Jelinek Cork Group - Get Corking

Jelinek Cork Fabric in Vogue Patterns Magazine

2012-01-15T23:08:00.002-05:00

Cork fabric, also known as cork leather or cork skin, is produced from natural cork - the bark of the cork oak tree. The cork fabric is composed of thin sheets of natural cork adhered to a fabric support backing. It is available in a variety of different patterns and colors. Take a look at the corkstore.com to see the many patterns available. One may think "Cork Fabric? How can that last?". But it does. This amazingly durable fabric is comparable to leather in terms of durability. The main difference? Cork fabric can actually get wet and be washed - unlike leather. Besides being durable, beautiful to look at and warm it is also environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic, water resistant and stain resistant.

Take a look at this month's (February/March 2012) issue of Vogue Patterns Magazine. You'll see Jelinek Cork fabric featured (along with a promo code). The magazine also includes a cool project demonstrating how to make a wallet and e-book reader using cork fabric.

The magazine is available at newsstands or take a peek at their online sampler.

Crafts with Cork on YouTube

2011-12-05T12:18:00.002-05:00

There are so many crafts you can do with cork - let your imagination run wild! We've created a few videos on YouTube to get you started with holiday themed crafts. If you have a wine cork collection, you can re-use these or else the corkstore.com has many for crafts including a grab bag of cork (a mixture of various sizes and shapes of cork).

Enjoy the videos and we hope it inspires you to create some holiday (or anytime) crafts using cork.

20% off sale at the corkstore.com

2011-11-25T11:41:00.002-05:00

Recently, the corkstore.com - the online store for Jelinek Cork Group - was given a refreshing new look. To celebrate this new look as well as to wish everyone all the best as the holiday season begins, we are offering 20% off all orders over $25. You can order online at the corkstore.com or come visit us at the Cork House (our awesome show room in Oakville, Ontario). To take advantage of this sale, use promo code corkthanks11 when placing your order. This sale runs from today until Monday (November 28th).

Happy Holidays and we hope you enjoy your shopping experience at corkstore.com or the Cork House.

All aboard! Cork board sets sail.

2011-02-22T10:36:00.008-05:00

When thinking of cork flooring, most of us think in the home - perhaps a living room or kitchen - but have you ever thought of cork for the flooring of your boat? Jan Cernik did. Boats and sailing are Jan's hobby. In 2008, when refurbishing his boat, he began looking for suitable ship board material for the deck. He considered all types of materials; from teak to various kinds of plastic. He even found materials containing cork however they were not exactly what he wanted or they were too expensive. His investigation into the material containing cork had him consider cork itself. In cooperation with the Czech office of Jelinek Cork, he tested a few possibilities of cork material. His final decision was to use cork sheets (90x60cm and 6mm thick) that were treated with oil as the ship board for the deck of the boat. The boat is on its second season on lakes and rivers and the cork works wonderfully and looks fabulous. Jan is now working on the renovation of another ship (from 1947) and he is ready to use cork again, for the deck of this boat.

Cork in an electric car

2011-02-14T10:21:00.008-05:00

In cooperation with Korek Jelinek CZ a new prototype of an electric car was created - with the use of cork.

A team of three czech engineers created a new electric car - using cork material for the interior. The design team chose to use recycled and ecological materials so, in cooperation with Korek Jelinek CZ, they used cork for the seat pads, dashboard and the insides of the doors.

The team participated in a competition „ElectricMotion.cz“ and was tasked with creating a small, simple, attractive and ecological electric car for use in the cities. The newly designed electric car has received a very positive response.

For more details, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L6q5gBLLb4

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Prcek/153572601342181

http://www.hybrid.cz/clanky/prcek-cesky-elektromobil-z-korku-kokosu

"Then and Now": Grape Crushing and Port Wine.

2010-11-03T23:16:00.007-04:00

Port wine is a fortified wine produced in the Douro Valley in Portugal. Here is a little photo journal showing how the grapes for port wine were crushed a century ago and how they are crushed today. There is nothing like enjoying a glass of Port - especially on a cool winters evening.

THEN ...

A century and more ago, grape crushing was done by foot stomping. It was a joyous time not only celebrating the crushing of the grapes but the economical returns the harvest of that year would bring to the community. As the image depicts, music and song accompanied the long hours of work.

Wines were kept in large demijohns insulated by weaved wicker or grass. These containers were plugged with natural corks hand cut directly from the bark of cork oak trees.

.... and NOW

Today the crush stompers of the past are replaced by metal robotic "feet", operated by turning on a power switch. It is certainly an easier and more controlled operation but has lost the romanticism of earlier generations. Nevertheless the end of the harvest season today is still celebrated with music and song in most wine regions of the world.

Natural cork stoppers, whether as straight wine corks or corks with plastic tops attached to them as shown in this image, remain the choice of most wineries. An estimated 14 billion straight natural wine corks are used annually today.

Jelinek Cork annual convention in beautiful Portugal

2010-10-20T23:54:00.009-04:00

This year's annual Jelinek Cork Group convention was held in Northern Portugal. What a beautiful place! We were rewarded with some magnificent sites and experiences. Here are just a few images:

Grapevines form intriguing patterns along the Douro River in Portugal.

Cork oak trees and grape vines share the Portuguese countryside. As the saying goes, "Cork is to wine as the earth is to the vine". An obvious lifelong affair... cork and wine. Foreground in this image is a cork tree overlooking the fall colors of the Douro Valley vineyards.

Barrels of aging port wine stoppered with natural corks. Port wine has been produced for more than 400 years in the north of Portugal along the rocky mountainsides of the Douro River. Despite the adventurous driving experience (one can take the calmer river boat route) the excursion is well worth it.

Sonny Jelinek at the Cork House Decorating BIG with GlamaMama

2010-10-07T22:13:00.004-04:00

Looking for design ideas for your home? Check out "Decorating Big with GlamaMama" as she tours the Cork House and shows how beautiful cork is in a home.

The Cork House - your one stop shop to eco-friendly home design

2010-08-30T13:15:00.012-04:00

Jelinek Cork's unique showroom in Oakville, Ontario has recently been redecorated. The walls have been painted with C2's low-VOC paint, the kitchen has a beautiful new back splash made of Jelinek cork mosaic, American Clay has been applied to accent walls, plus the cork floors look fabulous. All these products and many, many more are available at the Cork House and most can be custom designed to meet your needs.
Cork upholstered furniture - the cork can be stained to
match any decor.

Cork upholstered head board and duvet cover. In the background
the chairs are made with cork upholstery as well.

From Icestone recycled glass & concrete countertops, to Jelinek cork wall & ceiling coverings, from unique gift items made of cork to one-of-a-kind pieces of art created by local artisans, if you're looking to decorate, the Cork House has it all - its the one stop shop for eco-friendly home design.

For hours and directions to the Cork House visit: http://corkhouse.com/

Business as usual at Jelinek Cork despite fire at one location.

2010-07-24T12:29:00.001-04:00

Jelinek Cork Group experienced a major fire at one of our three Ontario facilities. Our other two locations have immediately been activated to handle the overload from the damaged premises until such time that repairs will be completed. Although there may be some short delays of supply and services over the next week, business in the most part will continue as usual at Jelinek Cork.

Suberite - The cork-based paint

2010-07-22T23:43:00.008-04:00

Cork with all its amazing natural qualities works great inside the home as flooring, wall & ceiling coverings, even furniture but have you ever thought of it on the outside of your home? If not, you should. In fact, think of it for any surface in your home - inside and outside walls, ceilings, roofs, deck, patios, etc. If you think about it cork has all the natural properties of that perfect outer layer. Its the bark, or skin, of the tree protecting the valuable inside while allowing it to breath. It protects, insulates and seals and is very resistant. Cork is fire resistant, does not release any toxic gases. It insulates against temperature - both hot and cold. It seals better than any other man-made or natural product - hence the champagne bottles sealed in the 1780s that were discovered under the sea recently - the champagne was still bubbly and tasty and the bottle was sealed with a natural cork. It is these characteristics that make cork the ideal material for builders.

I'd like to introduce you to Suberite. If you've never heard of it, you soon will. Its basically a skin for your home. Its paint that is cork and water resin based - 80% of it being cork. It is applied to the outside or inside of homes and buildings creating a breathable, waterproof and thermic layer. It is resistant to seat salt, fungi and UV rays. Regardless of the outside temperature, Suberite maintains a constant inside temperature. Put it on paths, walk ways and patios - it is antislip!

In the above image, the walls and the pathway are both Suberite.

The pathway to this office building is Suberite.

Installing Suberite inside a home.

If you have any questions about this fantastic product, Suberite, please contact us: cork@jelinek.com -- 1-800-959-0995

Fishing with ... cork?

2010-07-19T16:57:00.013-04:00

We're well into the long, lazy, hazy days of summer and what better way to spend the day than on the water fishing for that perfect fish. So how does cork play a part of this you may ask? Follow the pictures below for a few of the ways:

Heading out fishing? Don't forget your lure. Keep it safe and inside its container using a natural tapered cork stopper. Its cork - it can get 'stabbed' without any damage.

As you're packing your tackle, don't forget your floats. Cork fishing floats come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors:

How about a cork 'bug'. Walt's poppers are hand-made using a carefully selected cork body.

Cork fishing rod handles:
The light weight and durability of cork combined with custom shaping make cork grips the top choice for fishing rods.

More interested in making your own cork fishing rod handle. Use natural cork rings.

Have you ever dropped your keys in the water or worried about dropping them in the water? You can give yourself piece of mind with a cork key chain - created with the boater in mind, these cork key chains float (made of solid cork).

Happy Fishing!

Relaxing in a cork beanbag chair

2010-06-28T11:15:00.006-04:00

Cork upholstery fabric not only looks amazing but it also lasts. Its a natural product yet made for durability. This beanbag chair is a prime example. Its climbed over, jumped on, napped on, dragged around and its still in perfect condition.

