{"id":47734,"date":"2019-11-14T15:30:44","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T12:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/?p=47734"},"modified":"2019-11-14T15:42:07","modified_gmt":"2019-11-14T12:42:07","slug":"do-you-worry-about-the-planet-choose-cork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/2019\/11\/14\/do-you-worry-about-the-planet-choose-cork\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you worry about the Planet? Choose Cork"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you worry about the Planet? Choose Cork<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is the environment a matter of concern to you? If\n you always seek to contribute to a healthier Planet, both as a citizen \nand as a consumer, you will enjoy reading this article. In simple terms,\n by choosing cork made fashion products you\u2019re defending the Montado \n(cork oak tree forests) and by doing so you\u2019re protecting the Planet. \nIt\u2019s as simple as that. Let us explain why. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is cork and where does it come from?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cork is the bark of cork oak tree (Quercus suber) and it is extracted\n for the first time when the tree completes 30 years of age and then \nevery nine years. Cork oak trees are magnificent species found mainly in\n southwestern Europe (particularly in the Iberian Peninsula) and in \nnortheastern Africa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Portugal stands out as the country with largest Montado areas in the \nworld and it is also the world\u2019s greatest cork exporter. 80% of this \nexported cork is used to produce stoppers. Cork oak trees are \npredominant in the vast Alentejo plains and in Algarve, in southern \nPortugal. The cork oak Montado represents 21% of Portugal\u2019s forest area \nand it is responsible for approximately 50% of the world\u2019s cork \nproduction. This is a delicately balanced ecosystem and it is protected \nby Portuguese. Recently, the country submitted the application of \nMontados to become World Heritage and UNESCO is expected to decide on \nits approval by 2018\/19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cork oaks are classified as Portugal\u2019s National Tree since 2011 and \nits logging is forbidden and sanctioned in all national territory. But \nit is equally important to mention that harvesting cork does not damage \nthe tree; on the contrary, it improves the health of cork oaks, which \ncan live up to 200 years. After each harvest, the tree produces a new \ncork layer with the same quality as the previous one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cork: 100% eco-friendly material<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Yes, cork is renewable (it grows back after each harvest). But it is \nalso recyclable. From cork stopper recycling, for instance, it\u2019s \npossible to produce building materials (cork is an exceptional \ninsulator) as well as materials for automotive or airspace industries, \namong others. Cork is also 100% biodegradable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, the environmental awareness of mankind has developed a \nlot in recent years, mostly due to global warming related concerns. \nNowadays, most of us are aware of the importance of our daily decisions \nfor the future of the Planet. The fashion industry, whether by choice or\n by consumer pressure, also feels the need to find materials that are \nsustainable and eco-friendly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in this matter, cork is different from any other material and it \nis unrivalled. It is 100% nature, a green alternative to synthetic \nproducts. Nevertheless, being a 100% natural product doesn\u2019t mean that \ncork has any less quality than the other materials. It\u2019s actually quite \nthe opposite. Wearing a cork bag is wearing nature, but the properties \nof this material are unique and impressive (read more about this in Cork: get to know the properties that bring it close to perfection<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being extraordinarily flexible, cork has the potential to replace the\n pollutant products traditionally used by the fashion industry. In fact,\n it is already doing so. It\u2019s an eco-friendly alternative that, besides \nits amazing properties, has two additional benefits to be considered by \neveryone who care about the Planet: its extraction has an infinitely \nsmaller environmental footprint when compared to the production of \nplastics; and even in the cork manufacturing process itself, all waste \nis used to make other materials. As Lavoisier said, \u201cnothing is lost, \neverything is transformed\u201d, and this motto is especially true when it \ncomes to cork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Montado, cork is our raw material of choice: it\u2019s part of our \nculture as Portuguese and it is the heart of our brand. We\u2019ve been \nworking in the fashion accessory industry for 40 years. By creating \nMontado, we started to create eco-friendly fashion and to contribute to a\n better world. And we\u2019re very proud of it. We owe it to this amazing \nmaterial that we passionately work with \u2013 cork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cork harvest helps to fight global warming<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cork oak forests are an extraordinary example of a good balance \nbetween environmental protection and economic development. In other \nwords, they are a magnificent example of sustainable development, which \nshould be the base for future economy. Do you know how many trees are \ncut down to extract cork or to produce cork fashion articles such as \nours? Zero. Zilch. None. And that is very significant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The