About cork

Natural cork, a material with character

Cork is the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber), a plant tissue that regenerates on the tree. Its structure of small cells, with walls rich in suberin, contributes to the raw material’s lightness, elasticity and thermal insulation.

Characteristics of natural cork

  • 100% natural and renewable: a plant-based raw material harvested from the bark of the cork oak without felling the tree.
  • Reusable: it can be used repeatedly with the care appropriate to each piece.
  • Biodegradable: natural cork is biodegradable. At the end of a piece’s useful life, its other components and finishes must also be considered.
  • Lightweight: its cellular structure makes it light and practical for everyday and travel items.
  • Thermal insulation: cork slows heat transfer, a characteristic I draw on when designing my pieces.
  • Slow combustion: cork burns slowly, but it remains a combustible material. Keep it away from direct contact with flames, embers and glowing objects.
  • Studied antibacterial activity: laboratory tests have identified cork activity against certain bacteria. The findings relate to the samples and conditions tested and are not tests of this shop’s products. This characteristic does not replace cleaning and proper care.

Use with food

Cork is used in articles intended for food contact, but the suitability of each piece depends on the finished product, its finish and the conditions of use. For direct contact with food, check that the product page expressly specifies this use.

From tree to raw material

Removing the bark is known as cork harvesting and requires skilled specialists. Virgin cork comes from the first harvest; second-harvest cork, or secundeira, from the second; reproduction cork, or amadia, from the third and subsequent harvests. In Portugal, harvests are normally spaced nine years apart. These terms do not indicate the tree’s age or how long the cork has been stored.

Selection and work by hand

In my workshop, I select the cork qualities best suited to each product. I consider thickness, colour, density, texture and the available shape. I make boxes and soap dishes by hand in small batches, as well as one-of-a-kind pieces that preserve each fragment’s individual features.

The raw material’s characteristics do not replace the finished product’s instructions for use. Check each product page for dimensions, finish and recommended care.

Explore the Workshop journal or browse the collections.

Background sources: APCOR — cork and the production process.

Further reading: Amorim Cork — cork properties; APFC/FILCORK — Cork Good Practice Code; Gonçalves and colleagues — research on antibacterial activity; EDQM — cork articles for food contact.