The Remarkable Journey of Cork: From Tree to Travel Map
- Info Wanderlust
- May 22
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Nature's Sustainable Wonder
When you pin your travel adventures on one of our cork maps, you're connecting with a material that has an extraordinary story of its own. Recently, we had the privilege of learning firsthand about the fascinating world of cork production during our visit to Portugal, and we're excited to share these insights with our Wanderlust community!
The Patient Process of Cork Harvesting
Did you know that a cork oak tree requires incredible patience before yielding its first harvest? It takes a full 25 years before the first cork can be harvested from a tree. However, this initial harvest produces only low-grade cork, not yet suitable for premium applications.
The remarkable journey continues as the tree needs two more harvests—each requiring a 9-year growing period—before producing the high-quality cork we recognize in wine stoppers and, of course, our handcrafted travel maps. That's a total of 43 years before a cork oak tree reaches its prime production potential!
Beyond Maps and Wine Stoppers
While many of us associate cork primarily with wine bottles, and perhaps our Wanderlust Creatures travel maps, this versatile material has applications far beyond what most people realize. Cork can be transformed into textiles for creating:
Shoes
Dresses
Handbags
Hats
And many other sustainable products
This versatility speaks to cork's incredible natural properties—lightweight, water-resistant, and remarkably durable.
Our Commitment to Sustainability
At Wanderlust Creatures, sustainability isn't just a buzzword—it's woven into the very fabric of our business philosophy. For the past 2.5 years, we've been meticulously saving every offcut from our laser-cut cork maps with a purpose. Rather than discarding these materials, we're working toward upcycling them into new maps and products.
This commitment aligns perfectly with our core values of environmental responsibility. By using sustainable materials like cork, which is 100% renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable, we're doing our part to reduce waste and minimize our environmental footprint.
Learning from the Experts
Our understanding of cork's remarkable properties was deepened during our visit to Evora, Portugal, where we had the opportunity to meet with Nelson Seagal at A Romana Artesanato. His insights into traditional cork harvesting and processing techniques have inspired us to continue exploring innovative ways to use this extraordinary material.
Why We Choose Cork for Our Travel Maps
The sustainable nature of cork makes it the perfect material for our travel maps:
Renewable resource: Cork oak trees aren't cut down during harvesting—only the outer bark is removed, allowing the tree to regenerate.
Carbon negative: Cork oak forests actually absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, helping combat climate change.
Biodegradable: Unlike plastic alternatives, cork naturally breaks down at the end of its useful life.
Durable yet lightweight: Perfect for creating travel maps that will last a lifetime while remaining easy to hang and display.
Functionality: Unlike wooden maps, you can easily pin exact locations into our Cork Maps.
Aesthetic: This one is a no-brainer, Cork just looks REALLY appealing as a natural decor aesthetic.
Join Our Sustainability Journey
As we continue to develop our in-house cork re-agglomeration facility, we're excited about the possibilities for creating even more sustainable products from our production offcuts. By choosing a Wanderlust Creatures cork map, you're not just tracking your travels—you're supporting sustainable practices and becoming part of a larger story of environmental stewardship.
We invite you to share your own sustainability stories with us using #ShareYourStory. How are you incorporating eco-friendly products into your travel adventures?
Have you visited Portugal's cork forests or seen cork harvesting firsthand? We'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
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