Cork fabric, also known as cork leather or cork skin, is a natural, eco-friendly product. Thin sheets of natural cork obtained directly from the bark of the cork oak tree are adhered to a fabric support backing.

The durability of the cork fabric is remarkable. To prevent staining, the cork fabric is protected with a fabric protection spray. In terms of durability, cork fabric wears similarly to leather which is another reason this cork fabric is often called Cork Leather. The main difference between cork leather and regular leather is cork leather can get wet - actually it can be washed using hot water in a washing machine.

Cork fabric is environmentally friendly, hypoallergenic, water resistant and stain resistant.

Cork fabric can be purchased online at the corkstore.com

2010-03-05T10:46:00.017-05:00

You open a bottle of wine, you drink the bottle of wine. Now you have an empty glass bottle and (hopefully) a natural wine cork. The glass bottle can be recycled or returned for a deposit (depending where you live) but what will you do with the wine cork? All natural wine corks can be recycled and repurposed into something else (ie. cork flooring, bulletin boards, cork wall panels). You can contact us as we'll gladly accept them or bring them to a Whole Foods market. You could also be creative and reuse those wine corks. Save them in a jar or vase for a decorative look and then, when you're ready, get busy!

Its amazing what people come up with:

From crafts such as this beautiful cork wreath:

To displays/bulletin boards (in this case a restaurant menu board):

To whole homes covered in wine corks:

The Calgary Zoo in Canada even uses a wine cork in their piranha aquarium:

If you'd like to share your use for natural wine corks, please let us know.

A little history about Jelinek Cork and fishing floats

2010-01-12T12:23:00.009-05:00

During the 1970s, cork fishing floats represented a good portion of Jelinek Cork sales. The interesting thing was these floats were not new and they were not used for fishing. Rather, they were used floats and they were hung as decorations in many seafood restaurants and bars across North America.

Henry Jelinek tells us the story:
"We obtained these floats by travelling to fishing villages and towns surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. We purchased the floats used on fish nets directly from the fishermen. They were happy to sell them to us because they could use the money to buy new floats. I often think they thought we were a bit crazy buying old floats from them ... especially since they could buy new floats and still have some money left over. In most cases, the new floats were purchased from us as well .... so it was a good deal all around."

Restaurants and cork

2010-01-02T18:59:00.007-05:00

I ate in my fair share of restaurants this holiday season - from upscale restaurants to cafes and order at the bar greasy spoons. In my restaurant hopping, I saw various types of decor.

Yes - the main reason we go to restaurants is to eat and drink however who doesn't love a restaurant with great decor? Cork with all its unique characteristics is a great fit for the decor of a restaurant - from cork flooring to cork wall panels, from cork ceilings to cork chairs.

The accessories in a restaurant also help set the mood. Beautiful cork menus (made of either cork fabric or cork wallpaper) and wine cork menu boards (made by reusing wine corks) are creative ways of displaying menus and also make interesting conversation pieces.

Cork on display in a community's fashion show.

2009-11-24T14:38:00.010-05:00

As mentioned in a previous post, the Bridgenorth Beautification committee collects recycled wine corks as a fundraiser. One of their other fundraisers is a fashion show. This year's fashion show included a collection of cork items including a beautiful dress made with cork fabric.

Designer gown - cork fabric.

Skirt, umbrella and cap all made of cork fabric.

Recycling used wine corks helps the environment and community groups.

2009-10-17T14:05:00.003-04:00

Bridgenorth is a small, quaint town near Peterborough, Ontario. As with all towns, Bridgenorth grew and changed. It was no longer the quaint little hamlet it had once been. So, in 1994, the Bridgepoint Beautification Committee was formed. This committee works to keep Bridgenorth beautiful and relies on funds from fundraisers to do so. Recently, this committee began using cork in their fund raising efforts.

Cork? Fund raising? How do these tie together? In an effort to keep cork stoppers out of landfills and to assist not-for-profit or community groups, Jelinek Cork launched the "We want your natural corks" fundraiser.

If you are a community group or not-for-profit that would like to help the environment and your group, there is more information about this program on the Jelinek Cork website.

If you are interested in donating your used natural wine corks to the Bridgenorth Beautification Committee and you are in the Bridgenorth/Peterborough area, please visit the Bridgenorth Beautification Committee website.

For other natural cork collection locations, visit: http://jelinek.com/collection_locs.htm

Corks of Art by artist Julie Lee

2009-08-06T13:29:00.007-04:00

Beautiful art work created from recycled wine corks. Each piece uses approximately 600 wine corks.

Corks of Art
By artist: Julie Lee

Corks of Art is a tribute to the many celebrations and conversations that have been accompanied by wine. It is a beautiful complex of how the wines have been cultivated and produced, to preserving those special moments into a uniquely designed painting as well as other forms of art.

This concept is a 1st and only of its kind in the world, as well as the many distinctive quality of wines the Jelinek clients have savoured. I wanted to pay hommage to the "art" of making these wines. Every wine cork has been hand selected and assembled to make a "canvas-like" backdrop in order for the perfect painting to emerge.

You don't have to be a wine snob to appreciate this fine art. We all find beauty in different things, through our form of art you'll find the same appreciation and a way for you to individually relate to it.

For more information and additional products, contact Julie Lee at theworldisyours_56@msn.com. The website, www.corksofArt.com will debut in a few weeks.

Start with a cork and end with a bug - Walt's Poppers.

2009-07-03T09:55:00.010-04:00

Walt's Poppers - amazing! Though these popping bugs are nice to look at, that's not what they are made for. These miniature works of art are true work horses - what many anglers turn to (and think of) when needing a "bug".

Walt Cary began his fly-tying career as a bartender in the 1950s. After he uncorked a bottle of champagne he went to toss out the cork when he thought what a terrible waste of a good material. With that Walt began using old corks, whittling them down and painting them. Over time, Walt perfected the art and created a very successful business. His creations involve a standard cork body which he hand selects. He sands the cork, fills in any cracks, and then puts it through a ten-step painting and finishing process which includes at least seven coats of paint. Truly a work of art - both on land and in the water!

Yard Sale for the Cure hosted by Jelinek Cork and the Cork House

2009-06-05T17:07:00.016-04:00

Yard Sale for the Cure: "The stuff you no longer need will help fund the cure for breast cancer".

On Saturday May 30, 2009 Jelinek Cork hosted a Yard Sale for the Cure at the Cork House (the Jelinek Cork showroom located in Oakville, ON). The Yard Sale for the Cure is an organization that raises money for Breast Cancer research and treatment by holding a massive series of Yard Sales in selected neighbourhoods across Canada.

The Jelinek Cork/Cork House sale began early with the event setup - tables full of all sorts of items - from cork items to clothing, from kids toys to new designer shoes, from lemonade stands to bbq hot dogs! Many people donated items and time to help with this event.

The day was incredible - a huge success with hundreds of people stopping by to browse, purchase and offer support. Jelinek Cork was very excited to raise $2000 for breast cancer research.

Thank you to everyone for helping support this cause.

A little about finishing cork floors with the natural vegetable oil finish.

2009-05-29T18:18:00.005-04:00

Q:
Could you tell me a little about cork floor finishes, specifically the vegetable oil finish (Jelinek Cork Comfort Finish Flooring)?

A:
Cork flooring is not impervious to stains and oils unless it is coated with some sort of finish. In fact, an unfinished floor takes stain very well, thereby allowing the floor to be stained various colors before being finished. Once coated, the finish is what protects the floor from further staining. All cork floors need some sort of finish to protect them. The most common cork floor finish is polyurethane. Polyurethane is a fairly flexible finish that allows the floor to provide somewhat of a 'cork feel' while it protects. After that there are more rigid finishes such as aluminum oxide, vinyl, and epoxy (in order of rigidity). The more rigid the finish the more it protects the floor but the less the natural properties of cork are available. For example, one reason people purchase cork flooring is for the soft, warm feeling underfoot. A cork floor finished with epoxy is so rigid that you loose this feeling entirely.

The natural vegetable oil finish is the opposite of a rigid finish. This finish maintains the feel and attributes of cork while protecting against spills and stains. It does not protect against heavy pressure points which can cause indentations (eg. a heavy desk with narrow legs will create an indentation in the floor unless furniture pads are placed under the desk legs). The other nice thing about a vegetable oil finish is that it is a natural product unlike all of the rigid finish products - its main component is "safflower oil".

A floor can be coated with vegetable oil by hand (using a rag to rub the oil into the floor) or by a machine. It does not get heated. Multiple applications of the oil are applied to create the finished floor. If finishing the floor using vegetable oil by hand (can be done at home), 3 coats of oil are recommended. The same method is used to refinish a floor if it needed to be done. However, typically only one coat would need to be applied in order to refinish the floor. Cork floors finished with the vegetable oil finish need to be cleaned with a special cleaner (called Dergos natural oil cleaner, available from corkstore.com) about once a month. There is a very small amount of vegetable oil in the cleaner that enhances the existing finish. By doing this, you generally would never need to refinish the floor (rubbing oil into the floor). In comparison, a floor finished with polyurethane often needs a new coat of urethane every 5 years or so (depending on traffic). Recoating a urethane floor involves abrading the existing finish (using either a chemical abrader or a physical abrader such as sandpaper). The new coat of urethane is applied wet and allowed to dry. It is a day long process. With the vegetable oil finish, this type of recoating is not necessary provided the floor is maintained using the cleaner.

The Jelinek Cork flooring finished with natural vegetable oil is called the Comfort Finish line. Please contact us for further details or you can order online at corkstore.com

For more information on cork flooring visit http://jelinek.com/flooring.htm

The process of making a natural wine cork.

2009-05-22T11:50:00.019-04:00

After the cork bark is harvested from the cork oak tree, how does it become a wine cork?

After harvesting the cork bark off cork oak trees, the bark is gathered and placed in large piles waiting to be loaded onto trucks and transported to the processing factories. The health of the cork oaks is not effected …. The same tree can be harvested over and over again every nine years.

