Why cork
The beauty of a natural material making
everyday life more comfortable Practical performance and natural comfort
What it feels like
Stand on LVT, Laminate or Ceramic for an hour.
Then do it on cork.
The cellular structure of cork provides natural cushioning and a softer response than traditional rigid materials.
Cork absorbs part of the pressure exerted by the body, creating a more comfortable walking and standing sensation, easier on the joints and feet. It even improves foot contact with the floor, providing a more stable walking surface. The natural structure also gives cork a resilience to pressure and compression. Cork flooring can be pressed and compressed up to 40% and still return back to its normal shape, better withstanding pressure caused by chairs and furniture.
What it changes
Cold floors are a choice.
You can make a different one.
The flooring directly affects the thermal comfort of your home. Cork is naturally insulating due to its cellular structure composed of millions of air-filled cells and reduces the transfer of cold from the subfloor to the surface, allowing the floor to retain indoor temperature more effectively.
This thermal stability translates into improved daily comfort with a much more comfortable environment during our colder months compared with other hard floors like LVT, Laminate and Ceramic. It can also contribute to a lower need for continuous heating.
No more cold shock at 6am for your feet.
What disappears
A softened sound. A more gentle environment.
Cork has beautiful, natural acoustic absorption properties. The impact of each step is absorbed by the material, reducing the noise generated within the room itself. Cork also helps reduce sound transmission between rooms and floors.
If you live with noisy hard flooring you understand why this matters.
Greater acoustic comfort, quieter and calmer environments.
What it costs the planet
Environmental responsibility, at every stage
Many flooring and wall-covering products are made from synthetic or less renewable materials. Some can contain PVC, phthalates or other substances of concern and may contribute to higher indoor air emissions. Many are also difficult to reuse or recycle at the end of their life. Our collections take a more considered approach.
Our flooring and wall tiles can incorporate raw and recycled materials, including FSC-certified cork and HDF cores. Cork is a natural, renewable material harvested from the bark of cork oak trees without cutting down the tree. The bark naturally regenerates, allowing the same tree to be harvested repeatedly for around 200 years. Cork harvesting can increase the trees’ capacity to capture and store CO₂, further contributing to their role in carbon storage. The printing technology supports a more considered approach to materials too. For selected digitally printed cork designs, the image is printed directly onto the natural cork surface, without the addition of a decorative plastic film. Our collections meet GREENGUARD Gold criteria, comply with the AgBB Scheme and achieve A+ classification under the French VOC regulation, supporting consideration of indoor air quality. The flooring and wall tiles are also 100% recyclable at end of life. UK recycling facilities for flooring and wall coverings are currently limited, although we strongly believe that designing products with recyclability in mind is an important step towards a more circular approach to interiors.
Other details that matter.
How the materials compare.
We are honest about what cork does well and where other materials may have advantages. The right floor depends on your priorities.
| Property | Cork (Natrul) | Laminate | LVT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comfort underfoot | Natural cushioning from around 40 million air cells per cm3. Absorbs impact, gentle on joints. | Hard surface. No give. Impact transfers directly into the body. | Rigid PVC. Marginally softer than laminate with underlay, but no natural cushioning. |
| Thermal insulation | Naturally warm. Does not conduct cold from the subfloor. | Cold to the touch. Conducts subfloor temperature. | Cold to the touch. Adapts to subfloor temperature quickly. |
| Sound absorption | Up to 19dB impact sound reduction. Built-in acoustic performance. | Loudest floor type. Echoes and amplifies footsteps. | Quieter than laminate. Still louder than cork for impact noise. |
| Durability | Backed by a 15-year residential warranty. Minor dents self-recover. | Cannot be repaired once damaged. | Susceptible to indentation from heavy furniture. |
| Moisture | Moisture-resistant (suberin). Not waterproof. Suitable for kitchens. | Poor moisture resistance. Swells and warps with water exposure. | Fully waterproof surface. Best choice for wet areas. |
| Environmental impact | Harvested from living trees. Biodegradable. Carbon-negative lifecycle. | Felled trees. Formaldehyde binders. Non-recyclable. Landfill end-of-life. | Petroleum-based PVC. Non-biodegradable. Centuries in landfill. |
| Installation | Click system (Uniclic). DIY-friendly. Over existing floors. | Click system. DIY-friendly. | Click or glue-down. DIY-friendly for click. |
| Upfront cost | Higher initial investment. | Lower. Budget-friendly. | Moderate. Wide price range. |
| Replacement cycle | Backed by a 15-year warranty. Built to outlast it. | Typically replaced more than once over the same period. | Typically replaced more than once over the same period. |
| Maintenance | Vacuum and damp mop. No annual sealing routine. | Vacuum and damp mop. | Vacuum and damp mop. |
| Air quality | Very low VOC. GREENGUARD Gold certified, French A+. No PVC, no plasticisers. | Contains formaldehyde binders. Off-gassing possible. | PVC off-gassing. Plasticisers (phthalates) in some products. |
| Pet suitability | Natural cushioning supports joints. Warm surface for resting. Quiet under paws. Closest to natural ground feel. | Hard surface. No joint support. Cold. Loud under claws. | Hard PVC surface. No joint cushioning. Cold underfoot for animals. Scratch-resistant. |
Cork may not be the right choice for everyone but this table truly highlights it's many wonderful qualities.
Feel it for yourself.
A sample tells you more than a website ever can.