20 Corked Innovations

Here are a few facts about cork followed by a few of the cork-finds we have bagged on our hunts:

Cork is the bark of the Cork Oak tree. Over half of the world’s cork comes from southern Portugal. Cork Oak tree bark is harvested every 9 or 10 years. After it dries for 1 or 2 years, it is boiled to remove toxins, graded, and cut.

Cork is most commonly used for wine bottle stoppers, but it is also found in bulletin boards, flotation devices, floor tiles, home furnishings, fabrics, and an ever-widening array of products.

Worldwide cork demand is rising because of increasing wine consumption. Since cork trees can only be harvested about once per decade, synthetic cork has been developed to meet demand.