A study has found that cork powder has potential applications in a wide range of cosmetic products, especially in makeup formulations and exfoliators. Due to its recyclable and biodegradable properties, the byproduct of cork processing presents a possible solution to creating more environmentally sustainable cosmetics. 

As the demand for sustainable alternatives to animal leather and synthetic materials grows, cork is gaining recognition for its unique beauty and eco-friendly qualities. One example of this innovation is Ittara, a brand that crafts handbags using natural cork to deliver style, durability, and sustainability in one.

Cork is heavier than foam but provides even stronger protection for certain applications in NASA. Cork comes in sheets and is applied to areas that have high predicted heat loads, like the core stage engine section, which houses four RS-25 engines that produce 2 million pounds of thrust.

Cork is naturally resilient — resistant to dents, lightweight yet durable, and able to maintain its shape without losing softness. Low-maintenance and high-performing, it’s one of the easiest materials to live with, Earth Month or otherwise.

The wine industry fuels the cork industry, and makes the progression and preservation of the cork oak forest viable by contributing to the maintenance of forests and the populations that depend on them. Learn about the Monarch Challenge, a collaboration between Raen and Amorim.

Prefabricated concrete, cork, and untreated larch wood shape their forms — envisioned as just another tree on the site — with their facades integrating shelters for animal and plant species. The Refugio de Aves y Mamíferos y Depósito de Agua (Bird and Mammal Shelter and Water Reservoir) received first prize in a recent competition at the XIII Ibero-American Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism.