Put a Cork in It
Firstly, where do we get cork? Cork comes from the cork oak tree (Quercus Suber), which is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa. The cork is removed by a shearing process, where specialists remove layers of the bark, similar to shearing a sheep for its wool. The harvesting of cork does not harm the tree as a new layer of cork grows in its place, making it a renewable resource. Virgin cork is the first cork cut from approximately 25 year old trees, and then another 10 to 12 years is required for the second harvest. The trees live for about 150 to 250 years.
There are many useful applications for cork including:
- Bottle stoppers (which is the most obvious)
- Flooring, both residential and commercial applications
- Furniture and home accessories
- Insulation
- Jewellery and personal accessories
- Shoe soles and innersoles
Benefits of using cork include:
- Durability and resiliency – air pockets in the cork, that resembles a cellular composition, assist in the reduction of wear and tear due to it’s sponge-like texture
- Provides softness or padding – ideal for flooring or furnishing applications as it is very comfortable to the touch
- Thermal insulation – due to it’s air pockets, hot and cold are trapped in these crevasses and maintain a steady temperature
- Sound absorber – cork is used for sound proofing as it deadens sound due to its porous texture
- Insect resistant – Suberin, a natural waxy substance in cork, repels insects and prevents them from making these trees home
- Hypo Allergenic – Cork is non-absorbent and does not carry static charges, which consequently repels any allergens in the air
- Fire retardant – unable to spread flames due to it’s waxy texture, cork is a non-combustible material
In addition to being a sustainable material, designers are choosing to use cork as a medium due to its beautiful color and endless uses. With its ability to be molded and manipulated, cork can be used to create a variety of forms. Many are finding more creative ways to manipulate this sponge-like material, including designer furniture and couture accessories. Truly the best way to experience cork is to leave it in its true form, exposing the natural color and texture. However, be warned that like any natural material, cork fades with exposure to sunlight and UV rays.
With all that cork has to give, the world needs to find more uses than just bottle-stoppers or bulletin boards.