environmental importance of the Montado is great and it can be \naddressed from many perspectives. Let\u2019s start by global warming. It is \nestimated that every year, cork oak forests absorb around 14 million \ntons of CO2, a precious contribution to reduce greenhouse gases released\n into the atmosphere, the source of climate change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those who don\u2019t know the Montado may think: all the more reason why \nyou shouldn\u2019t be removing cork from these trees! But that\u2019s not a \nproblem, on the contrary. It has been proven that the process of natural\n regeneration that occurs after the cork stripping does not only improve\n the health of these trees but it also improves their ability to retain \nCO2 \u2013 after the extraction of cork, cork oaks can retain 5 times more \nCO2! Impressive, right? Also, products obtained from cork maintain the \nability to hold Carbon Dioxide!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Montado preserves the soil and prevents desertification\nThe cork oak tree forests play a crucial part in soil preservation and \nthey represent a factor of the utmost importance to prevent \ndesertification in Portugal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s not delude ourselves, there\u2019s no environment without economy \nnor economy without environment. The definition of sustainable \nenvironment points exactly to this reality. And cork perfectly combines \nboth of these aspects: it\u2019s economically viable and environmentally \nresponsible. As a successful agroforestry system, it contributes to \nimprove the quality of life of populations who depend on it and it \nprevents the depopulation of a harsh and arid territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, by returning nutrients from the deeper layers of \nthe soil to the surface through fallen leaves, the trees increase the \nvolume of organic matter on the soil, which is essential to fertilize \nit, to increase water retention, and to regulate the hydrological cycle.\n Also, the treetop of the cork oaks contributes to prevent erosion. With\n its evergreen foliage, these cork oaks tree crowns are also responsible\n for the creation of a microclimate, reducing extreme temperatures and \nincreasing the duration of seeding seasons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considering the climate in these regions and the poor soil \nconditions, there is no alternative to cork that is equally sustainable.\n Entire villages depend on the wealth that it creates and distributes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A hotspot of biodiversity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Montado is also a hotspot of life. According to World Wildlife \nFund (WWF), \u201cit supports one of the highest levels of biodiversity among\n forest habitats, as well as the highest diversity of plants found \nanywhere in the world\u201d. So what\u2019s the best way to preserve this rich \nfauna and flora? Choosing cork products whenever they exist as an \nalternative to synthetic ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compared to paradises like Amazon, the African savannah or the \nBorneo, the fragile Montado is considered one of the 35 most important \nworld ecosystems for preservation of biodiversity. Over 200 species of \nanimals and 135 species of plants find in it the ideal conditions for \ntheir survival. Some of those species are rare, others are endangered, \nsuch as the Bonelli\u2019s Eagle, the Imperial Eagle, the Black Stork and the\n Iberian Lynx, the most endangered big cat specie in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Montados there are over 160 bird species, as they find in the \nevergreen tree crown of cork oaks a hiding place throughout the year, as\n well as shelter during nesting season. This is also the ideal habitat \nfor 24 reptile and amphibious species, as well as for 37 species of \nmammals. Moreover, millions of migrating birds use the Montado as a \ntemporary habitat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the richness of the Montado is even more impressive when it comes\n to flora. Just think about this: about 50% of the plants that can be \nfound in the Montado\u2019s are endemic plants (around 12,000). This puts it \nin third place on a world scale in terms of endemic plant ratio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

By choosing cork products you\u2019ll be feeding a beneficial and virtuous\n cycle for the economy and for the Planet. You\u2019ll be protecting a \nfragile ecosystem that is crucial for people, animals, and plants \u2013 an \nexample of sustainable development, of a future we hope to be near. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifically, you\u2019ll be contributing to fight global warming, prevent\n depopulation and desertification, preserve biodiversity and contribute \nto improve the wellbeing of many people who depend on this economic \nactivity. And remember: no tree is put down by the cork industry in \nPortugal. None. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And don\u2019t forget one other important thing: cork is soooooo beautiful!:)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By choosing cork made products you’re defening the Montado, a superb example of sustainable development. Find out why.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":47735,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[53,46,57,56],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47734"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47734"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47746,"href":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47734\/revisions\/47746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montado.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}