When we hear the word cork, we probably think of popping a bottle of Champagne or Prosecco — depending on the circles you move in. But cork also has a serious role in the home. In all its forms, cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree which grows in south-western Europe — particularly Spain, Portugal, France and North Africa. After 25–30 years, a cork tree has grown sufficiently for the bark to be harvested. The first harvest produces bark unsuitable for bottle stoppers because it’s too irregular and too hard. But it’s this and the second harvest that is used for insulation and other products.