The bark is cut into strips by a very sharp knife. The thickness of the strips determines the length of the cork stoppers. In the above photo the strips are quite thin …. about half an inch or 12.5mm. This means the stoppers punched from these strips would be ½” or 12.5mm in length, about half the length of a standard wine cork often used on olive bottles or spice bottles.

In this picture the stoppers are being punched from the bark strips by hand, the strips are about 1-1/2” long or 38 mm. These are wine stopper corks. The operator must be very precise. After the corks are all punched out of each strip the leftover strips (those with the holes in them) are called “cork waste”. This name is misleading because in cork there is no waste. These leftover strips are later ground up and turned into cork grain. Cork grain is further processed and turned into other products such as cork floors, walls, insulating materials, bulletin boards, coasters, and much more.

Punching stoppers out of cork strips can also be done by automatic machines such as the one pictured above. This is a safer and quicker process but not as exact as hand punching.

After the cork stoppers are punched out they are sorted into various qualities – usually seven standard qualities - by expert sorters who can quickly and effectively recognize the difference between each cork. Qualities are determined by the number of pores, cracks, or other imperfections.

Here you can see the sorters surrounded by wicker baskets. They pick and choose the corks and throw them into the designated seven different quality baskets without even glancing up. They seldom miss their shots, even those they throw side-handed or over their shoulders!

Following these procedures the corks are washed, branded with company logos, treated with a surface coating to make insertion into and out of bottles easier and smoother, and finally sterilized and packed in hermetically sealed heavy duty poly bags which are not opened until they arrive at the bottling line.

Vegetable oil + cork = Jelinek Cork Comfort Finish Cork Flooring

2009-05-12T09:47:00.009-04:00

So what do you get when you take a beautiful cork floor and stain and seal it with natural vegetable oil? Jelinek Cork Comfort Finish cork flooring.

Cork, as you know, is an all natural product. It comes from the bark of the cork oak tree. Cork flooring needs to be finished in order to protect it from daily use. The most eco-friendly floor finish is a natural product -- vegetable oil.

Jelinek Cork's Comfort Finish flooring line can be stained various shades. The stain is also formulated from vegetable oil.

This natural and environmentally friendly surface finish protects the cork floor while maintaining the look and feel of the cork. The finish gives the floor a very soft feeling - some describe it by saying it feels like leather.

Typically, these floors do not need to be recoated - even after years of use. About once a month, the floor needs to be cleaned with a special cleaner which will reapply a small amount of oil to the finish.

So there you have it - cork flooring + vegetable oil = a truly environmentally friendly plus gorgeous floor.

Heidi Ackerman at Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion week

2009-04-23T23:10:00.003-04:00

Toronto Alternative Arts and Fashion Week has been on since April 21. On Friday April 24 2009, Heidi Ackerman's new collection of Avant Garde and eco-friendly fashions will be featured.

Heidi Ackerman uses eco-friendly materials including cork fabric in her designs. Jelinek Cork is proud to sponsor Heidi Ackerman as she continues to push the boundaries of Canadian Fashion while honouring her commitment to responsible and eco-friendly design.

Jelinek Cork at the Halton Eco Festival

2009-04-21T15:56:00.003-04:00

This past Saturday, Jelinek Cork was pleased to be a part of the 9th Annual Halton Eco Festival in Oakville, Ontario. This free-to-attend environmental fair brought visitors from around the GTA to listen to speakers address sustainability as well as visit exhibitors booths and learn about their "green" products and services.

At the Jelinek Cork booth, visitor response was amazing. Many visitors knew of cork only as a bulletin board or wine stopper. Others were more knowledgeable about the many uses of cork and many already use cork in their homes - on their walls or floors. All visitors were impressed with the versatility of cork and the many products created from this natural and sustainable product. Along with cork fabric and cork hand bags, Jelinek Cork flooring was of great interest. The Jelinek Cork Comfort Line of cork flooring was a huge hit. The Comfort Line has a natural vegetable oil finish which protects the floor while maintaining the natural look and feel of cork.

We heard many great comments from our visitors on Saturday. Some of the more common ones were,
"Wow! This has to be one of the most sustainable flooring options."
"I had no idea you could do so much with cork!"
"It's SO comfortable underfoot! and warm!"

We love cork!

Thanks to the Oakville Community Centre For Peace, Ecology And Human Rights for organizing this event.

Interesting Uses for Cork #4

2009-04-05T22:36:00.003-04:00

Here is another interesting use for cork - the bee and honey industry.

Cork and the Queen Bee:
When a queen bee is to be introduced to a hive of bees, it needs to be done carefully. The queen bee is foreign to the other bees and could be seen as an intruder to the hive if she is not introduced slowly. To do this, the queen bee is kept in her own cage, known as the queen cage. One side of the queen cage is closed with a cork. The other side is sealed with bee candy and sometimes another cork. The cork on the side with the bee candy is removed and the queen cage is inserted within the frames of the hive. The other cork is left in place to keep the queen from escaping. In a couple of days, the worker bees will have eaten through the bee candy and released the queen bee into the hive.

Cork and Observation Hives:
Sometimes bee keepers want to keep the bees out of the observation hive. This can be done by using tapered cork stoppers to plug the passage of bees into or out of the observation hive.

Cork and Honey:
There are many ways to package and sell honey. One method that is both natural, functional and decorative is to use a natural cork stopper. Being all-natural, cork works and looks great in the container.

Note: I am not a bee keeper however I love honey!

Cork Balls

2009-03-16T23:15:00.008-04:00

Most everyone knows cork for its use in wine stoppers and bulletin boards and more and more people recognize it as a floor covering however not as many people know what a cork ball is or what it is for. I'll take a moment to enlighten you ...

Cork balls come in a variety of sizes and are used for many applications ranging from magic props to buoyancy aids.

Ever wonder what's inside one of your sporting balls (ie. baseball, cricket or hurling ball)? Often, its center is made of cork.

What about the little ball in a whistle? Its often a tiny cork ball.

How about a foosball? These balls can be made of cork also.

Cork balls are also floats for level gauges and heads for craft dolls and outrigger cork stops.

Remember, cork floats! Another great use is as a keychain for boaters.

The list goes on and on. Whether for arts & craft use or fishing floats and lures, cork balls can be used.

For more uses, visit www.jelinek.com/balls.htm

Jelinek Cork flooring installed in LEED compliant Oakville Soccer Club building

2009-03-02T18:53:00.023-05:00

The Oakville Soccer Club has opened a new indoor soccer facility. The Pine Glen Soccer Centre is the first LEED^®(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Compliant public building in Oakville, Ontario.

Jelinek Cork Comfort Line cork floors are installed throughout the facility's offices. These floors have a natural vegetable oil finish which protects the floor while maintaining the natural look and feel of cork. The pattern used for this facility is Cai Sienna.

Jelinek Cork is present in other parts of the building as well - RubberCork flooring is installed in the community room and staff kitchen (see bottom picture).

Interesting Uses for Cork #3

2009-02-24T16:41:00.008-05:00

As mentioned in previous posts, there are many uses for cork besides bulletin boards and wine stoppers. I have already mentioned a couple in previous posts. Today I'll introduce you to another.

Virgin cork bark is the bark that is harvested from the cork tree the first and second time the tree is harvested. This cork has a really rough texture and is not uniform at all. Some sections may be a lot thicker than other sections and its appearance is really natural. Subsequent harvests produce a much smoother and uniform layer of bark. These subsequent harvests produce the higher quality cork required for wine stoppers. So what happens to the bark gathered during the first two harvests? Among other things, virgin cork bark is used in horticulture and zoology for displays and for imitating natural habitats (terrariums, vivariums).

Here are some examples:
1.Orchids – Orchids love cork and cork bark is ideal for mounting orchids and other plants that require epiphytic conditions. They attach themselves to the cork bark and thrive.

2.Reptiles, amphibians and arachnids – Lizards, snakes, tarantulas and other such creatures love to climb on and in things. Cork bark is used to emulate their natural surroundings. The cork bark is completely natural and non-toxic so it is a popular choice when setting up a terrarium or other such habitat.

3.Since cork floats, the bark works great in the water. Frogs, turtles, newts and other partial swimmers need to take a break from the water. Cork bark offers an ideal place to rest.

In memory of Boomer.

Cork closures and CO2 emissions

2009-02-19T11:18:00.003-05:00

A PricewaterhouseCoopers LCA study commissioned by Amorim shows the carbon dioxide emissions associated with cork closures are significantly lower than the emissions due to aluminum screwcaps and plastic stoppers.

The year-long study found that CO2 emissions — a key factor in global warming — resulting from the life cycle of a screwcap are 24 times higher than those from a natural cork stopper, while a plastic stopper is responsible for 10 times more CO2 than a natural cork.

Along with this study, it is also known that cork forests store carbon thereby reducing green house gases in the atmosphere. Cork trees store carbon to regenerate their bark therefore a harvested tree absorbs more (up to 5 times more) carbon than one that isn't harvested.

Use natural cork and help the planet.

Calling all Recyclers! We want your Natural Corks!

2009-02-18T23:09:00.004-05:00

In December 2008, Jelinek Cork launched its new recycled cork program:

Jelinek Cork Group is delighted to announce a new recycled cork program. Jay Jelinek said “Due to the large number of inquiries we received from the public we realized there is a huge demand to continue recycling natural cork.”

To try and make the process as simple as possible all we ask is for community groups, schools or other not for profit organizations to bring their sorted collected corks to our facility on Speers Road in Oakville, Ontario.

The corks need to be put in a brown paper garden refuse bag, which can be bought at all major grocery or hardware stores. We will pay $15 for each full bag of sorted natural corks. Simply call ahead to arrange your drop off.

Jay Jelinek continued with: “We are encouraged to hear so many people take seriously the desire to recycle one of nature’s most renewable products; by collecting and recycling we were able to divert over 8 tonnes of cork that was destined to end up in landfill.”

This program helps community groups raise both funds and awareness that natural cork is not only a completely sustainable product but totally recyclable and by using natural cork you're helping preserve one of the most biologically diverse habitats in the world.

