The Truth About Cork
The Cork Oak (QuercusSuber) is the only tree from which cork is harvested. Cork is the outer bark of the tree, which is stripped and later used in everything from flooring to wine bottles. It has been used for thousands of years in many different cultures around the world. Trees appr oximately 200-300 years old are cut down to be made into wine bottle stoppers, automobile and boat parts, insulation, and bulletin boards. In the case of Cork Underlayment , only the bark is needed therefore no trees are damaged in the process. The cork grows back as it is a very hearty tree that can live up to 500 years. There are two different types of cork harvesting: "Folical" and "Recto". Folical harvesting involves stripping the bark off the tree much like you would peel a banana; however, this method results in more than half of the leaves dying due to lack of nutrients. Recto harvesting includes stripping off only a small portion of the bark, allowing the nutrients...