The bark of the cork oak is one of the most amazing raw materials, we have on the planet – with a high potential for the future. Its application range reaches from wine stoppers and fishing equipment to floor cover and wallpapers but meanwhile it is also used for several fashion products and even in space shuttles.

 

It is harvested in turns of at least nine years. In the harvesting procedure the outer bark is stripped off the tree with an axe. This of course is a very sensible process and has to be executed very careful, by specially trained personnel. Only this way it can be secured, the cork oak will not be harmed and can recover until the next harvesting period.

The cork’s natural function is to protect the oak tree against wildfires, which regularly occur in its habitat. As it only burns on the outside, the cork forms a layer of charcoal around the tree thus preventing it from taking damage.

 

Characteristic attributes of cork are:

• it has a high esthetical value, resembling the warm optic of wood
• It is light weight / floats on water
• it is an excellent isolation material
• it is flexible
• fire protective
• it is very durable and slow to decompose
• therefore it also is a very effective nitrogen sink