Many people now know about the benefits of renewable resources such as bamboo and hemp but fewer people are aware that cork is also an important renewable resource. Unlike other renewable natural resources, harvesting cork does not involve killing any trees or plant life. To harvest cork the bark of the cork oak is peeled off the tree. If done correctly this does not inflict any damage to the tree. And within 9 years the bark has grown back and is ready to be harvested again.
That is surely a brilliant thing. With bamboo forests it is necessary to chop down the bamboo to turn it into furniture and flooring. In contrast there are 25,000 square kilometers of ancient cork forests in the Mediterranean region that provide habitat for a great diversity of wildlife including the endangered Iberian lynx and also supply an income for many rural communities. Cork oaks have been protected by royal decrees since the medieval period. They are fundamental to both the ecology and the economy of the region.
The harvested cork bark or cork cambium has a number of properties that make it ideal as a flooring material. Cork is composed of a honeycomb structure that is 85% air-like gas. Although it is mostly gas, the structure is strong and elastic. This accounts for cork flooring’s ability to ‘spring back’ after pressure is applied to it. And it also accounts for the good thermal and acoustic properties of cork. Cork is a great thermal insulator that makes warm flooring under foot that will retain heat in the cold winter months and save you money on heating costs. The padding afforded by cork flooring also muffles the sound of footsteps and makes for quiet flooring.
Finally, cork flooring contains a waxy natural substance called suberin which makes cork flooring mold and mildew resistant. Cork flooring is also allergen free and the suberin acts as a fire retardant. Thus, cork flooring is recommended for allergy and asthma sufferers and is not a fire risk. Add all of these benefits together and consider that cork flooring is long lasting and a fraction of the price of hardwood flooring and it is hard not to want to rip up your dust mite ridden carpets and install cork flooring.