Why should we use cork?
In a world desperately in need of green alternatives, cork stands out from the crowd as the # 1 sustainable raw material.
And, if this is not reason enough for you to start using cork products, we can show you other advantages that you may not know about ...
Cork is naturally waterproof!
Despite its "fluffy" appearance, cork is waterproof. The 40 million cells contained in each cubic centimeter of cork may make you think that cork is absorbent like a sponge, however, these cells contain suberin, a natural fatty substance that makes cork waterproof. This means that it is also resistant to mold as there is no water retention within its cells.
This is just one of the reasons why cork is good as a bottle stopper and also as a surface for floors. .
How durable is cork?
Being elastic, compressible, robust, slow-burning and impervious to water and gas; This naturally means that cork is a strong and durable material.
Cork is 100% recyclable. It is possible to grind every piece of cork, no matter how small, how large.
After harvesting, cork can be used in countless ways, the most common being as a raw material for products.
What are the main advantages of using cork as a raw material to make leather?
As an excellent thermal, acoustic and anti-vibration insulation material, cork can be applied in numerous construction projects (bridges, tracks and highways) to fill expansion joints between concrete, brick or cement elements. Cork guarantees totally hermetic joints in dams, water tanks and swimming pools, which is essential for its functionality and safety. Pure expanded chipboard (or black chipboard) panels on ceilings, exterior or interior walls and underlayment of the floor are a real barrier, lightweight but resistant to temperature changes and even fire, noise and vibrations. < / p>
Pure expanded agglomerate can also be transformed back into grains to produce the so-called expanded cork regranulate, which is used to make lightweight concrete (mixed with sand and cement), as well as to fill voids in floors and walls .
The production of expanded cork agglomerates only uses steam from superheated water boilers, which are fed by the actual residues from grinding and finishing. This product is 100% natural and ecological, as there are no other products apart from cork and even the agglomeration is based on natural cork resins.
Cork powder, an important waste product, is produced during the processing of cork products. This dust is commonly burned to produce steam and / or energy that will be used in the factories themselves, given the high energy content of this material.
The use of cork products is also very important from a point of view. ecological view, since by choosing a natural and renewable material to transform it into long-term products, not only is the sustainability of the Mediterranean forest and its different habitats guaranteed, but also the fixation of carbon dioxide is also increased.
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IS CORK A MATERIAL WITH A FUTURE?
For Portuguese cork it is a traditional material, deeply connected with our past and memories. But is it possible to take this incredible material into the future? Definitely yes!
The characteristics and properties of cork attract the attention of the world. The possibilities are almost endless, the limits are still far from being reached.
In fact, it is still impossible to see the end regarding the possibilities of cork
Can cork be used in fashion and design?
In recent years, architects, designers, decorators and stylists have regained their interest in natural materials, especially cork, which is increasingly sought after as an ecological alternative with enormous potential.
Various designers and architects Portuguese are producing original designs using this distinctly Portuguese material. In the context of fashion design for sustainability and eco-design, you can find some good examples of what is being done. Ana Mestre with her puf-fup; Rui Pedro Freire with the Memória desTerra; British design studio Dois Trinta with its duo consisting of the Évora chair and Suave support table.
In the world of fashion, cork has always been used, but is only now starting to become famous .
During the economic sanctions that Germany imposed on Italy, Salvatore Ferragamo was unable to buy the quality steel essential for the construction of Ferragamo shoes. It was then that he decided to experiment with cork pieces, inventing the wedge, destined to be one of the most famous fashion inventions of the 1940s.
Today, cork is being used by several renowned stylists , but also, especially in Portugal and Spain, by smaller companies that are beginning to use cork in everyday objects as an alternative to animal leather.