Cork for the skin?
Article by Beauty Cluster Barcelona, written by Carola P. Badua , Head of Communication at the Institut Català del Suro
CORK FOR THE SKIN?
OCTOBER 31, 2018
The Institut Català del Suro investigates the benefits of the active principle of cork for our skin
Catalonia and, above all, the province of Girona has historically been linked to the cork industry. Currently , 60% of sparkling wine corks and 10% of wine corks worldwide are created in Catalonia .
In addition to the manufacture of corks, cork, which is the bark of the cork oak ( Quercus Suber), is also used in industry and architecture for its properties: it is a very good insulator, light, non-slip , float on water ...
From the R+D+i Department of the Institut Català del Suro ( ICSuro ) we constantly work on research projects in order to innovate and find new uses for this very special material.
NATURE AND SCIENCE
The suberin and its surface network structure play a very important role, as they provide elasticity to cork and make it a material with optimal conditions for different functions. Recently, some scientific studies have appeared that indicate that its active ingredient, suberin, may also have potential benefits for the skin.
It is for this reason that we are working in collaboration with the company Biogründl in a project entitled SUBERCHEM , which consists, precisely, in obtaining a range of active principles with cosmetic utility and that originate in by-products of the cork industry in Catalonia . The other two objectives of the project are:
- The search for a new method of extracting compounds of natural origin that is more efficient than current methods and that minimizes the consumption of polluting products.
- The characterization of the cosmetic properties of cork by-product extracts.
ECOLOGICAL VALUE
Cork oaks have existed, according to studies, for approximately 60 million years. Natural and cultivated forests of these leafy evergreen trees are found in areas of the Mediterranean.
In the Spanish state they are mainly concentrated in Extremadura, Andalusia and Catalonia . The first peeling or cam of cork is done when the tree is about 25 years old. However, for cosmetic use, peeling is carried out even from an age of approximately 43 years, since the old cork has a higher content of nutrients. From this point, the peel occurs every nine years in the south of Spain and Portugal and every 12 in Catalonia. This guarantees exceptional quality and the sustainability of the plantation.
A VERY SPECIAL ECOSYSTEM
Due to their renewable natural resources, cork oaks are of incalculable value not only for people. These forests represent a special ecosystem that serves as a habitat for many animal species . In addition, they constitute an essential lung for the Earth. In the midst of the fight against global warming, corks have an enormous capacity to absorb CO2 .
One of the strategic objectives of ICSuro is to help constantly improve the management of corks in an ecological way , protecting them sustainably and contributing to their maintenance.
The company Biogründl, born in Barcelona in 2002, has specialized in the search for active principles of natural origin, local and Mediterranean in nature . For this reason, the case of cork is certainly special for being endemic to the Mediterranean and for its socio-economic, historical and cultural implications with the Catalan territory.
The ultimate goal of this project is to give a new use to the by-product of the cork industry , in order to make the most of cork production and give it profitability in the context of the circular economy.
Carola P. Badua
Head of Communication at the Institut Català del Suro
cbadua@icsuro.com
CORK FOR THE SKIN?
OCTOBER 31, 2018
The Institut Català del Suro investigates the benefits of the active principle of cork for our skin
Catalonia and, above all, the province of Girona has historically been linked to the cork industry. Currently , 60% of sparkling wine corks and 10% of wine corks worldwide are created in Catalonia .
In addition to the manufacture of corks, cork, which is the bark of the cork oak ( Quercus Suber), is also used in industry and architecture for its properties: it is a very good insulator, light, non-slip , float on water ...
From the R+D+i Department of the Institut Català del Suro ( ICSuro ) we constantly work on research projects in order to innovate and find new uses for this very special material.
NATURE AND SCIENCE
The suberin and its surface network structure play a very important role, as they give elasticity to cork and make it a material with optimal conditions for different functions . Recently, some scientific studies have appeared that indicate that its active ingredient, suberin, may also have potential benefits for the skin.
It is for this reason that we are working in collaboration with the company Biogründl in a project entitled SUBERCHEM , which consists, precisely, in obtaining a range of active principles with cosmetic utility and that originate in by-products of the cork industry in Catalonia . The other two objectives of the project are:
- The search for a new method of extracting compounds of natural origin that is more efficient than current methods and that minimizes the consumption of polluting products.
- The characterization of the cosmetic properties of cork by-product extracts.
ECOLOGICAL VALUE
Cork oaks have existed, according to studies, for approximately 60 million years. Natural and cultivated forests of these leafy evergreen trees are found in areas of the Mediterranean.
In the Spanish state they are mainly concentrated in Extremadura, Andalusia and Catalonia . The first peeling or cam of cork is done when the tree is about 25 years old. However, for cosmetic use, peeling is carried out even from an age of approximately 43 years, since the old cork has a higher content of nutrients. From this point, the peel occurs every nine years in the south of Spain and Portugal and every 12 in Catalonia. This guarantees exceptional quality and the sustainability of the plantation.
A VERY SPECIAL ECOSYSTEM
Due to their renewable natural resources, cork oaks are of incalculable value not only for people. These forests represent a special ecosystem that serves as a habitat for many animal species . In addition, they constitute an essential lung for the Earth. In the midst of the fight against global warming, corks have an enormous capacity to absorb CO2 .
One of the strategic objectives of ICSuro is to help constantly improve the management of corks in an ecological way , protecting them sustainably and contributing to their maintenance.
The company Biogründl, born in Barcelona in 2002, has specialized in the search for active principles of natural origin, local and Mediterranean in nature . For this reason, the case of cork is certainly special for being endemic to the Mediterranean and for its socio-economic, historical and cultural implications with the Catalan territory.
The ultimate goal of this project is to give a new use to the by-product of the cork industry , in order to make the most of cork production and give it profitability in the context of the circular economy.
Carola P. Badua
Head of Communication at the Catalan Institute of Cork
cbadua@icsuro.com
www.icsuro.com