Why Cork?
Cork comes from the cork oak tree, Quercus suber.
The name has been used since Roman times and means bark, because the tree is valued for its outer layer, not its wood.
Cork has been used for more than 2,000 years around the Mediterranean.
The Romans used it for insulation, footwear, floats, and building elements.
Today, the same material is used in modern construction, transport, and energy systems.
Cork is harvested without cutting down the tree.
The bark is carefully removed by hand every 9–12 years, and the tree continues to grow.
After harvesting, the tree absorbs even more CO₂ as it regenerates its bark.
This makes cork carbon negative.
Over its life cycle, it stores more carbon than is released during harvesting and processing.
Cork forests also protect biodiversity, reduce soil erosion, and support long-term rural communities.
They are managed landscapes, not plantations.
Cork is:
- Natural and renewable
- Breathable and vapour open
- Durable and long-lasting
- Carbon negative by nature
Why cork?
Because it’s a material that works with nature, not against it.