Each year there are over 10 million wine corks discarded in Ontario alone. The holiday season is the perfect time of year to launch our new program.

For more information about this program please contact:

Fay Stallan
Jelinek Cork Group
905-827-4666

Jelinek Cork Group, 2260 Speers Road, Oakville, Ontario, L6L 2X8
Phone 905-827-4666
www.jelinek.com

World's Largest Cork Tree

2009-02-18T09:32:00.004-05:00

The title of World's Largest Cork Tree is given to a tree that lives in the Alentejo region of Portugal. The tree, known as the Whistler tree for the birds that perch in it, was planted in 1783 and was harvested for its first time in 1820. Since then, its been harvested every nine years - that's 21 times! Its most recent harvest was in 2000 and its next harvest is scheduled for this year - 2009. Talk about productive!

Source: http://www.corkqc.com/corkecology/ecology2.htm

By using Cork you are helping our Planet

2009-02-09T08:58:00.003-05:00

Cork - One of the most renewable and ecologically friendly materials found anywhere in the world

CORK
Cork is the bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus suber). After the cork bark is harvested from the tree, the bark immediately begins to renew itself. Not a single tree is cut down during harvest. Generally, after nine years of growth the bark is two inches thick. It is often at this point when the tree is re-harvested. Cork trees live 200-500 years.

MORE THAN RENEWABLE
Cork not only begins to renew its bark immediately after harvest but during the trees entire lifespan it is filtering carbon dioxide thereby reducing greenhouse gases. Furthermore, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) “cork oak forests support one of the highest levels of biodiversity among forest habitats, as well as the highest diversity of plants found anywhere in the world”.

NOT GOING EXTINCT
Despite rumours, cork is not going extinct. However, some winemakers are causing the cork habitat to be threatened by converting from real wine corks to synthetic and screw caps. Because of the decrease in use of real wine cork, the value of cork as a raw material has gone down. This may cause cork forest owners to sell their land, which in turn may be converted to alternative use (such as real estate development).

BY USING CORK YOU ARE HELPING OUR PLANET
The more cork that is used, the more value the farmers who own the forests get out of their land, making it less likely they will sell their land for development. By using cork you are helping to preserve the forest habitat and thereby reducing greenhouse gases and contributing to biodiversity among plant and animal life. There are many other benefits, including poverty alleviation (many cork forests are in rural North Africa and are critical to their local economy) and employment.

The construction industry has been quick to embrace cork as an acoustic underlayment in multilevel units and for flooring. The interior design industry is also on the cutting edge with unique uses of cork. Both industries also recognize that cork contributes favorably to the LEED rating system. Please encourage your favorite winemaker to support the natural solution and think how you can integrate cork into your home or office.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Please visit our website or this link to the World Wildlife Fund:
http://www.jelinek.com/wwf

Day 4 of IDS09 and the show is over

2009-02-08T22:17:00.003-05:00

Today, the last day of IDS09, was another great day at the Jelinek Cork booth. We'd like to thank everyone who stopped by and visited our booth. It was great to meet you all and discuss cork with you. If you have any additional questions, please contact us. We'd love to hear from you!

The award winning Jelinek Cork booth at the close of the show.
Its dark and the show is over.

Day 3 of IDS09 - Another great day at the Jelinek Cork Booth!

2009-02-07T19:27:00.007-05:00

Another glorious day at IDS09. Today and tomorrow the show will be open to the public (Friday was Professional Trade day). The public was out in full force today.

Visitors outside the Jelinek Cork Booth

Thousands of guests filtered through the award winning Jelinek Cork booth with the typical comment being "unbelievable" and "stunning".

IDS09 Gold Award - Best Booth Design

Although the booth does not display Jelinek's more traditional products, it shows cork from a unique and previously unseen perspective. Because of this, Jelinek has had lineups and a constant flow of visitors to it's booth.

Examining the booth from all angles

View of Jelinek's cork mosaic floor through columns

Jay Jelinek and Mike Manning from Suntech/GreenBilt
Cork lampshade material on ceiling of display

Some pictures from Trade Day at IDS09 - Day Two

2009-02-07T18:56:00.010-05:00

Day 2 was Trade Day at IDS09 - a day for professionals to come network and discover new and exciting resources.

Inside the Jelinek Cork booth.

It is also a busy day for design media.

Interviewing Fay Stallan of Jelinek Cork

Using the Jelinek booth as a backdrop
for filming various news segments.

Finally, Trade Day is when the Booth Awards are presented.

Fay Stallan (Jelinek Cork)
and Mike Manning (Suntech/GreenBilt)
pose on stage after receiving the awards!

Day 2 of IDS09 - The Jelinek Cork booth wins Best Booth award

2009-02-07T01:15:00.006-05:00

Day 2 of IDS09 was a huge success for Jelinek Cork. From the beginning of the day to the end of the day, visitors flocked to the booth to discover for themselves the versatility of cork.

The highlight of the day for the Jelinek Cork Group was being awarded best booth in its category. What a remarkable compliment. Thank you, IDS09.
The booth awards are judged by a panel composed of well-known designers (Christophe Delcourt, Alex Chapman, among others) and design-media (Cameron MacNeil, Canadian House & Home). This jury "judged the IDS09 exhibitor booths for their creativity, quality, and outstanding design." Jelinek Cork Group won the first place award in it's category. The 20' x 10' booth was designed in collaboration with award winning Levitt Goodman architects and took weeks of planning and over 400 hours to build!

The Jelinek Cork booth was also the site of television interviews as well as numerous newspaper and magazine interviews.

What a great day and thank you to all for visiting the Jelinek Cork booth at IDS09!

Day 1 of IDS09 - The Jelinek Cork Booth revealed

2009-02-06T00:05:00.013-05:00

The hard work paid off - The Jelinek Cork Booth was a big success after Day 1 of IDS09. Here is the finished booth - immerse yourself in cork - a truly renewable resource.

Sonny Jelinek welcoming visitors to the Jelinek Cork booth.

The booth - it is a work of art!

Almost everything is cork in
the booth. Wall coverings, flooring,
ceiling.

One of the openings into the
"room".

Peeking in, display cases
on the walls, Jelinek Cork mosaic
on the floors.

Some of the many products produced
from cork - fishing floats, cork grain,
cork balls, cork "dots", tapered cork,
cork stoppers... The list is endless.

Another display contains cork
fishing floats and samples of
cork flooring.

Another opening. Again,
various types of cork cover
all surfaces.

Visitors to the booth were truly amazed at the diverse nature of cork. Check back tomorrow for more photos and comments from the show.

Ideas and Inspirations surrounding the "Cork Booth"

2009-02-05T00:02:00.002-05:00

As IDS09 begins tomorrow, you'll have to wait until then to see this remarkable booth. Until then, here is a bit about the booth and where the design came from ...

By: Levitt Goodman Architects

"The Collaborations space interweaves the great and long history of cork with a contemporary aesthetic that will allow both design professionals and consumers to appreciate the material in an entirely new way. The design is the outcome of the knowledge gained by both Megan Cassidy and Janna Levitt, the team from Levitt Goodman, as they began to learn the multitude of ways in which cork has been utilized over the past few centuries; the ways in which it is harvested and manufactured, the natural resins embodied in cork and the inherent sustainability of the product from collection to point of sale. In addition, the Jelinek family has been associated with cork for many generations and are passionate about their product. The showroom in Oakville has an extensive archive of historic objects utilizing cork which they shared with Levitt Goodman. In addition, the company is investing considerable R and D into new and innovative uses for the product and some of these are also incorporated into the booth.

As architects and designers it is rare to be able to immerse ourselves in a material that offers such a host of design possibilities and this became an intriguing challenge: how to draw out some of the properties of an age-old material that has a deep routed legacy in the development of glass containers (bottle stops); marine applications (buoys, floats, boat hold insulation etc.). The blackened cork featured as the main material in the carved sculptural forms is in fact an insulation material, used primarily in both ships, to maintain cool temperatures and spaces that have high humidity. The natural resins which in the tree form are like sap, serves as a bond which, when heated, browns the natural material and produces an satisfying burnt wood smell. We were so intrigued by the transformation capable by this humble material that we wanted to bring this to the forefront and get others as intrigues and excited by its beauty, texture, and gorgeous scent. In addition we were excited by the idea that cork can be “carved”, layered, broken, laminated. We began by imagining a solid block of the material as wide and tall and deep as the booth, to which we then began to literally carve away a variety of spatial experiences. We wanted to create an almost soft cave like place where one can pause and that this would be a generous moment of quiet within the overwhelming sensory experience of the IDS. With cork, Levitt Goodman Architects establishes a dialogue with the IDS visitor, allowing them to re-examine their ideas about the capacity of cork to provide a host of architectural experiences. Through notions of “excavation”, “peeling” and “edges” the viewer is offered a space that heightens ones olfactory, tactile, and auditory experiences. These are only some of the potential qualities inherent in the raw material. The cork booth overall is conceived of as a grand piece within which are craggy, carved places of entry. The rough-hewn cork edges convey the idea of this cavern-like space and express’s the beauty the material in its raw form. Most of all, the space creates a place of pause, an aromatic space that invites the viewer to experience cork in a host of carefully curated moments."

We're off to IDS'09

2009-02-03T08:49:00.006-05:00

IDS'09 kick-off is in a few days. Its time to get the booth delivered and setup at the show. Here it is preparing to leave...

The truck is docked and ready to deliver the booth to the show.

Finishing the floor.

The towers are lined up, ready to be loaded.

Loading the display into the truck.

Working on the floor of the IDS09 booth

2009-01-31T16:39:00.013-05:00

Working on the floor of the booth. The floor is Jelinek Cork mosaic - which is produced from recycled wine corks.

Plywood subfloor cut for the cork mosaic installation.

Jelinek Cork Mosaic being installed.

Jelinek Cork Mosaic on the booth floor.

Finishing the floor.

The sheets of cork mosaic before being installed.

Close-up of the cork mosaic floor.

Jelinek Cork Group - Where will we be?

