Cork, definition of

Cork isn’t just for wine bottles anymore. Probably the most popular use of cork now is flooring because it provides natural thermal insulation, thus helping to lower energy consumption, and it also has the natural ability to absorb sound and shock. It is a type of flooring that suits most allergy sufferers and is very durable despite its rubbery feel. Did you know there is actually a Cork Oak tree? Well, there is and it’s a pretty cool tree that is responsible for all those wine corks and cork flooring. Cork is harvested by peeling away the bark from the trunk and branches every 9-12 years and does not necessitate the felling of the tree. And, Cork Oak trees do not die when their bark is removed like most trees.

• Beautiful burnt cork furniture upholds ecosystem resiliency
  French designer Noe Duchaufour-Lawrance's furniture line uses discarded burnt cork that features interesting textures and flowing lines. Duchaufour-Lawrance's Portugal studio Made in Situ created this collection of chairs and tables by carving blocks...
• 4 funky facade materials that are sustainable and beautiful
  Facades are an essential aspect of architectural design. They envelope interior spaces and protect them from climatic conditions. Since facades are the first part of the building that people interact with, designers must consider aesthetics, maintenance...
• Frame Cycle sculpts bike seats with sustainable cork
  Scottish company Frame Cycles has debuted its first product: the FR-1 Bike Saddle made of cork. The mission of this new company is to create beautiful and sustainable bicycle parts and accessories, and we'd say they're off to a great start. What could...
• New cork furniture line by Grain helps sequester carbon
  Sustainable company Grain has just introduced their new Clover furniture line made of cork. In September of this year, the collection debuted at Colony in New York. Designed by Chelsea and James Minola, they say the line is a further exploration of one...
• A carbon-negative shoe collection made out of cork
  Each year, the footwear industry produces 700,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Approximately 34% of this accounts for the extraction and processing of fossil fuels to create synthetic materials like ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and polyurethane foams...
• Basic Climate Physics #10
  The following was reproduced with kind permission from Howard "Cork" Hayden, Prof. Emeritus of Physics, UConn, corkhayden@comcast.net
• Mind the Cork sets the standard for sustainable products
  Cork is one of the most sustainable natural materials on the planet. It’s renewable, recyclable and biodegradable. The cork industry also directly contributes to healthy ecosystems and strong economies. So it makes sense to “Mind the Cork,” as one...
• The High Performance Surfing Center honors nature inside and out
  When Branco Cavaleiro Architects was asked to develop a plan to house the High Performance Surfing Center in Cabedelo, Viana do Castelo, Portugal, the designers chose to incorporate protections for visitors as well as the surrounding landscape.[...]
• Victorian farmhouse transforms into low-energy modern home
  Thanks to designers at Guttfield Architecture, a quaint Victorian farmhouse in Harpsden, Henley on Thames has been given new life. Named for the clients' favorite tree, the Cherry Tree House is a sustainably renovated low-energy home that celebrates...
• Pinea RV has its very own green roof
  Barcelona-based studio ERA Architects is raising the bar for sustainable camping with its Pinea Mobile Ecological RV. The RV, which uses natural materials in its construction along with other eco-friendly features, is a prototype currently located in...