Cork harvesting is an environmentally friendly process during which not a single tree is cut down. Cork is composed of dead cells that accumulate on the outer surface of the cork oak tree (species Quercus suber) that is native to the Mediterranean region. Cork consists of the irregularly shaped, thin-walled, wax-coated cells that make up the peeling bark of the birch and many other trees, but, in the restricted commercial sense of the word, only the bark of the cork oak merits the designation of cork. The cork oak grows abundantly in Portugal, Spain, parts of southern France and Italy and North Africa. The tree is usually about 18 m (60 feet) tall, with a broad, round-topped head and glossy green, hollylike leaves.
Harvesting cork it’s an ancient method that can only be done by experts. This process not only doesn’t harm the tree, it’s actually good for them. Stripping a cork oak of its bark also enhances the ability to absorb carbon dioxide; the seven million acres of cork forest around the Mediterranean offset 20 million tons of CO2 each year. Bark is harvested from the tree every 9-12 years. Completely renewable and sustainable. Each time cork is harvested; cork bark regenerates itself. In fact, cork trees live between 100 and 300 years. Our Vegan Cork Leather is a natural, environmentally friendly material. It biodegrades completely and can be easily recycled without producing any toxic residues.