The wine cork is one of the most natural products in use in modern consumer society. Made entirely from the bark of the cork oak and coated only with a thin film of wax or resin, natural cork stoppers are devoid of synthetic additives and completely biodegradable.

In terms of naturalness, there are few parallels in the manufacturing world — only wool and cotton come close as natural products in common use.

Cork has been used for thousands of years but the most widespread application in its history is as a wine closure — a use that began in the 1600s and grew in association with the spread of mass-produced glass bottles.

Why cork is still in use today is best understood by examining the many unique physical and chemical properties of this remarkable material from nature.

TThe growing significance of sustainable development in the world economy also makes cork a very modern material from an environmental viewpoint. Cork is a renewable resource and its harvesting is a truly sustainable example of agroforestry. Its manufacture into cork stoppers consumes very little energy. After use as a stopper, the cork biodegrades without producing toxic residues or may be recycled into other products such as floor tiles, gaskets and sports equipment.

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