As a renewable raw material with an excellent life cycle assessment, cork is used for the production of Herzog & de Meuron's versatile Corker designs. Reminiscent of oversized bottle stoppers, these pieces function as stools or as occasional tables. While Corker is timeless in both form and function, its material is decidedly forward-looking. Our Portuguese cork is sourced from local, sustainable forestry; it is durable and fully recyclable.  

The material is harvested from the bark of the cork oak, native to the Mediterranean region. The tree must grow for around 30 years before its bark can be harvested for the first time. The removal process is carried out meticulously by hand to ensure the tree remains unharmed and is able to regenerate a new layer of cork. Following the initial harvest, the bark can be stripped only every eight to nine years – all in all, up to 15 times over the lifespan of a single tree. This is precisely what makes cork one of the most sustainable and regenerative natural materials used in furniture production.

Thanks to the collaboration with an experienced Portuguese manufacturer, the Corker range is produced entirely without chemical adhesives, making it fully recyclable. Skilled specialists harvest the bark in a way that allows for regular, gentle extraction – positively impacting carbon levels, as cork oaks absorb a higher volume of CO₂ during their regrowth phase. To further enhance the sustainability of the Corker collection, we repurpose surplus cork material throughout production. Beyond its environmental credentials, cork is prized for its tactile warmth, visual appeal, and sound-absorbing qualities.