Okay, want to know why there's so much buzz around cork? Why has it become trendy? What's so special about it? Well, when it comes to cork, at Montado we always run the risk of getting carried away. It's our passion, it's almost inevitable. So, to make it easier for you to read, we've decided to make a list.
Cem.Por.Cento. What is cork? The bark of this magnificent tree, the cork oak, which in Portugal has been classified as the National Tree, with its felling prohibited and penalised throughout the national territory. Cork is “just” that: a 100% organic raw material, completely environmentally friendly, with which we make bags, wallets, footwear and other products. Sometimes we think it's a small miracle of nature. Other times we are sure of it.
No trees are felled or damaged to obtain cork. Each cork oak tree lives on average between 150 to 200 years, and cork harvesting is done in nine-year cycles. By calculation, each cork oak tree provides cork about 50 times. In other words, cork is a renewable raw material. Grandmothers, parents, children, grandchildren… how many generations is 150 years?
Tão leve que flutua. Mais de 50% do volume da cortiça é ar. Sim, ar. A cortiça pesa apenas 0,16g por centímetro cúbico. Se a sua mala mais parece a do Sport Billy (lembram-se dele?), a última coisa que lhe interessa é que mesmo vazia ela já seja pesada. Com a cortiça não tem esse problema, é leve como uma pena.
A suitcase made from a raw material with a volume of 50% air? We understand the scepticism, but the truth is that cork is a unique raw material. Cork can withstand enormous pressure without breaking, merely stretching and returning to its original shape when the pressure is removed. This is known as elastic memory. Its resistance results from this compressibility and elasticity – it is the only solid that can be compressed on one side while maintaining its original shape on the other.
The cell walls of cork are coated with suberin and ceroids, properties that make it practically impermeable to liquids and gases. In addition, its enormous resistance to humidity allows it to avoid oxidation and rot and to age without deteriorating.
There isn't much to say about this point other than that anyone who has held a piece of cork in their hand knows exactly what we are talking about, and it is one of the most passionate aspects of this incredible material. Touching a cork article is a pleasure for your fingers.
The Portuguese know this well. The calamity of forest fires that plague the country summer after summer primarily affects eucalyptus and pine forests, but almost always spares Montado because cork is a natural fire retardant. Furthermore, it does not release toxic gases during combustion. Replacing eucalyptus areas with new Montado areas as a way to prevent fires is a consensual measure among experts in the field.
The microscopic air sacs that make up its cells make cork an extremely comfortable raw material with a unique ability to absorb shocks and relieve pressure on joints and the spine. But there's more: cork's natural temperature is very similar to that of the human body, which helps to enhance the feeling of comfort. And even more: cork is essentially odourless, and products that use it do not acquire bad smells. And even more: cork does not absorb dust and prevents allergies.
This is not a minor characteristic. Due to their impermeability, cork items are very easy to clean. Simply a damp cloth and a neutral pH detergent like soap will do the job. The quality and beauty of cork are guaranteed regardless of how many times the product is washed, and we know that this isn't the case with all materials.