2009-01-27T23:34:00.002-05:00

February 2-5, 2009: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. SURFACES 2009. If you'd like to meet with us while we are there, please contact us - 905-827-4666.

February 5-8, 2009: Toronto, Ontario, Canada. IDS09 - Interior Design Show 2009. We'll be at our booth - #412 - so come visit us!

Of course, feel free to visit our show room in Oakville, Ontario, Canada - The Cork House.

"Corking" the booth

2009-01-27T22:35:00.012-05:00

Most of the construction is complete so now its time to get to the finer details - the cork. Cork will be installed on basically all surfaces of the booth. In the above image, the dark insulation cork provides texture.

The towers are covered in 1.2mm cork roll material which is stained dark using our natural stain which is formulated from vegetable oil.

Installing the cork - lots of precision and water-based contact cement!

Construction on Jelinek Cork booth for IDS09 continues...

2009-01-24T18:03:00.005-05:00

As work continues on the Jelinek Cork/Levitt Goodman Architects booth for IDS09 (Interior Design Show 2009) in Toronto, Ontario, I wonder what will the finished booth look like? From the photos you can see the various angles of the booth and the concentration involved in creating them.
Check back in a couple of days to see if any progress has been made. The show is February 5 through 8 so not much time left to finish the booth.

Creating and building the booth for IDS 2009.

2009-01-22T16:09:00.010-05:00

Jelinek Cork Group in conjunction with Levitt Goodman Architects Ltd. will be showcasing one of the most unique and creative booths at this year’s Interior Design Show (IDS). The Interior Design Show runs from February 5-8, 2009 at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cork has so many features and natural attributes that make it an exciting natural material to use. It is a renewable resource from the outer bark of the cork tree which is lightweight, rot resistant, expandable, soft and buoyant. With its honeycomb structure and flexibility, it is often used for flooring, fabric, wall coverings and lots more including lamp shades! It's also known for its acoustical properties.

As part of a collaboration we have used cork to literally carve out space, Levitt Goodman Architects has “created a dialogue about the notion of excavation, peeling away and exposing the viewer to the heightened tactile, olfactory and auditory qualities inherent in the raw material”. The team’s goal: “To create a place of pause within the overwhelming sensory experience of the Interior Design Show.”

Follow the progress of our booth construction as we update this blog.

Work begins on the booth. The first few days of construction ...

The Subfloor...

One tower is built...

Many towers are built...

Come back soon to see the booth as progress continues...

Synthetic versus Natural Cork Stoppers

2009-01-08T23:28:00.007-05:00

Synthetic Cork Stoppers – Are they truly an ideal replacement to natural cork stoppers?

In today's world of eco-friendly and natural products why are some wineries going backwards and choosing a synthetic cork made of plastic to replace the all natural cork they once used in their bottles? It doesn't make any sense. Let's look at some of the reasons:

Synthetic stoppers are just that, synthetic. We all want to eat healthy, drink healthy and be healthy. Why use an unnatural product in our wines? The plastic is actually coming in contact with the wine we drink. With all the fears of plastics these days, why are wineries still using these stoppers. Hasn't anyone questioned them?
Plastics and screwcaps are not eco-friendly. We're living in a world where we've recognized and we're finally doing something to save our earth only to have things such as wine stoppers start contributing to the problem again. From the manufacturing process of synthetic stoppers to the final product being extracted from a bottle, waste is being created. The energy as well as the materials and waste bi-products from making these stoppers is contributing to increased energy usage as well as increased waste filling up our landfills. Natural cork wine stoppers, on the other hand, use little energy to manufacture and create no waste. The cork stoppers are punched from the bark of the cork tree (which we know from previous entries regenerates itself to its productive thickness every 7-10 years). The bark that is not used to create stoppers is ground up to make other cork products – no waste. After use, natural cork stoppers are also recyclable - they are ground up to make other cork products or cut into discs to create cork mosaic tiles. Then there are the screw caps, creating additional waste and doing nothing beneficial for the environment.
Cork is completely natural. There is nothing synthetic about it. The cork used in wine bottles comes from the bark of the cork oak tree. The corks are punched from the bark and then cleaned and sterilized (that's the closest they come to chemicals) and then stuck into a bottle. Nothing is added to the cork and nothing is removed. The cork is as natural a product as you get.
Cork is a renewable natural resource. Again, as we've stated previously, after a cork tree is harvested of its bark, the bark replaces itself by growing back on the tree ready to be harvested again in about 9 years.

So why the move to the synthetic or screw-cap stopper in the first place?

There are two primary reasons that some wineries have switched to using synthetic stoppers rather than natural cork stoppers.

Cork Taint or the “corked” taste: Yes – there is such a thing as cork taint. Though most wineries blame it on the cork, cork taint is often due to bottling procedures, storage conditions and movement after bottling. This corked taste is due to the presence of TCA in wine. Though harmless, TCA gives off a characteristic odour that often makes the wine undrinkable. Though the incidence of cork taint is very low and newer methods of wine making are decreasing this even further, makers of newer synthetic closures and screw caps are promoting their products implying that this synthetic stopper prevents TCA. However, screw caps and synthetic corks are actually prone to sulphidisation or screwcap taint. This rotten egg-like odour is due to a chemical reaction caused when the preservative sulphur dioxide is present in excess with a lack of oxygen. Though sulphides exist naturally in wines, cork allows oxygen into the bottle which stops the smelling whereas screw caps do not.
Extinction or decreased supply of cork: This is absolutely a myth. There is no question about this. This is a rumor that was started when synthetic corks were introduced into the market. Consumers were questioning why the synthetic cork rather than the traditional cork stopper. Rumors began that the cork oak tree was going extinct. Manufacturers and promoters of the synthetic stopper did nothing to clarify these rumors, and the rumors continued to spread. See our post entitled “The Myth”. In all actuality, not using natural cork stoppers can have serious consequences on our environment.

Let's do something about this. When you drink wine, make sure its bottled with a natural cork stopper.

A New Year!

2009-01-01T19:01:00.003-05:00

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year!

A new year provides many of us the opportunity to make changes to ourselves and our lives. It
is the perfect time to start fresh and make those changes that we've spent the last year avoiding. So, in the world of cork, what can one do? Of course, it all depends on you and what you want to do but here are some ideas that will help you and our earth.

1. Start recycling your wine corks. Jelinek Cork wants your recycled wine corks and, if you're a community group or another not for profit organizations, we'll pay you for them. Recycling this already "green" product helps keep our landfills from filling up. For more details, visit: http://jelinek.com/article_38.htm

2. Continue to support the natural cork industry. Myths about cork shortages or cork tree extinction or even that cork trees are being cut-down to make cork products are causing a lot of harm to the Mediterranean region where cork forests thrive. Without the cork forests, these biodiverse areas will die off causing the demise of hundreds of plant, animal and bird species. Read more about this myth here: http://jelinekcork.blogspot.com/2008/04/myth.html

3. Cork your home. Cork is natural, sustainable & environmentally friendly. It is anti-allergetic, insulative (sound and temperature) and warm. Its decorative, comfortable and easy to care for. Cork can be used on many surfaces - cork flooring, cork wall coverings, cork ceilings. Support our earth and use cork.

Happy New Year!

Cork Gifts???

2008-12-10T18:12:00.011-05:00

As the holidays quickly approach, some of you may still be looking for the perfect gift. Perhaps you're looking for something ecologically friendly or how about something fashionable and ecologically friendly? Even better, how about something functional, fashionable and eco-friendly? Regardless of who you are shopping for, there is bound to be something for them made primarily from cork.

Here is my top ten list (in no particular order) of items made from cork that would make great gifts:

1. Jean Cristoff Cork Handbag -- Beautiful, elegant and eco-friendly (and of course, functional!). What better bag to use than this?
2. Cube ottoman or bean bag chair upholstered in cork fabric -- or how about a set of cork pillows. Cork fabric is durable, washable and stain-resistant.
3. Set of cork coasters all personalized with the name of your host/hostess/teacher/co-worker or how about "New Years Eve Celebration! Welcome 2009!"
4. Yoga mat made of cork for the Yoga enthusiast on your list. An ecological yet functional gift.
5. Bringing a bottle of wine to a party? How about a cork bottle bag to go along with it?
6. For the home wine maker, what about a bag of personalized wine stoppers? You decide what goes on the cork and we'll print it for you.
7. Fishing floats for the fisher on your list.
8. For the orchid lover, how about natural cork bark. Orchids attach themselves to the bark and thrive. Each piece of bark is unique and creates a natural display.
9. For the person who has everything - how about a cork umbrella! Yup - they exist and they work beautifully.

10. The perfect floor - cork! The new Comfort Finish Cork flooring line is stained and sealed with natural vegetable oil! A truly ecological floor.

Happy Holidays!

Jelinek Cork Group participates in "Girls Night Out"

2008-11-27T13:37:00.004-05:00

Jelinek Cork Group was delighted to participate in the annual West of the City event "Girls Night Out". This event, held on November 26, 2008 in Oakville, Ontario, was well attended with over 900 ladies all eager to browse the shopping bazaar. Many local retailers participated in this festive event by setting up fun and interesting booths. Retailers offered a wide variety of tempting products and services ranging from belly dancing lessons, jewelery and fancy socks to cork products from the Cork House. At the Jelinek Cork booth, the new Jean Cristoff collection of ladies handbags, weekend bags and executive lap top bags made their first official appearance. The reaction to the collection was fantastic. The ladies just loved them and couldn't believe the stylish bags were made of cork. For more information on the Jean Cristoff product line, visit our online catalog.

Team Building in Slovakia

2008-11-20T23:17:00.008-05:00

Entry By: Jaromíra Císařová of Korek Jelínek spol. s r.o.

The Czech company Korek Jelínek s.r.o. and her daughter company in Slovakia, Korok Jelínek spol. s.r.o. have decided to improve their interrelationships, get fitter and learn more about cork by organising a teambuilding trip to Slovakia.

