| Despite what some environmentalists preach | | | | and you can see another of cork's big |
| about the evils of using wood for purposes | | | | advantages. Flooring products created from |
| such as wood flooring, purchasing cork wood | | | | man-made materials are manufactured in a |
| flooring can actually be very beneficial to | | | | factory, which results in great environmental |
| you and this planet. | | | | damage due to the large amounts of fossil |
| | | | fuels required to run those factories. There |
| Cork is prized for its use in flooring for a | | | | is no substitute for wood that is renewable |
| variety of reasons, the foremost being that | | | | and that requires only sunlight to produce. |
| is a very attractive flooring surface | | | | |
| available in many colors and patterns. Cork | | | | Cork flooring lasts decades and is |
| is also durable and can be installed on | | | | biodegradable upon being removed. As opposed |
| almost any floor. It provides excellent | | | | to man-made flooring such as linoleum, once |
| insulation for both thermal and acoustic | | | | it is no longer useful, cork can be returned |
| purposes. Cork flooring is also easy to keep | | | | to the earth without doing any damage. |
| clean, requiring only vacuuming or damp | | | | |
| mopping. | | | | Another advantage of the harvesting of cork |
| | | | is that the process provides financial |
| Cork flooring is also mold-resistant and | | | | opportunities for the inhabitants of areas |
| hypoallergenic. It is easy to clean and sheds | | | | where cork wood grows. Employment |
| no dust. In fact, cork contains a substance | | | | opportunities are limited in some of these |
| called suberin that repels mold and insects. | | | | areas, so cork is a valuable resource for the |
| Cork's softness makes it a very comfortable | | | | people who live there. And no factory is |
| surface on which to stand, which is ideal for | | | | required. |
| people with back or leg problems. In other | | | | |
| words, cork can actually help make your home | | | | Environmentally managed cork oak forests aid |
| a more beautiful, pleasant and healthy | | | | in soil conservation as well as acting as a |
| environment. | | | | buffer against desertification, water table |
| | | | recharge and run-off control. |
| Cork flooring can actually be produced | | | | |
| without doing any damage to the cork oak | | | | Cork wood flooring is an |
| trees from which it is derived. This may seem | | | | environmentally-friendly option for your home |
| impossible, but it's actually quite a simple | | | | that will make your home a better place to |
| phenomenon. If only the outer bark of a cork | | | | live. It is good for your health (it is a |
| oak tree is used to produce the flooring, | | | | low-dust flooring option that actually |
| then the tree will live on and its outer bark | | | | reduces air pollutants), it has low impact on |
| will grow back in about nine years. Then the | | | | the environment (cork can be harvested every |
| cycle can be repeated. So every nine years, a | | | | nine years without killing the tree), and it |
| cork tree can be harvested for its beautiful | | | | definitely adds to the beauty of a home. So |
| wood and still live on. | | | | save the earth and save yourself - use cork |
| | | | wood flooring in your home. |
| Contrast this with man-made flooring products | | | | |