Durable and Natural: The Benefits of a Roll of Cork

While a lot of synthetic materials and single-use products are trending now, there is also an increasing demand for products made from environmentally conscious materials (renewable or recyclable) along with a lot of products made from durable materials. One product that has both sustainable properties and durability is cork. The Cork Roll, as well as natural cork sheets, comes in many sizes, thicknesses, and compositions. The products are eco-friendly because they have many design applications, from interior wall coverings to furniture design.

The Source of the Marvel: Before one can appreciate cork's advantages, it is important to understand where cork comes from. The harvesting of cork from the trees has been performed for centuries and is a highly skilled process that requires the use of much time and effort. The difference between harvesting cork and cutting timber is that when the bark is removed from the tree, the cork does not kill the tree. 

Cork has an amazing ability to sustain itself in ways that aren’t immediately obvious when looking at cork’s physical properties (suberin) and the many benefits of cork to consumers on both individual and commercial levels.

Compression and Elasticity: Cork comprises thousands of small, cellular spaces, which allows for compression and compression’s resulting ability to remain stable. This means that cork can be compressed under compressive loads (e.g., flooring, underlayment) yet return to the same shape after a short period of time with no permanent damage/collapse.  For decades cork-based flooring products have provided a comfortable surface, reducing impact noise, providing cushioning support when walking (especially if wearing shoes), and eliminating or significantly reducing the “squish” effect caused by foot placement and terms from furniture.

Cork also exhibits excellent abrasive properties: although cork is soft, it has excellent abrasion resistance. The natural wax suberin found on a Roll of Cork has good friction properties, making cork-based coverings (walls, pinboards) durable enough to withstand years of high-volume usage in the workplace (offices, studios, kids) due to cork’s natural ability to create a surface that supports multiple applications and users at once.

Cork is also naturally water resistant: In addition to being very durable, suberin makes cork naturally hydrophobic, and, therefore, cork-based products are not susceptible to becoming wet, molding, and rotting.

The Natural Advantage: All Cork Has Many Functional Attributes

The composition of Roll of Cork is not just a marketing tool; it offers several benefits that cannot be achieved through synthetic products.

Thermal and Acoustic Insulation: The air-filled cells in cork provide elasticity as well as excellent thermal insulation. When rolled out on walls, floors, or ceilings, cork acts as a thermal breaker, maintaining constant room temperature and reducing energy consumption. From an acoustic standpoint, cork absorbs vibration and dampens sound. It can be used both underneath to stop impact noise as well as above ground as a wall covering to minimize echoes and reverberations.

Health Benefits: Because of its resistance to dust mites, mold, and insects, cork improves indoor air quality. Unlike synthetic products, cork does not emit any VOCs; therefore, it is an ideal product for nurseries, hospitals, and allergy sufferers.

Fire Resistance: The composition of cork keeps it from igniting easily and gives off very few toxic gases when burned; therefore, cork represents a significant safety advantage when used for the built environment.

Flexibility of Use and Application

Cork rolls make using the material very flexible because the rolls can easily be cut, shaped, and adhered to virtually any surface.

Attractive Natural Interiors: Cork rolls can be used as an attractive wall covering and as a floor underlayment or even as the top surface of the floor itself, creating an insulated and comfortable atmosphere at home.

Creative and Commercial Places: Cork can be used in many ways in the creative and commercial world, for example, as a material for bulletin boards and studio pin walls and for display surfaces and accent walls in retail stores and offices, providing both function and aesthetic appeal.

Cork Rolls for DIY and Crafts: Cork Roll For Walls is an extremely versatile craft and hobbyist material; they may be used to create custom placemats, drawer liners, noticeboards, and even furniture accents and accessories.

Industrial and Technical Applications: Cork has vibration-dampening properties and can be used to manufacture gaskets for machinery; cork has excellent insulation properties and is used in the aerospace and automotive industries.