First day was spent in the town of Nový Smokovec in High Tatras. Originally created as a curative settlement, the first where patients could be treated through the entire year, it became the most luxurious spa of its period. Gradually tourist services were added with a skiing centre for less demanding skiers.

From Novy Smokovec, which is 995 meters above sea level we continued to Zbojnická Chata, situated in Velká Studená dolina (Great Cold Valley) in the High Tatras. Year-round open chalet offers lots of opportunities for hiking, climbing and skiing. It was a real challenge for most people having to climb to 1960 meters above sea level. The accommodation was great fun, as we had a big room in the attic to share between about 17 people. As you can imagine no one got much sleep, apart from the snorers!

The next day, the weather changed for the worst. It has rained most of the night and it was foggy and wet. The climb down was as difficult as going up, as we had to be careful not to slip on the wet stones and snow (in the higher altitudes). But we managed it without harm.

After this, we decided we deserved a bit of pampering and went to a big thermal resort in Poprad. This modern town of forty-four thousand inhabitants south of the High Tatras is a centre for tourism and leisure and the main gateway to this mountain range. We spent almost 3 hours of pure bliss there and recuperated a little from all of the climbing.

Our last stop was at a village of Mala Trna in the Trebisov region, near Hungary border. We were accommodated at Penzion u Macika, whose owners are winegrowers of the famous Tokaj wine. We enjoyed a presentation about cork, mainly cork stoppers.

We enjoyed a wine tasting evening where we had the chance of tasting many Tokaj wines. The tasting took place in a cellar situated in an underground tunnel cut out of the volcanic tufa rock. We found out some interesting things about Tokaj wine, for example The Duke of Transylvania, Frantisek Rákoczi II, sent his own six putno wine to Louis XIV, who termed it "Vinum Regum, Rex Vinorum" - "Wine of Kings, King of Wines." In the 18th century Tokaj wine became famous as a medicine for healing anemia and nerve illnesses. Tokaj was also the favorite drink of Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Voltaire, and Goethe. Beethoven and Schubert dedicated songs to it.

Overall, we all had a really good time and hope our next adventure is as good as this one.

FOR ARCH exhibition, Prague, Czech Republic

2008-10-24T10:36:00.012-04:00

23. – 27. September 2008

Over a thousand exhibitors took part in a showplace bigger than 25 000 m2 at the 19th Annual International Building Exhibition, FOR ARCH. One of the exhibitors was Korek Jelínek s.r.o., who introduced heat cladding system with the use of cork panels. More and more people who are building new, or want to insulate their existing house, are choosing cork, which is not only a purely natural product but also an excellent insulator.

The booth offered not only cork insulation panels, but a whole range of other cork products like cork floating floors, wallpapers, chippings, etc. The booth was a big success and reappeared at the exhibition Dům a bydlení (house and living) in Liberec, Czech Republic, on 9 – 12 October.

It was great to see so many people interested in cork products. People said they wanted something natural and ecological. And that’s what cork is, a brilliant all round product. It still amazes me at how many uses cork has and I hope that the cork industry will continue to flourish.

Jelinek Cork Group Faces the Challenges of Rising Freight Costs

2008-10-02T10:36:00.002-04:00

Jelinek Cork Group products continue to be shipped throughout the world at record levels. Transportation costs have always been very important but never more so then in these challenging times of rising fuel and energy costs. These costs directly effect the final product costs. Although Jelinek Cork Group has always been mindful of finding the best possible freight rates - whether by ships, planes, trains or trucks - we have never been more vigilant then today. The experienced Jelinek Cork Group freight team works closely with the transport industry to find the best freight costs and service levels to meet customer demands.

Sonny Jelinek observes a container vessel
carrying Jelinek products to countries far and wide.

Interesting Uses for Cork #2

2008-09-29T10:00:00.002-04:00

As discussed previously there are many uses for cork beyond the traditional. Here is another interesting use: Cork for bodies. Yep - you read it right, cork is used for certain procedures with human and animal bodies.

1. For taxidermy purposes, corks (typically tapered) are used to plug holes.
2. Again, in taxidermy, cork bark is used to mount small animal displays.
3. In body piercings, corks are used to fill the holes created by the piercing so they don't heal closed.
4. Also in body piercings, corks are used to prevent the needle from piercing places that shouldn't be pierced (ie. nose piercings).

Cork is also used to replicate bodies.
1. Cork grain is used to fill mannequins and dolls
2. Duck Decoy bodies are often made of cork. Cork floats and the natural texture of cork adds to the character of the decoy.
3. Cork fabric can be used in place of leather or other fabrics to cover a doll or mannequin, giving a unique look.

Jelinek Cork hosts an informational reception at the Cork House.

2008-08-29T08:55:00.012-04:00

On August 25, Jelinek Cork Group held a reception at the Cork House (the showroom of JCG). In this intimate setting, customers relaxed with drinks and appetizers while listening to presentations about the products they use, in this case, wine cork stoppers. Sonny Jelinek provided an overview of the compan y's history while Jay Jelinek gave a very in-depth technical presentation on the different types of cork and possible problems that can occur when bottling. Fay Stallan gave the customers an overview of some retail products that could be sold in their stores including wedding favours, personalized coasters and personalized wine stoppers. All in all, it was a great
evening of learning, sharing and socializing.

Cork Harvest Experience

2008-08-19T09:27:00.016-04:00

Guest blog by: Henry Jelinek

The Portuguese province of Alentajo lies east/southeast of Lisbon. It is a beautiful and unspoiled region of Portugal. Storks build their nests on roof tops in whitewashed villages. Small hamlets and towns, many with Roman remains and fortified castles, are located on scenic hilltops surrounded by beech wood, olive groves, grape vines and cork oak trees.

The Alentejo region is home to the worlds greatest cork forests. Thousands of cork trees flourish down the mountain sides, in the valleys, among grazing cattle and sheep, on public and private lands, and around small lakes, streams and rivers. These unique trees are virtually found in every area of the province and are cherished by the citizens for their economic, environmental, and ecological benefits.

In the summer of 1968, while working in a cork processing factory in Faro, the capital city of the Algarve province of southern Portugal, I had the opportunity to visit Alentejo and participate in the harvesting of cork trees. It was a perfect opportunity to learn first hand how cork trees are stripped of their bark without damage to the trees. I was excited at the prospect.

In an old Citron, we set out early Wednesday morning heading north into the heart of Alentejo. Our group consisted of Jose Morgado, the owner of the factory where I was apprenticing who became a close friend of mine, Pedro the expert in recognizing the quality of the cork as it comes off the trees, the driver Armando who knew the best routes to the forests, and myself. Portugal in 1968 was the poorest country in Western Europe and the roads we traveled were proof of that. Whether true or not, in those days the claim was that the roads were made windy so construction would take longer keeping unemployment down by having road crews building longer roads.

After about three hours of meandering through the countryside Armando found a small dirt path and slowly bumped and maneuvered the Citron for perhaps 10 km off the main roadway passing through perpetual cork oak forests. Much to my surprise we arrived at a small village nestled on a rugged hilltop. It was impossible to traverse further by automobile, even within the village. Villagers sitting in a central coffee shop drinking thick espresso waved to our group as we set out on foot carrying only bottled Luso mineral water. It was a pleasant day with light breezes struggling to keep us cool and although we did have to climb down and over some rough terrain we managed without too much difficulty.

The plan was to spend the night in the terrain. I kept asking where we would sleep and how we would manage without bringing food. My Portuguese companions simply answered, “You will soon see.” We crossed over streams, rounded a small lake, and climbed up a steep hill from where we could see for several kilometers in all directions. Although cork trees were growing everywhere, the forests are not thick allowing for grazing or growing other crops around the trees. From a distance cork trees are difficult to distinguish from olive trees, although they are usually larger in size. It was amazing to me to see these trees flourishing in the reddish dry soil. Jose explained that the semi-arid climate of the Alentajo combined with the salty breezes from the distant ocean produce just the correct environment for cork oaks to thrive in. Although cork oaks are found in countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, there is no other region of the world with soil and climate as perfectly harmonized and balanced and accommodating for cork oaks to flourish in.

Every cork tree we walked by had a number from 0 to 9 clearly spray painted in white on the trunk. These numbers indicated the year in which the last stripping of the tree took place. For example, the trees with the number 3 written on them designated they had been harvested in 1963. Cork trees can only be stripped of their bark every nine years. Since it was 1968 that year only trees with the number 9 (indicating the last stripping was in 1959) could be harvested that year. Pedro, the expert quality man with us, explained that sometimes the harvest can take place beyond the minimum nine year cycle but never before. If the bark is stripped off the trees too soon it could damage the trees and also the raw material would not be of good enough quality for use in production of cork products. The harvesting cycles are not only controlled by the government but experts such as Pedro are able to tell if bark is not nine years of growth.

After about a twenty minute hike we began to hear noises in the near distance. Through the trees I first spotted a couple of donkeys standing in the shade beneath a cork oak, observing our approach with their normal sad faces. As we neared the area of activity I saw perhaps eight or ten men, some high on ladders among the branches of the trees. These men were clearly country folk, their tanned skin dark and etched by years of hard work. All carried machetes which, I later learned, were razor sharp. When they saw us they waved their greetings. The harvesting of the cork oak trees had begun earlier that morning and I was excited to be an observer.

It was explained that cork harvesting takes place during the summer months. Cork is the outer bark of the tree and this bark is most easily stripped off the trees during hot or warm weather when the cells holding the bark to the trunk are more fragile and therefore allow for cleaner and easier stripping. But as I observed, it is not easy work and must be done expertly to avoid damage to the trees. Using their machetes, the men cut vertical incisions through the bark along the trunk and the larger branches of the trees. They must be very careful not to cut too deeply otherwise they would damage the membrane beneath the bark which the trees still need to transport nourishment to the rest of the tree. Once the incision is made, a hatchet or small wedge is used to begin peeling the bark away from the trunk. This is not easy work and takes skill to peel away in large slabs. The men compete to see who can remove the largest slab of bark without breaking into many small pieces. The larger slabs allow for more production diversification and therefore are more valuable. I noted that the average bark slab reached more or less to my chest. Of course the smaller limbs produce smaller sizes. Jose told me that all the bark must not be stripped from a tree. Bark covering the smaller branches must be left to allow the tree to continue to flourish. Once the bark is peeled off the tree the color of the exposed trunk and branches is eye-catching. It is a bright orange color, nearly fluorescent, and makes the trees look “naked”. After the workmen completed stripping one tree and moved to attack the next, they painted the number 8 on the “naked” tree indicating that the cork off that tree was harvested in 1968.

