biodegradable.
Cork harvesting is an environmentally friendly process during which not a single tree is cut down.
The bark renews itself ready for the next harvesting.

Unlike its synthetic counterparts, cork is an inherently sustainable resource, both renewable and biodegradable.
The cork oak tree (Quercus suber) is unique in that its thick bark can be stripped off every decade to extract the cork without damaging the trees, which can live 170 to 250 years on average.

Each ton of natural cork fixes about 1,8t of CO2

Cork is a truly sustainable product – it is renewable and biodegradable.
Cork harvesting is an environmentally friendly process during which not a single tree is cut down.
The bark renews itself ready for the next harvesting.

The capture of carbon by the cork oaks during the photosynthesis process results in plant growth and transforms atmospheric CO2 into O2 and, in the case of organic matter, into cellulose.
For this reason the forest is considered to be an important carbon sink.

Lightweight

To make cork leather, layers of cork are laminated to fabric, creating a durable, lightweight and flexible material.
Cork might look very rustic and tough but they are actually very soft to touch very long lasting and can retain their look and feel for years without getting much damaged.
Each article is handmade and individually crafted.

Easy to keep it as new

One of the most durable and easiest materials to clean available today. A cloth with a cleaning solution that should be a PH-balanced detergent or mild soap that’s all it needs keep looking good.