Cork is a sustainable material because it can be harvested every 10 to 12 years and replaced with new bark. It also has a low carbon footprint, as the trees are not cut down in order to harvest the cork.
Demand for cork provides much needed investment in the industry, providing jobs and supporting the local economy. The harvesting of cork is a sustainable practice. While cork bark is regrowing, the trees suck up even more CO2 from the surrounding environment which helps combat global warming.