Fashion meets sustainability with cork.
Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree known as Quercus Suber. Cork trees, sobreiros in Portuguese, can live over 200 years. Portugal is the biggest producer of cork, producing over 70% of the world’s supply. In Portugal, all forests are tightly controlled by the government and all cork oak forests require a FSC certification.
Cork forests absorb 14.7 tons of CO2 per hectare. While growing, cork trees do not need to be watered. No pesticides or fertilizers are used and, when it comes to treating the cork after harvesting, the strategy is the same.
HARVESTING
Harvesting occurs once they reach maturity (~ 25 years in age) and then, only every 9 years after that. Typically, it takes 2-3 extractions before cork has enough quality to be transformed into a fashion accessory.
The harvesting process is controlled by the Portuguese government, workers are required to communicate when and where they will be harvesting cork and under what conditions. The harvesting is done manually with an axe by industry experts, in a skilled trade that's passed down over generations. No trees are ever cut down. In fact, after harvest and bark starts growing again, these trees consume up to 5x more carbon from the atmosphere.
CORK = NEW BLACK
Cork is a remarkable natural alternative to animal leather. By choosing a material like cork, you are able to minimize your carbon footprint and vote for eco-friendly practices with your dollar.
Tiradia Cork is committed to being a responsible brand by promoting better sustainability standards. You should feel good about your purchases and when they are better for animals and the planet, you can!
Check out our earth friendly collection at www.tiradia.com.