Cork

Photo retrieved from Rain Forest Alliance: http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/species/cork-oak

The cork oak grows only in seven Mediterranean countries – Portugal, Italy, Spain, France, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. Over 300,000 tons are harvested (stripped) per year. As an impermeable buoyant material, it is desireable for its compressibility, insulation and fireproof properties, as well as its resistance to abrasion.

Uses

• bottle stopper (e.g. wine cork)
• building material e.g cork bricks
• flooring
• furniture
• umbrella

Potential Uses

No new uses identified yet by authors. Your contributions welcome!

Processes

• Harvesting: A cork oak tree can be harvested twelve times in its lifetime with the first harvest taking place after approximately 25 years. Cork harvesting is done by hand without the aid of machinery.

More Information

•  Cork Forest Conservation Alliance
• http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/cork_oak/
• http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/species/cork-oak
• https://www.apcor.pt/en/montado/cork-oak/
• http://design-milk.com/cork-umbrella-by-sandra-correia/