Cork—A Natural Resource
Cork is a natural resource with ideal properties. It is lightweight, flexible, absorbs minimal amounts of water and has an antibacterial quality. It takes only a decade for the cork oak tree to develop a layer of usable cork. The cork bark is carefully removed so the tree trunk won’t be damaged. It takes 30 to 40 years for a tree to yield its first harvest. The bark is stored outside for about 1-2 years, then it is boiled in water and cut into strips, ground and sifted into different size granules. Depending upon the use, granules are sorted by 3-4 weight classes.
Did you know…..
The Verne Bintz Company was the first distributor of Birkenstock footbeds in the USA.