I saw Jose and Pedro closely inspecting the bark as it came off the trees. They were looking at the quality of the cork …. density, thickness, cracks or other imperfections … to establish a fair price for that particular crop. Jose explained that much like grape harvests for wines, there are good years and bad years of cork harvests which can vary from region to region and, in fact, the cork raw material from any one forest is eventually sorted into various qualities and thicknesses as well. Different qualities and thicknesses of bark are used for different productions of cork items. That particular day Jose and Pedro were simply ascertaining the overall quality of that particular harvest. The smiles on their faces that late morning clearly indicated 1968 was a good harvest year in the Alentejo.

The cork slabs were piled onto wagons which would later be pulled by the donkeys out of the forest. Each wagon had two very large wooden wheels making it easier to roll over the rugged terrain. It was all hard work for both the harvesters and donkeys. Things have not changed much over the following decades. The trees are still stripped manually using the same machetes and hatchets, and the cork slabs continue to be loaded by hand. The only difference today is that instead of wagons drawn by donkeys, harvesters use motorized tractors to pull the wagons (rubber wheels) out of the forests.

During the summer months, Alentejo is very dry and very hot. Temperatures can rise over 40 degrees Celsius bringing most work to a halt for much of the afternoon. Afternoons are siesta time in the Alentejo cork forests. Our group of harvesters found shade under the oaks and seemed to fall quickly but comfortably asleep.

The Alentejo cork oak woodlands are protected by law and under the Portuguese reforestation program Portugal’s cork forests are growing by an average of four percent per year. It is said that at any given time there is enough cork to last another century.

Besides being the source of cork raw material and grazing livestock, these forest lands continue to be a haven for wildlife protecting hundreds of species of birds, animals, and plants. That summer day in 1968 during the siesta time I learned how some of this wildlife was used to help energize the work crews.

Birds are abundant amidst the rolling, flower-filled grasslands and cork forests and are cherished by the locals. Endangered and rare species are especially respected and appreciated. Smaller birds such as finches and thrushes migrate to the cork forests from northern Europe and are plentiful.

As everyone settled down for siesta, Armando and one of the younger harvesters beckoned me to follow them down the hillside to a small lake in the distance. Along the way Armando told me that we were going to catch some birds for dinner.

“Catch birds?” I questioned in disbelief, “But how? And eat them for dinner? How?”

Both men smiled. “We will show you.”

Once we reached the lake they removed a number of small devices from their knapsack. Each was perhaps 5 cm in length, with a little spring attached to a tiny noose. I learned this was a bird trap. Armando told me to find some flying ants.

“Why flying ants?” I inquired.

“Because flying ants have wings and the sunshine will reflect off the wings as the ant tries to escape. This will make the ant more visible to the small birds in this area as they fly by.”

I was perplexed but followed the instructions and soon found some flying ants beneath a rotting eucalyptus log. Very carefully we placed the head of the ant through the small noose of the trap and gently tightened it until the ant could not escape. The young harvester then triggered the spring on the trap and placed it along the waters edge with the ant flapping its wings. This same procedure was repeated with all the other traps. Once these tasks were done it became clear that it was time for our own siesta and we too found a shady area close to the lake and quickly fell asleep. Perhaps an hour later I was awakened by Armando and as I sat up I was startled to see that the young harvester was carrying a long string of small assorted birds up the hillside. “A good dinner tonight,” Armando said. “It is time to cook.”

By the time we reached camp it was already dusk. The other men had several small fires going and some were holding large frying pans over the fires in which some sort of lard was being melted. We were greeted warmly by the men as if we had returned from a major hunting trip. Our catch was divided among several of them.

I watched in amazement as the small birds were prepared for cooking. The birds were plucked and the beaks were clipped. Other then that they were not gutted. The birds were then placed into the boiling lard. After perhaps ten minutes they were ready to eat. Each one was placed on a piece of bread and handed out, the bread slice serving as a plate. When I was given mine I was very skeptical. I had no idea how to eat the bird or if I even wanted to. I watched the others. They would pick the bird up and begin chewing the outer parts leaving the innards untouched, intermittently taking a bite of the bread and a sip of red wine distributed from a small barrel in a large cork spoon. The cork spoons were carved by the harvesters from the cork bark that had be stripped from the “elbow” of a small cork tree branch. Since I was a guest I felt obligated to at least taste the birds. Jose smiled encouragement as I began to chew. I expected to find bones but there were none. In fact the taste was pleasant and the bread soaked with the juices was succulent. The local red wine completed an unforgettable meal. There were second and third helpings all around.

By the time dinner was over it was beginning to darken rapidly. The fires were safely extinguished. I noticed that the men had made several small piles of the larger cork bark slabs which had been harvested earlier that day. I now realized that these slabs were being used by the harvesters to construct teepee like formations that would be used as private sleeping quarters for the next few days. The bark would act as a natural insulator keeping the heat out and maintaining a coolness within during the hot days. As I lay down for the night in my own cork “teepee”, after drinking my last few sips of wine from the cork spoon, I realized that I had just experienced an unforgettable day in the Alentejo and that cork would run in my blood from that day on.

Jelinek Cork attends 16th Annual Charity BBQ

2008-08-06T18:42:00.006-04:00

At the beginning of July, The Toronto Home Builders' Association hosted the 16th annual BBQ charity to support Habitat for Humanity. Jelinek Cork Group was represented by Ali Abdilahi at this event. About 300 home builders, suppliers, celebrities (including Ronnie Hawkins) and other individuals attended this barbecue. This BILD (Building Industry and Land Development Association) event also featured an auction with products being donated by many different companies. A good time was had by all and all for the great cause of Habitat for Humanity. Ronnie Hawkins and Ali Abdilahi at the event

Jelinek Cork Group introduces new logo

2008-07-15T10:12:00.003-04:00

After many years with the same logo, the Jelinek Cork Group of companies has come together with one unified logo. This logo symbolizes many things:

The tree represents the cork oak tree – the source of cork.
The tree also represents nature and the environment – issues JCG cares deeply about.
The tree branches represent deer antlers and the Jelinek name. In Czech, the word “Jelinek” means “little deer”.
Finally, just as cork is stripped off the tree and then regrown, so are the antlers of a deer – they are shed each year and then regrown.

The logo was created by Michal Macko, a graphic designer in Bratislava. Korok Jelinek in Slovakia created a project/competition for the University of Graphic Design in Bratislava. The theme of the competition was to create a logo and corporate identity for JCG. The students were provided with all the information about cork, the company and the history of Jelinek. About 15 students participated and their final work was evaluated by professional architects & designers, as well as the Jelinek teams in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Michal Macko was the winner – he was provided with a financial reward and the University was provided with financial donations as well as cork for future projects.

In May of 2008 the logo was approved and accepted at Jelinek corporate headquarters for worldwide use by all members of the Jelinek Cork Group of companies.

Interesting uses for cork - #1

2008-07-04T21:32:00.002-04:00

I am going to begin a series of entries about interesting uses for cork. There are many, many, many uses for cork - some we all know and some are rather unique. Some we, at Jelinek Cork, never even know about until we receive the request for a specific type or size of cork. When we ask what it is used for, we are often amazed with yet another use of cork.

Use #1 - Entertainment/movie/theatre industry: "Cork Dirt"

Granulated cork, or cork grain, is often found in the entertainment industry as a substitute for dirt or sand. It looks like dirt yet without the weight/suffocating traits. Cork grain can be dumped on the ground to give the visual appearance of dirt or sand - perhaps that beautiful sandy beach seen on TV is actually a cork beach! It can be used when someone or something is "covered in dirt". Various sizes of cork chips are also used in mock explosions to simulate flying shrapnel - obviously these are much safer for the actor to encounter than actual shrapnel.

Cork grain is actually the waste product of the wine cork manufacturing process. Wine corks are punched out of strips of cork bark. The bark not used for stoppers is ground up to create granulated cork.

Another Use: Though not cork grain, cork pads are used on the bottom of shoes so the sounds of footsteps are not heard when filming.

Though you should never try any of these special effects at home, know the next time you watch a movie containing dirt, it could very well be cork.

Creatures of the cork forests

2008-06-19T09:14:00.004-04:00

If you've read some of our other blog entries, then you probably know the cork we use in wine bottles and on our floors and on our walls is harvested from trees - the cork oak tree. These trees grow in forests throughout the Mediterranean including Portugal, Spain, southern France, Italy, and northern Africa. Cork trees flourish in these areas due to the very specific micro-climates and soil types of this region. Along with the cork trees come a variety of plant and animal species that are dependent on these forests for continued survival.

Some of the mammals that call these cork forests home include hares, weasels, wild boar, deer, wolves, mongoose, genets, and endangered species such as the Iberian lynx and Barbary deer. Some birds that live in these regions include kestrels, little owls, great grey shrikes, black storks, imperial Iberian eagles (also endangered), kites, black vultures, robins, thrushes, chaffinches and woodpeckers. Other fauna include geckos, skinks, spadefoot toads, spiders and vipers.

In terms of plant species, cork forests have one of the highest levels of plant diversity in the world. According to panda.org (WWF's website), plant diversity in cork forests can reach 135 species every square metre. Some of these plants include fungi (some edible), lavender, rosemary, and rockrose bushes. Many of these plants are endemic to this region and exist only because of these trees.

So cork is much more than a wine stopper or bulletin board. Its much more than a floor tile or wall covering. It is even more than a renewable resource. Cork, and more specifically the trees it grows on, is home to a plethora of species of flora and fauna.

