Cork Flooring-A Sustainable Alternative

Cork is a completely renewable resource harvested from living cork trees {never harmed during the harvest}.

Cork tree after harvest

As a sustainable material for flooring, it comes in near the top of the list.  Used extensively for commercial and industrial applications, it is tough and durable, but quite comfortable underfoot. Coming in a multitude of patterns and colors, the design industry is seeing more and more applications for this eco-friendly product.

Cork kitchen floor via Duro-Design

In this video from 100%Cork , HGTV's Candice Olsen gives us an overview of the material's myths and benefits. It is interesting to see the harvesting process. The largest concentration of cork flooring plantations are found in Spain and Portugal.

The bark, which becomes the cork flooring, was designed by Mother Nature to protect the tree during its average 250+-year lifespan. Not only is the bark inherently fire resistant to temperature changes prevailing in those regions and  impervious to more than 38 species of insects, including the termite, it is also resistant to the development of microbes. Sounds like the perfect green material to me.

So remember when you are choosing flooring for a build or renovation, Cork is:

• 100% renewable resource harvested as bark from living cork oak trees
• 100% free of PVC's and absolutely no formaldehyde glue or binders
• Naturally hypo-allergenic, anti-microbial and anti-fungal
• Adding valuable LEED credits towards making your project green

 If you'd like more information about cork-visit 100% Cork.