Cork is one of those materials that seems to have been created with the sustainability planets in alignment; there isn’t much that we don’t love about it, from its growth, harvesting, production and use. It’s a wonderfully versatile material that comes by its green credibility honestly; here are the basics of what makes it so great, and what everyone should know about it.

Cork is a pretty unique material; technically, it isn’t a wood, or a grass (like bamboo [www.sundancechannel.com]) or a composite. It’s actually the bark of a tree; most commonly, it comes from the Cork Oak tree (Quercus suber), and a little more than half of the world’s cork comes from Portugal. The bark can be harvested every 9 or 10 years once the tree is considered “mature” (usually at about 25 years of age) without harming the tree; since it continues to grow, the tree essentially produces a continually-replenishing supply as long as it’s alive. So, like other wood products, it does take some time for cork to grow; unlike trees, whose lives are cut short when they’re harvested, cork is a more easily sustainable natural material.

Once off the tree, the material itself has some rather remarkable qualities that make it ideal for a number of applications. Its natural elasticity and durability make it a fantastic option for a kitchen floor; not as hard as a hardwood floor, but easier to clean and maintain than a carpeted one. Because cork has excellent sound and energy-absorption characteristics, it’s also great on the wall. Its natural flexibility allow it to be used in implementations that other, more static materials simply cannot; things like furniture (more on that later this week) and other interior applications are well-suited to the materials’ strengths. It’s also quite waterproof and resistant to mold growth, meaning you can also take it outside. All in all, there’s a lot it can do; stay tuned for the rest of the week to learn more, and to see it in action.