For centuries, cork has served mankind as one of the most widely used and versatile raw materials found in nature. Native to Europe's Iberian peninsula, the myriad values of cork ensured its future worldwide. As Portuguese and Spanish explorers circled the globe, cork played an important role.

Today, more than half of the world's cork comes from Portugal, where soil, temperature, rainfall and wind conditions are ideal. Portugal's forests of Quercus suber (oak cork) trees are carefully monitored and cultivated, and act as a renewable source for this remarkable material. A cork tree regenerates its precious outer layer 12 or 13 times during its 150 year lifetime. The first stripping of the cork bark occurs when the tree is between 15 and 20 years of age, with subsequent yields at 9 to 10 year intervals.

Cork's extraordinary properties derive from its distinctive cellular structure. A one inch cube of natural cork contains more than 200 million tiny air-filled pockets. Some 50% of cork is captive air, which results in excellent buoyancy, compressibility, elasticity, a high degree of imperviousness to both air and water penetration and low thermal conductivity.

Today, cork can be found in everything from building materials to toys, bulletin boards to wallpaper, gaskets to insulation decorations to taper corks, wine closures to duck decoys. Cork is also used in construction applications as diverse as flooring underlayment and as a joint filler. No other natural product offers such a wide range of uses.

The distinct appearance of cork has made it a favorite material for decorating purposes From floor and wall tiles to wallpaper to decorative specialty uses, cork has proven to be a timeless addition to homes and businesses worldwide.

Cork's resilience makes it the ideal material for bulletin boards and displays. No other material recovers from compression or puncture like cork. Longevity under heavy usage is a cork trademark.

Finally, what would a romantic dinner be without the elegant ceremony of uncorking a bottle of wine or champagne? Cork closures remain the standard by which all others are measured.

Cork is a renewable natural resource, harvested from the bark of cork trees. Careful management practices have resulted in a steady supply of cork, with future supplies assured as well.

All this combines to make cork the traditional material that continues to break new ground. Cork, it's a natural!

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