Mainly found in temperate and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere, the oak tree has an average lifespan of over 200 years.

The cork oak plays such an important role that at the end of 2011, it was unanimously declared by the Portuguese Parliament to be Portugal's National Tree and has been protected by law since the 13th century. In our opinion, few national symbols are as amazing as this one...

100 percent natural, reusable and recyclable, cork is, whether from the environmental, social or economic perspectives, one of the world’s most versatile materials. It takes each cork oak 25 years before it can be stripped for the first time and it is only from the third stripping (at 43 years of age) that the cork, th…

An eco-friendly final coating that can be used for different purposes, ranging from new construction, renovation of external façades to the decoration of internal walls and ceilings.

From the cork oak tree creating comfort in the footwear industry.

From the cork oak tree creating comfort in the footwear industry.

Explore all the facts and cusiosities about cork and the importance of the oak tree and its forests.

The tree's pipeline for moving water and minerals up the tree trunk to the leaves. Sapwood is new wood. As newer rings of sapwood are produced, its inner cells lose their vitality and turn into heartwood.

The tree's pipeline for moving water and minerals up the tree trunk to the leaves. Sapwood is new wood. As newer rings of sapwood are produced, its inner cells lose their vitality and turn into heartwood.

Not necessarily. The Quercus suber L genome is the same, therefore there are no significant differences according to origin. There are, however, individual differences from tree to tree.

Cork is a material of natural origin, sustainable and renewable, extracted from the bark of the cork oak tree, without harming the tree. These characteristics make cork yoga props an option that respects the environment and is fully aligned with a more conscious lifestyle.

For each ton of material received within the ReVALUE project, we will plant 1 cork oak tree. During their lives, these cork oak trees will sequester many tons of CO2 – making a valuable contribution to combating climate change.

Cédric: It’s a world of inspiration. A unique process that feeds so many industries. With so many diverse applications. And all this just from the cork oak tree. Klas: It’s romantic, tough, an entire history encapsulated in a single moment, filled with laughter, expertise, warmth, gentleness and complete harmony.

I love the fact that when one works with cork, whether you are a farmer, harvester, producer or designer, one must take the entire ecosystem into account. Since cork is responsibly harvested, the material is not just extracted. It is extracted from the tree, but the tree grows stronger and healthier. When the tree grow…

The interior spaces of Qatar Foundation Headquarters are enclosed in a white concrete precast façade, perforated by a large number of recessed windows. The perforations are part of an overall architectural language employed by OMA throughout the building and form a stylized and pixelated Sidra tree – the Qatar Foundati…

Harvested every nine years, without any tree being felled during the process, cork gives rise to an endless array of products, from the traditional to the most innovative and unexpected.

1. Cork is an organic and sustainable material   Cork is the bark of the cork oak. It is removed every nine years, without the tree having to be cut down, and it grows back again. In fact, the cork oak is the only tree with self-regenerating bark, making cork a 100 % renewable and sustainable material. Choosing cork co…

Harvested every nine years, without any tree being felled during the process, cork gives rise to an endless array of products, from the traditional to the most innovative and unexpected. Cork oak forests are natural retainers of CO2, they prevent soil degradation, they regulate the hydrological cycle, they combat deser…

Cork is a renewable and recyclable product, of a 100% natural origin. As tree bark, cork contributes to CO2 retention. During the production process of the infill, all generated waste is reusable and, in the end-of-life treatment of a turf system, cork is the type of infill that releases the lowest amount of CO2.

Although artificial infills are considered environmentally-friendly, cork is a more sustainable option. Cork is a 100% recyclable material, where nearly all industry waste produced is reusable. This helps to minimize greenhouse gases and reduce the carbon footprint. Choosing a cork infill means choosing a solution that…

Although artificial infills are considered environmentally-friendly, cork is a more sustainable option. Cork is a 100% recyclable material, where nearly all industry waste produced is reusable. This helps to minimize greenhouse gases and reduce the carbon footprint. Choosing a cork infill means choosing a solution that…

Like the sun, soil, and water have driven the cork tree to spread its branches as high and in the most diversified ways possible, we too feed on ideas. We feed on ideas, to thrive on innovation. That's how we always find something new to do with cork.The cork not incorporated into the stopper industry represents the id…

Cork, one of the most sustainable materials in nature, presented its charm at the Stockholm Furniture Fair.  The material library was the main stage for cork´s presentation, where designers and architects had the opportunity to be introduced to the science of nature.  The Scandinavian market continues to be a trend se…

The development of this raw material begins very early in the tree. Cork develops different elements from the denser and harder outer layer to the less dense and more elastic inner layer. The different features of cork allow us to obtain raw material of several types completely different from each other in their shape…

Cork is a 100% natural, reusable and recyclable raw material. Studies show that for every ton of cork produced, the cork oak forest sequesters up to 73 tons of CO2. Produced from the bark of the cork oak tree without any trees being felled during the process, cork can be used for a variety of highly technological produ…

100 percent natural, reusable and recyclable, cork is, whether from the environmental, social or economic perspectives, one of the world’s most versatile materials. It takes each cork oak 25 years before it can be stripped for the first time and it is only from the third stripping (at 43 years of age) that the cork, th…

Cork, the outer bark of the cork oak tree, is an extraordinary material that can be applied in a wide array of different situations in our daily lives. From its gentle touch to its thermal and acoustic insulation properties, this 100% natural, renewable, and recyclable raw material is one of the world’s most versatile…

Vila de Mora, in the district of Évora, recently welcomed 80 volunteers of Corticeira Amorim who planted 2000 cork oaks, thus increasing the forest area of Portugal's National Tree. Herdade da Barroca, a property of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Mora, was the scene of the initiative that directly involved the community…

The ecological role of cork and its primary molecule, suberin is to serve as a protective barrier for the tree’s roots and other vascular systems. Cork is anti-microbial and hydrophobic and therefore seemed to be an ideal natural material to replace plastic in greenwall systems. After experimenting with cork at UCL’s B…