What is cork and how is it produced?

Cork is an extremely versatile natural material that is made from the bark of the cork oak tree. It is composed of dead cells that accumulate on the tree’s outer surface. Cork has a unique set of properties not found in any other naturally existing material. It is lightweight, resistant to fire, rot and insects, impermeable to gas and liquid, soft, and highly buoyant because of its low density.
Because of these unique properties, cork has been used in various ways since time immemorial. Cork bottle stoppers have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back thousands of years. The ancient Greeks used cork to make fishing net floats, sandals , and bottle stoppers. For centuries, Mediterranean cottages have been built with cork roofs and floors to keep out heat and cold and provide a soft walking surface. Worldwide, cork is used to make a variety of products ranging from life preservers and buoys to shoe insoles and cores for golf balls and baseballs.
Cork oak trees grow primarily in the Mediterranean coastal region. Cork is harvested at 9-year intervals,
when the cork layer reaches a thickness of 2 to 5 cm. A mature tree can yield up to 225 kg of cork.

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