Cork

Cork is a natural product, of vegetable origin, which comes from the cork oak (QUERCUS SUBER).

This tree is widely spread throughout the Mediterranean basin, with greater predominance in mainland Portugal. Its characteristics make Portugal the ideal habitat for the development of such a noble tree.

Cork is extracted from the Cork Oak every nine years, without any damage to it. The maintenance of the cork oak forest provides habitat for more than 21 different species of animals, which depend directly on this habitat.

Cork consists of 45% suberin, 27% lignin, 12% polysaccharides, 10% ceroids and 6% tannins. Its cellular structure is alveolar, similar to a honeycomb and consists of five layers. The first two layers are made up essentially of air-like gases, the third layer protects the previous two, the last two layers, which being essentially made up of Suberina, guarantee the rigidity and texture so characteristic of this product.

Thus, cork presents itself as a natural, recyclable and biodegradable product, light, impermeable to gases and liquids, elastic and compressible, does not feed flame propagation, resistant to friction and with excellent thermal insulation properties, acoustic and vibrating.