The bark of the cork oak (Quercus suberis one of the best examples of renewable natural resources. No trees are felled during harvesting, and the first layer of bark is only collected from trees that are 25 years old. With a lifespan of up to 250 years, a single tree can be "peeled" more than 15 times. Most of the world's cork production comes from Portugal, where demand for this raw material helps to maintain the unique forests formed by this oak tree.

What makes cork so special?

Its secondary tissue contains a high proportion of suberin, which has water-repellent, elastic, and chemically stable properties. For this reason, cork decomposes very slowly, even in humid environments. Cork is also a very light material with a density of approximately 120 to 240 kg/m³. For comparison, pine wood has a density of 450 to 650 kg/m³. Another unique property is that cork cannot absorb large amounts of water by capillary action (only about 30% of its weight), and even then only after prolonged contact. When it dries out, it returns to its original shape. This makes it a material that is resistant to bacteria and fungi and decomposes slowly. It is therefore ideal for long-term use in terrariums, for growing plants, or as interior decoration.