Jelinek Cork booth at the Green Living Show

2008-05-20T09:27:00.006-04:00

Back in April, we exhibited our products at the Green Living Show in Toronto, Ontario. What a great weekend! All of us at Jelinek Cork are passionate about cork and its many, many benefits therefore, we love to talk about it. So all weekend long, that's what we did - talk about cork! Feel free to visit our website or contact us if you missed us at the show or if you'd like more information about the many uses of cork.

Below are some pictures from the show.

A customer tale - choosing a floor

2008-05-09T09:11:00.006-04:00

With flooring, as with all home decor, there are many choices and many things to consider. Below is an email we received from a customer explaining her decision to go with cork flooring as well as her experience with Jelinek Cork...

When deciding upon a new kitchen floor we considered the ecological perspective as well as the aesthetic when making our choice. After many months of looking at “faux” hardwood, matching our existing oak strip flooring throughout the house, bamboo or the cheapest alternative roll flooring to simulate the look of cork. We then decided to visit Jelinek's Cork House in Oakville [Ontario]. That was it, our decision was made. We found Santiago Select Line, a perfect solution that tied our kitchen look together and was eco-friendly. When Aimilios, Jelinek’s installer, came to measure and discuss the project we were very impressed with him and asked specifically that he do the work. Amilios is a craftsman, not an installer, and he did a marvelous job of cutting around all the nooks and crannies of our 1960’s kitchen, working cleanly and carefully. He came when he said he would, cleaned up the site each evening and finished when promised. We have been telling our friends and showing off our wonderful floor as we enjoy it every day.

Thanks again for a great job, well done.

Suzanne

Santiago Select Line Cork floor tile

Jelinek Cork Group

"The Myth"

2008-04-29T19:12:00.009-04:00

Guest blog by: Sonny Jelinek, VP Jelinek Cork Group

I talk (or think) about cork all day, everyday. I have for years. Explaining the process of the cork harvest and how the bark immediately begins to re-generate has always made me feel good. The tree isn't cut down and typically lives a full life of 200-500 years with a new cork bark harvest occurring more-or-less every 9 years. What a fantastic process! A fully sustainable natural material.

Cork extinction?
Why then, over the past few years have people started telling me that we should stop selling cork due to “a shortage” of cork? Over the weekend, at the Green Living Show in Toronto I talked to hundreds of people and time-and-again the question was the same: “isn't cork going extinct?” Some people were outright hostile accusing us of destroying the environment by promoting cork. I was waiting for picket signs to appear asking for a cork boycott.

In fact...
The reality is quite opposite. The environment will be harmed unless cork products are used. This goes back to the fact that cork is a renewable resource and the cork trees from which the product is harvested are not cut down. If cork products are not used the farmers who own the cork forests will be forced to either convert the forest for other agricultural uses or more likely to sell the land for property development. Cork trees that cover large areas of land in the Mediterranean region will be cut down if there is limited demand for cork products. This will destroy the carbon dioxide filtering function of the trees as well as the habitat. The World Wildlife Fund says that “cork oak forests support one of the highest levels of biodiversity among forest habitats, as well as the highest diversity of plants found anywhere in the world.” [1]

Why the myth:
Winemakers started using synthetic corks as well as screw caps in the 1990's. Some of this occurred at a time when there were forest fires in Portugal. Although forest fires are a natural part of any eco-system the combination of these two situations propagated a myth that there was a cork shortage. It is my belief that winemakers initially began using synthetic wine corks to reduce the incidence of cork taste that occasionally occurs in wines. Curiously, there have been studies that show that cork taint is still occurring despite the use of synthetic stoppers and screw caps. That means that it's coming from elsewhere [2]. As consumer acceptance of synthetic stoppers began to take hold, winemakers decided to take it a step further and add product cost reduction to the mix. Screw caps became a household reality. Screw caps are made from a metal top and plastic liner – a very synthetic alternative to a natural product. I find this ironic since most other industries are at least attempting to use more natural product packaging. Before 1990, nearly every wine bottle was closed with real cork. Since the innovation of the wine bottle real cork has been used to close billions of bottles of wine. Yet now, despite society's awareness of threats to the environment we are rejecting nature. As winemakers continue to embrace synthetic closures and screw caps the myth of a cork shortage or extinction continues to be propagated. Cork forests continue to be vibrant but face a threat. The solution to this threat is to use products made from cork. By using cork you are helping to preserve a most diverse and important habitat and making the world a better place in which to live.

Permission to reprint provided the author is credited and notified.

More information:

World Wildlife Fund
Audubon Society

Korek Jelinek plays football (soccer)?

2008-04-29T09:12:00.004-04:00

Korek Jelinek in the Czech Republic is successful in more than just the field of cork. The Korek Jelinek football team is having a great season and a lot of fun too!

Trade shows and Presentations - Come see us!

2008-04-25T09:14:00.004-04:00

We, at the Jelinek Cork Group, can often be found at trade shows displaying and discussing the benefits and many uses of cork. Whether a wine show in the Czech Republic, the Green Living show in Toronto, an interior design show in Vancouver or a building show in Slovakia, our booths nicely demonstrate our products. We currently have a booth at the Green Living Show in Toronto. Running from now until April 27, 2008.

We love to discuss cork and everything about cork. We're often found doing presentations for various groups either at our Oakville, Ontario showroom, The Cork House, or at meetings and conferences where we've been asked to present. Recently we had a group of Realtors at the Cork House for a presentation on cork and home decor. We discussed the importance of environmentally friendly products (such as cork flooring, cork wall coverings, and cork furniture) in home decorating. We love to "talk cork" so please contact us if you'd like to attend one of our seminars or arrange to have us come visit you.

Showrooms allow visitors to "experience" cork and all it offers.

2008-04-16T19:18:00.022-04:00

For many people, cork used for anything besides bulletin boards and wine stoppers, is hard to imagine. Its understandable as who has ever heard of cork furniture or cork fabric? Even cork flooring, though its been around for decades, still flabbergasts some people. We get many questions at our showrooms about our cork products. For example, "Won't I put a hole in it if I walk on it?" or "Is that cork?". Visitors visiting for the first time are typically amazed and impressed by the products made from cork.

Though the Jelinek Cork headquarters in Oakville, Ontario has had a small showroom for decades, it was only in 2003 that The Cork House in Oakville opened. The Cork House, built in 1816 and restored to its original beauty when purchased by Jelinek, showcases a huge variety of cork products including but certainly not limited to: cork flooring, cork wall & ceiling coverings, cork purses & bags, cork furniture and cork gift items (coasters, placemats, hotpads, etc.).

We would also like to introduce the new retail shop and cork showroom for Korok Jel inek in Bratislava, Slovakia. This showroom opened on March 1, 2008 and is located in one of Bratislava's biggest shopping zones. The address is Roznavska street 1, Bratislava.

These showrooms allow the visitor to "touch & feel" cork products. You can walk on the floors, touch the walls, feel the different textures and see the various colors, styles and patterns. These showrooms also allow you to understand the characteristics and qualities of cork, such as shade variations, and may even provide you with new decor ideas - a sofa made of cork???

Cork and the Environment

2008-04-08T18:38:00.002-04:00

Jelinek Cork Group will be exhibiting at the Green Living Show in Toronto, Ontario (April 25-27, 2008) so its a good time to discuss the green characteristics of cork - a sustainable, renewable and reusable natural resource.

The cork oak tree (Quercus suber) provides us with this 100% sustainable and renewable natural resource. Cork is the outer bark of this remarkable tree. The cork bark is harvested from the Quercus suber tree without damage to the tree. In its place, new bark begins to re-grow almost immediately. This harvesting does not harm the tree in any way and after about nine years the trees are ready for bark stripping once again. Harvesting of cork bark continues every 9-12 years until the tree is 150-200 years old.

The production of cork products creates very little waste. Natural cork wine stoppers are punched out of strips of cork bark. The "waste" of this production (the cork bark) is then ground up into cork grain. Cork grain is used to make many other cork products including cork flooring, cork wall tiles, cork underlayment, cork rolls, etc.

Used wine stoppers are also recyclable. They are collected and used to make various other products. Some are ground up into cork grain. Some are used for decorative arts & crafts projects. Some of the wine corks are cut into circles and used to create Jelinek Cork Mosaic flooring. The possibilities are endless.

Cork forests form another important aspect of the environment. These cork forests make up some of the most diverse farming in the world. These forests are home to many different plant and animal species including the Iberian lynx and black vultures. Many types of plants make these forests their home and exist because of these cork trees. Cork trees typically grow in a natural setting allowing a fair amount of the ecosystem to be preserved. We will discuss cork forests in more detail in a future posting.

So, as you read, cork is a sustainable, renewable and reusable natural product. The forests are an important part of our environment.

Some things about cork

2008-04-02T09:52:00.007-04:00

Cork, the bark of the cork oak tree, is an amazing product. There is no other product, either man-made or created by nature, that has such unique characteristics.

Here are just a few:

Cork is light-weight and buoyant.
Cork is flexible. It is composed of cellular membranes which are flexible that's why its the perfect bottle stopper. Its great on floors and walls for this reason as well.
Cork is impermeable to gases and liquids.
Cork is insulating. The tiny cell-like compartments that compose cork provide for low conductivity to heat, sound and vibrations.
Cork is resistant to wear. In its natural state, cork is resistant to rot, does not absorb dust, and is fire resistant. It is very durable due to the honeycomb structure of cork.

Cork is good for maintaining the environment as well:

It is sustainable. Cork bark is harvested off trees without harming the tree. The tree continues to grow and produce more cork. The harvesting of cork is strictly regulated allowing the tree plenty of time to regrow the bark before the next harvest.
There is no waste. Cork stoppers are punched out of the bark of the tree. These stoppers are used as wine corks. The rest of the bark is ground up and used to form other cork products (ie. cork flooring, bulletin boards, cork underlayment, etc.)
It is reusable. Wine corks (and other cork material) can be reused. Once ground up into cork grain, it can be used to create many different products.