Cork is the outer bark of the cork oak tree, Quercus Suber L, which grows mainly in the Mediterranean region of the world. The bark is a vegetal tissue composed of an agglomeration of cells filled with an air-like gas and lined with alternating layers of cellulose and suberin. Each cubic centimetre of cork's structure contains between 30 and 40 million cells.

Cork oak forests cover approximately 2.5 million hectares primarily in seven countries: Portugal, Algeria, Spain, Morocco, France, Italy and Tunisia.
This tree has a life span of about 300 years and it must be 25 years old before it can provide its first harvest of cork. Cork is stripped from the trunk in a sustainable manner every nine years and does not harm the tree in any way. After harvesting, a new layer of cork starts generating.

Cork has been a source of protection, inspiration, and awe for humanity for countless centuries. Its history traces back to the 5th century B.C., when it served as a sealant for wines, as well as for shoes, floats, and fishing equipment. As time progressed, cork found its place as an insulator against cold and moisture. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it adorned the caravels that led Lusitanian explorers to discover new lands.

Cork, which is the outer bark of the cork tree, known scientifically as QUERCUS SUBER L, is a natural material composed of millions of micro-cells. These cells hold a gaseous mixture that is remarkably similar to air. The cellular structure resembles a honeycomb, granting cork exceptional elasticity. Astonishingly, cork can be compressed to half its original size without losing its flexibility. The cells within act like cushions, possessing a remarkable ability to retain their original shape when compressed. This elastic nature allows cork to withstand fluctuations in climate with ease.

Furthermore, cork boasts several outstanding qualities. It is lightweight, chemically inert, resistant to moisture, and biodegradable. Its most notable features include low density, resilience, impermeability, excellent insulation and fire retardant properties, low conductivity, high durability, a warm and soft texture, and an anti-static nature. Cork oak tree has the 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.

With the increasing concern for the environment, cork oak remains the only tree whose bark can regenerate itself after harvest leaving the tree unharmed. It is truly, a renewable, environmentally friendly resource.