The Mighty Cork

For the month of January, I spotlight the material- cork. It’s a mighty material!

I primarily use it in the studio in the form of wine corks but it’s a truely amazing, natural material. It is naturally the outer bark of a cork tree that uniquely sustainable because the cork bark can be harvested (by hand) from the trunk of the tree. The tree will then grow a new protective layer of cork bark! This process can happen again in another 7-10 years.

Cork is not just for wine bottles, it’s used for a host of other useful items like cork boards, insoles, linings for sports balls, sea buoys, furniture and so much more!

Since most of us see cork as stoppers for wine we’re seeing lots of imitation corks, even screw tops on wine bottles but due to corks unique, porous nature some wines need a cork stopper to allow the right amount air to circulate through, no imitation will do!

Cork is quite versatile and fun to create with, just cruise around Pinterest for a while! It is recyclable and reusable and it’s mightiest feet..cork trees are also dynamos in nature because they are fire resistant and can be planted to help create fire barriers.