Sustainability
More Than a Beautiful Floor
Wicanders sustainable products since 1868
Wicanders represents a unique balance between the craetion of innovative products and te protection of the environment, combining state-of-the.art technology with the amazing natural properties of cork.
The cork powder resulting from the industrial process is burned in order to create biomass which is then used as a major source of energy to supply the production facilities, allowing Wicanders to base its production in a sustainable source of energy.
The cork powder resulting from the industrial process is burned in order to create biomass which is then used as a major source of energy to supply the production facilities, allowing Wicanders to base its production in a sustainable source of energy.
Cork´s natural property of retaining CO₂ combined with an eco-sustainable industrial process allows Wicanders to develop eco-efficient products with a low carbon emissions factor, positively contributing to a sustainable environment.
Refined to be free of harmful phthalates Wicanders products has been awarded with worldwide indoor air quality certifications such as Greenguard and A+.
The majority of Wicanders' products contribute to reduce global warmimg, since they retain more CO₂ than they emit.
Cork comes from the bark of the Cork Oak, a slowly growing tree from the Mediterranean basin that may live for 200 years and plays a central role in the social and economic development of this region.
The extraction of cork and its related industries are remarkably sustainable, since the tree is never cut or damaged during the extraction process and the bark regenerates after each harvest.cycle.
It is estimated that the Portuguese cork oak forest - montado - is responsible for retaining 5% of the country’s annual CO₂ emission, representing 4.8 million tons per year.
Cork Oaks are manually harvested for the first time when the tree is 25 years old and then every 9 years making it an activity that passes from generation to generation.
Cork harvesting is a regular and cyclical process that contributes to environmental, economic and social sustainability of the rural areas in the Mediterranean region.
The cork activity as well as related activities fueled by this industry create jobs in many rural areas of the country, encouraging people to settle there.