Corkademy launches sustainable natural play mats made of cork

The hard, bare floors of contemporary homes aren’t the kindest of surfaces when little ones begin crawling or learning to walk. But foam play mats made from plastic can be unsightly and are likely to end up in landfill when children have outgrown the need for them. That’s where Corkademy’s cork play mats come in, providing a soft, natural play surface that’s both eco-friendly and easy on the eye.

Now that the days are drawing in, and kids are spending more time indoors, this could be the perfect time to invest in one of these beautiful, natural play mats. Providing a soft, wipe-clean, non-toxic surface where youngsters can play safely, the mats are backed with rubber and can be rolled up for easy storage. They are available in a range of sizes and both plain and patterned designs.

Cork – naturally sustainable

The cork used to make Corkademy’s play mats comes from Portugal, which produces half the world’s cork. Cork is the outer bark of the cork oak tree, which in Portugal grows in a unique and protected forest ecosystem called montado. Production is sustainable because it doesn’t involve felling the trees: rather, the dead outer layer of bark is carefully peeled from the trees by hand every nine years. The trees are not harmed, and they live for up to 300 years. You can see how cork is harvested by watching the video below.

Cork’s eco credentials and visual qualities are making it an increasingly popular choice in interior design and even as cladding in construction. It shows a growing trend towards eco materials, from building materials to eco-friendly kitchen worksurfaces.