Cork Flooring & the Environment
Cork is the outer bark of the cork oak tree, which grows mainly in the
Mediterranean region of the world. This tree has a life span of about 200 years.
Each cork tree must be 20 to 25 years old before it can provide its first harvest
of cork. After extracting the cork a new layer starts generating and nine years have
to pass until a new harvest can take place. The cork harvesting is made in a
sustainable manner and does not harm the tree which is never cut down or removed.
With increasing concern for the environment, cork oak remains the only tree whose
bark can regenerate iteslf after harvest leaving the tree unharmed. It is truly, a
renewable, environmentally friendly resource. Furthermore, the cork oak tree has a
remarkable capacity to retain carbon and a harvested cork tree fixates almost five
times more carbon. This exceptional characteristic makes cork a naturally
sustainable product and its use contributes to the preservation of a unique habitat
in the world.
Environmental Benefits of Cork Floors
Most of the cork used in our cork flooring is actually the waste product from the
manufacture of cork stoppers and other solid cork products.
Cork is an excellent heat insulator. You will find your home is warmer so you
are likely to need less heating, lowering you heating bills and reducing your
carbon footprint. In many cases cork flooring can replace ceramic tile and
underfloor heating.
Cork Flooring uses far less carbon and chemicals in its manufacture than most
alternative flooring products.
Unlike carpets, our cork flooring is stain resistant and easy to clean. You will
use less energy cleaning and are less likely to replace the flooring due to staining.
Ecological Impact of our Cork Flooring
Our Cork floors are comprised of 4 layers:
- WEARTOP Finish -
Only reactive products are used, this means that it is solvent free and especially
environmental friendly. There is no organic solvents and no VOC emission during
processing, facilitating compliance with stringent environmental regulations.
WEARTOP is free of heavy metal, formaldehyde and insecticides/pesticides.
WEARTOP technology outperforms alternative products such as field applied finishes,
standard UV finishes and, in many cases, the so-called "ceramic" finishes.
- Cork Top Layer -
Made from renewable, sustainable, agglomerated cork.
- HDF Substrate -
Our High Density Fibreboard is sourced from sustainable, FSC Certified forests,
so you can be sure the of the minimum environmental impact. Water-resistant resins
are included in the HDF core, so unlike competitor products, our cork flooring can be
confidently used in bathrooms and kitchens.
- Cork Underlayment Layer -
Made from renewable, sustainable, agglomerated cork.
Our cork flooring is manufactured in Europe, so less carbon is used during
transportation than products from the Far East.