Cork has been gaining some real momentum and recognition in the design world (though it is being used since more than 5000 years), and it deserves every bit of it. It is biodegradable, sustainable and and not to mention super versatile. It’s an amazing sustainable alternative that drastically reduces plastic consumption. You can create almost anything from cork – whether furniture or headphones! And, in an attempt to celebrate the wonderful material, we’ve curated a whole collection of product designs that’ll blow your mind away with their creativity and functionality. From a chic indoor cork planter to a credit card holder made from cork – these innovative designs will surely convert you into Team Cork all the way! Enjoy.
This intriguing concept for a vacuum cleaner is not only multipurpose in design, it is also sustainable in construction. The storage section of the vac is made from cork, which is biodegradable and has a warm ambiance to it. The vacuum pipes and other parts are designed in a manner to be stored within the cork shell that then neatly covers using a lid. The possibility of concealing the entire appliance from sight saves valuable space at home and leaves the vacuum to still be used in the open with a different purpose.
Created by design-graduate Zachary Leong, the Corki Planter comes with a simple design that highlights cork as its material. Made from sustainably sourced cork, Zach is quick to mention that unlike clay, concrete, plastic, or even wood itself, cork is an incredibly renewable resource. The material comes from the bark of a cork-tree, which can simply be harvested without chopping the tree down, and is incredibly easy to work with and even recycle. It’s even good for the tree itself since it allows the tree-trunk to absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere.
Element 0’s sneakers sport a unisex design built from both naturally-sourced as well as recycled materials (the company is even transparent about where and how they source their materials). The shoes rest on an outsole that’s made from rubber as well as recycled cork, quite literally putting a spring in your step; while an insole crafted from a combination of wool, corn-fiber, wood, and natural latex gives your foot a comfortable surface to rest on that’s also water-absorbent and anti-odor.
The Grovemade Cork Apple Watch Dock is a refreshing take on the usual Apple Watch charging docks we come across. The dock has been created from premium materials, including the ever-sustainable cork! The Apple Watch dock is quite compact and flat, so it can easily fit into any space, including your bedside table or your work desk. The base was made using stainless steel, which features a sturdy anchor, that prevents your watch from sliding or falling off. The upper section was crafted from cork and has been equipped with a little divot in the center to cradle and support your watch. Not to mention, this dock design is quite stylish, sleek, and sustainable!
Fanoos consists of a planter that rests at the bottom of the device’s three-legged frame and a detachable lantern that sits just above it. The three wooden legs that comprise Fanoos’s frame seem to be cut from natural pinewood, while the planter and lamplight mimic the texture of cork for a soft and lightweight feel. Included with Fanoos is an emergency button located on the top of the lamplight, which can be pressed whenever medical attention is necessary. Through integrated technology, Fanoos tracks the health status of elderly citizens, from sleeping habits to their emotional wellbeing. In fact, Fanoos adapts according to the user’s mood and emotional state.
ERA Architects is an innovative studio in Barcelona championing sustainable tourism with its Pinea Mobile Ecological RV! Pinea’s exterior fabric can be unzipped to let in the fresh air and sunlight or rolled up for privacy. The fabric is made in Catalonia using a water-saving dying process and is breathable water-repellent material. Now for the most concerning part about camping – mosquitos – the Pinea RV comes with a built-in mosquito net to keep you safe at all times. The RV comes with a large bed, a table, chairs, and some storage furniture crafted from certified wood (same as the one used to make the walls) and sustainable cork material. Another unique thing about this RV is its cork flooring! The designers also chose to use cork stoppers instead of isolation gravel on the green roof. The team’s aim was to design a self-sufficient eco-suite on wheels and they absolutely came through with the Pinea Mobile Ecological RV!
Created from Portuguese cork, the 15:21 Cork Credit Card Holder is a sustainable alternative to your usual leather wallets! The cork card holder feels as soft as suede, and is super durable as well. Its compact size ensures that it fits into your pockets with ease, and its water-resistant nature makes sure you never have to worry about your wallet getting ruined by some water! This aesthetic and eco-friendly wallet could be the future of accessories!
This limited-edition set includes a dining table, two low tables, a lounge chair, a dining chair, a chaise longue, and a stool. Each piece has a base with a bark-like texture that then transforms into a fine grain surface at the top. The chairs showcase ergonomic silhouettes that promise comfort while the tables feature architectural elements. Cork is an underrated sustainable material that finally got a chance to shine through design in the Burnt Cork furniture set.
Weighing only 64 grams (0.14 lbs) these headphones are super light! Cork is a versatile material that is being explored to design sustainable products. It is non-allergic, resilient, sound insulating, moisture-proof, and soft to touch. If you are an everyday headphone user, you know that there is a lot of wear and tear that happens and instead of repairing, we usually just upgrade which increases our plastic consumption. Cork headphones are easy to repair and dismiss thanks to an assembly based on the compressibility of the material. There is no glue, no upholstery, no screws involved – just cork, simple electric parts, steel, and foam.
Architect, designer, and creative director – José Manuel Carvalho Araújo who Graduated in architecture from the architecture schools of Oporto and Lisbon, Carvalho Araújo, has a keen eye for product design, making him a well-renowned name in his spheres. His simple yet highly useful chair design christened Tumble is the perfect example of intuitive product design which is well-tailored for ultra-modern interiors. It is essentially a platform that serves as a chair, side table, bench seat, storage unit, bookshelf, center table, or a lounger. Depending on the nature of use and the available interior space, Tumble can be put to good use with a bit of creative thinking. The furniture piece is crafted out of natural agglomerated cork and natural oak, making it good for the environment too. The use of these biodegradable materials should not let you into believing that the modular platform lacks in structural strength. It can take the weight of an above-average weighing adult and the only thing you need to cautious of is to keep water away from it.
