Cork is originally a tree bark that helps it withstand extreme environmental conditions. It is made up of dead cells that are filled with a gas similar to air, which is why it is extremely light.
Furthermore, it is composed of suberin and cerin, which provide very important qualities to this material, such as its fire resistance and flexibility.
The natural function of cork is to protect the living parts of the tree that produces it and its alveolar structure, which prevents air from circulating, its low water content and the lack of conductivity of its compounds make it a material whose main use is thermal insulation.
How is it extracted? Harvesting begins approximately when the tree is about 25 years old, taking into account that it is done in an environmentally friendly manner, and in the months between June and August, so as not to damage the tree. The fact that cork is a natural material means that it has characteristics such as being biodegradable, recyclable and reusable.
Does cork pollute? It does not pose a pollution problem in terms of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere when it is produced, but poor recycling of it does, such as throwing wine bottle corks into the sea, with all that this entails, degrading the marine environment.
What can we do? Ideally, we should be able to buy products that respect the environment, either through sustainable production that respects the tree and its environment, or by giving it a second life through recycling.
In Parafina, we have opted for the second option and, fusing the cork with the HDPE , we have created sunglasses that, thanks to their composition, are extremely light and resistant as well as being environmentally friendly.
