We started from research about sustainable materials, we analyzed different alternatives and we finally made the right choice: cork and its insulating characteristics offer a truly sustainable foundation to long-lasting living walls.
The problem with most of the alternatives today is that they are only viable for short periods. Plants need certain conditions to grow well, and if those are not met they will start to produce poor-quality leaves, which will reduce plant growth over the long term. This results in a living wall system that cannot thrive without constant care by humans.
This is not the case with our cork system as your Living Wall foundation. Why? Our research showed that cork’s insulating properties are superior to all other materials used in living wall systems. Because of this, our system offers consistent conditions for the plants even during winter months when colder temperatures would otherwise result in poor-quality growth. This means less need for care by humans, and in the long run, better-quality leaves which will translate into better plant growth.
The thermal insulating characteristics of cork are important in maintaining the proper temperature in winter and summer. Cork is also resistant to mold, so water or even high humidity is not a problem with our cork vertical planter system. Cork is inherently antimicrobial, and mold and mildew resistant, due to the presence of suberin. Suberin is a naturally occurring substance that gives cork its waxy barrier.
Our Cork Living Walls system has thermal certifications Conform to EN 13170 + EN 13172, Thermal conductivity tested by the independent laboratories: CSTB (France) and LNEC (Portugal). Industrial quality /Quality control by CSTB (twice annually). Other certifications (in addition to EN 13170): > MPA Stuggart – Ogo-Graf-Institut (quality verification). ARGE KDR – Zertifikat no. – R0700144 “R” green 100% vegetal. CERMI by CSTB, France (Industrial and quality control).
Our Vertical Cork Panels provide:
- High level of stability, coping with major thermal variations.
- In the case of fire, cork does not release toxic gases.
- Unlimited durability, maintaining its technical characteristics (official tests demonstrate between 45 and 50 years).
- 100% Recyclable.
It’s not unusual for people to ask us about how our cork system will perform under extreme weather conditions. Our answer always remains simple: We use one of the best insulator materials in nature and combine it with an innovative high-performing design for a truly sustainable living wall system.
At the touch, people have described our system as not cold or hot. This thermal sensation is due to the insulating characteristics of cork, a natural material that has been used for thousands of years in architecture and insulation.