More and more businesses are pledging to cut their environmental impact by developing greener options for their customers. In recent years, cork has become s popular material for footwear, flooring, and even yoga mats. But what, precisely, is cork? Is this another instance of “greenwashing”? Is cork sustainable? In this article, we look at the origins of cork and the science behind its sustainability.
What Is Cork?
Cork is a highly versatile, naturally occurring material derived from a tree. Cork oak woods are prevalent throughout the Mediterranean, which are vital components of the economic and ecological ecosystems they inhabit.
Cork oak woods are home to various plant and animal life. Over 200 animal species and 135 plant species find habitat in cork oak forest, says Amorim Cork Composites. They also mitigate climate change by absorbing tons of carbon dioxide, preventing soil erosion, and putting out fires because of the cork’s low combustibility.
Where Does Cork Come From?
Portugal hosts the largest cork oak forests worldwide and is responsible for almost 50% of the world’s cork production. Hundreds of companies are directly linked to the forest. These companies depend on the cork oak forest in various ways, including cork harvesting, storage, processing, use, ecotourism, and other related fields. These woods have provided thousands of people with stable employment for countless decades.
How Is Cork Manufactured?
So how does tree bark become a cork for a wine bottle? It’s pretty fascinating, to be honest. Cork is collected from the outer bark of the tree. And each time a layer is peeled off, a new cork product is made. The first removal is called “virgin cork.” This can be harvested when the tree is fully grown, which takes about 25 years.
The second stripping is referred to as “secuderia cork.” These two products are used in various applications, from building insulation to the fashion sector. Finally, after almost half a century, the third harvest yields the finest grade cork, known as “amadia cork,” often used for wine stoppers.
Each harvest happens every nine years throughout the spring and summer months when the tree is undergoing its greatest growth. A cork tree is never chopped down during harvest, so collecting cork during its growth season protects the tree, allowing it to continue developing and producing cork for many years.
Is Cork Sustainable?
In a nutshell, yes, cork is a sustainable material. Compared to synthetic materials, Cork has several good environmental and social attributes, including carbon-positive, biodegradable, and renewable.
The environmental benefits of cork extend beyond the product itself.
To put it simply, the cork oak tree plays a crucial role in its local environment. It creates a setting favorable to various life forms and ecological processes, which benefits the local populace and economy.
How Sustainable Is Cork?
The cork oak trees are self-sustaining and can regenerate their foliage without needing fertilizer, pesticides, water, or pruning. In Portugal, cork oaks’ above- and below-ground biomass stores 17,500 tons of carbon. After the bark is taken off, the tree can take in up to five times more carbon dioxide than usual to help the process of recovery. Because the cut-down trees give off so much oxygen, people in Portugal call these trees the “lungs” of the environment.
Cork oak plantations and forests are among the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. The iberian lynx and the Barbary deer are endangered animals reliant on the cork environment. According to WWF, cork oak forests maintain one of the highest levels of biodiversity among forest environments and house the greatest concentration of plant varieties in the world. Cork is an entirely natural and biodegradable substance.
How Biodegradable Is Cork?
Cork, in its original state, is 100 percent natural and biodegradable. The answer to the question of whether wine corks are biodegradable is a little more complicated.
The answer depends on the compounds used to bond the cork together. The majority of corks marketed nowadays are secured with glue and maybe microplastics. Good news! Even if your cork product is not 100% biodegradable, several cork recycling options are available.
Some Uses of Cork
Cork has various thermal, acoustic, and electrical isolation characteristics that make it adaptable. For this reason, it’s used in many different ways.
1. Industrial Use
To make industrial-grade cork in factories, they combine several types of rubber with cork granules. The final product has exceptional wear resistance and heat resistance. Because of this, cork is a good sealer for various applications. It has a deep history of application in the automotive and electrical sectors. Mechanics also use cork for gaskets and seals.
2. Interior Decoration
Cork is a good material that can be used to make nice furniture for your home. If you get imaginative with it, it can look gorgeous. It can be used on both the floor and the ceiling. If you want to, you can even put it on your walls. The natural honey color of cork is one of the main reasons most people like to use it to decorate their homes.
3. Leisure Activities
If you’re into sports, you’ve probably used some gear that was constructed using cork. In America, it is utilized in many items, including shuttlecocks, baseballs, cricket balls, pool cues, and bodyboards. Additionally, corks are used in table tennis paddles and whistles!
4. Leather Industry
Corks are used in almost all industries. In the leather industry, corks are suitable components in products like handbags, travel cases, wallets, and document holders.
5. Beverage and Construction Industry
Cork’s characteristics also make it a popular choice for use in the building. It’s ideal for use as an acoustic and thermal buffer. Moreover, cork is being seriously explored as an alternative in the building sector as the price of oil and its byproducts rises.
Cork agglomeration, also known as black agglomerate, is another product that may be made from cork grains. They may be manufactured in any standard size for use in making wall tiles. Cork agglomerate is now often utilized in walls, roofs, and ceilings.
6. Refrigeration Industry
Cork preserves its inherent qualities even under severe temperatures. This indicates that it is suitable for use in the construction of cold rooms. It is excellent for insulating water tanks and lagging pipelines. In addition, it emits no toxic gases or chemicals, making it a viable alternative in the insulation business. Its secret lies in its versatile qualities that typical insulating materials lack.
Author’s Note
Considering all this, it’s easy to acknowledge that cork is a great natural material. Therefore, at the very least, get a wine with a cork stopper rather than a screw cap. Not only will you be drinking wine of higher quality, but you’ll also help protect the old cork oak forests of the Mediterranean, plus all the biodiversity that comes with it.
To learn more about our mother planet, read about Eco Fabric, History of Environmentalism, and 10 Most Endangered Plants.
