A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION

Why cork flooring has become a beloved design element in residential, commercial and institutional buildings.

By Stephanie Whittaker

 

We all want to do what’s best for the planet. We also want our homes to reflect our sustainable goals, which is why many eco-minded homeowners are opting for cork flooring. “Cork is beloved by architects and designers because they get sustainability with a wood look,” says André Tavares, CEO of Amorim Canada, a Portugal-based company that produces a vast range of cork flooring. “In fact, you can have a wood look on your floors without cutting down a single tree.”

 

The company has taken an ancient natural element and elevated it for interior design and various other uses. “Cork can mimic other materials,” Tavares says. “Our patented technology allows us to mix cork with such things as stone powder and recycled water bottles. This is a sustainable flooring solution. You can have a wood look, a carpet look, a porcelain look, all made from cork.” “Not cutting down a single tree” is one of the attractions making this material so desirable. Cork is the bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus suber), a species native to the western Mediterranean. It enjoys an average lifespan of more than 200 years; however, some cork trees are much older than that, says Tavares. The first harvest of the bark takes place when the tree reaches the age of 25 years. As the bark regrows, subsequent harvestings are done every nine years during the summer months. “In harvesting the bark, we don’t harm the tree,” Tavares says. “In fact, the harvest makes the trees stronger.”

 

Cork trees thrive in a dry climate. “The cork forest starts where the Sahara Desert finishes,” says Tavares. “The cork forest is one of 36 biodiversity hotspots in the world and is one of the biggest protected forests worldwide.” Amorim’s cork harvest takes place in North Africa, Spain, Italy, and Portugal; the company buys the material from local farmers. It also collects used cork wine stoppers in Europe to be ground and reused in flooring products. “Using the cork stoppers allows us to obtain cork in a more affordable way,” he says.

 

In addition to using recycled materials in the flooring it manufactures, Amorim makes the product even more sustainable by not adding any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), making its products attractive to homeowners who want building materials that don’t compromise health. “We’ve been amazingly well received in Canada because our flooring solutions are so sustainable,” Tavares says. In Toronto, the products are available at First Class Flooring at 10 Marmac Dr., Etobicoke. (www.firstclassflooring.ca). “First Class Flooring is the biggest retail partner of Amorim in Toronto,” Tavares says.

 

Amorim offers several product lines, including Wicanders, Corklife, Decolife, and Amorim Wise. All are sustainably produced and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers. “We’ve corrected the flaws of cork flooring from 30 years ago, when it was still porous and fragile,” Tavares says. “What we have now offers many benefits.” Among them: Cork has such good insulating properties that NASA uses it on space-going craft. It absorbs sound, which is why it’s used in recording studios. It’s shock-absorbent, making it comfortable underfoot in kitchens and other rooms.

 

It’s also durable enough for public buildings and is used by builders aiming for LEED certification. “It helps them to reach carbon-emission reduction targets,” Tavares says. In residential settings, he adds, “we’re seeing it installed in new builds and renovations. One of the biggest uses we’re seeing is as a replacement for carpets. It gathers much less dust than carpets and doesn’t get damaged by pet claws. It’s easily cleaned by vacuuming and damp-mopping.”

 

Installing cork underfoot is one more way to do what’s best for the planet.