Cork logo
Here you can find information about the cork logo!
Cork logo
Since 1997, the cork logo has been an official eco-label that identifies products made from cork.
This logo ensures that the cork product is of high quality and comes from sustainable forestry.
It is often found on cork products such as bottle corks, floor coverings and other cork goods.
The cork logo is valid for three years and its test specifications are constantly updated.
Award criteria for the cork logo
The award criteria for the cork logo are designed to ensure the sustainability and quality of cork products.
The most important criteria are
Sustainable forestry:
The cork must come from sustainable forestry, which means that the cork oaks are managed in a way that ensures their long-term health and productivity.
Environmentally friendly production:
The production of cork must be environmentally friendly, which includes minimizing waste and emissions as well as the efficient use of resources.
Recyclability:
Products bearing the cork logo must be recyclable in order to promote the reuse of the material and reduce waste.
Quality assurance:
The cork must be of a certain quality, which is confirmed by tests and certifications.
This applies in particular to the physical and chemical properties of the cork.
Transparency and traceability:
The origin of the cork must be transparent and traceable to ensure that the above criteria are met.
These criteria ensure that products with the cork logo are environmentally friendly and of high quality.
Volatile organic compounds and solvents (VOC)
“The emission of volatile organic compounds (TVOC) must not exceed 1.0 mg/m3 after three days and 0.3 mg/m3 after 28 days. The emissions of CMR VOCs (Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008: categories Carc. 1A and 1B, Muta. 1A and 1B, Repr. 1A and 1B) must not exceed 0.01 mg/m3 after 3 days and ≤ 0.001 mg/m3 after 28 days.”
(Source – on the official website of the cork logo you will also find further information on chemical testing and important limit values)
The cork logo is suitable for the following product groups:
The cork logo is suitable for various product groups in the construction industry that use cork as their main material.
These products benefit from the sustainable and environmentally friendly properties of cork.
Here are the main product groups:
- Floor coverings: Cork tiles and boards, cork parquet and floating cork floors
- Wall coverings: Cork panels and boards
- Insulation materials: cork insulation boards and granules
- Sealing materials: Cork seals
Cork logo: Certification body
The certification body for the cork logo is the German Cork Association (DKV).
The DKV is responsible for awarding and monitoring the cork logo, ensuring that the products meet the specified sustainability and quality standards.
Costs for the cork logo
The cost of certification with the cork logo depends on various factors, including the type of product and the size of the company.
Unfortunately, there is no specific cost information on the official website of the German Cork Association (DKV).
For detailed information on the costs of certification, we recommend contacting the German Cork Association directly.
They can provide detailed information and a customized offer for the certification of your products.
Is the cork logo mandatory?
The use of the cork logo in the construction industry is not mandatory.
It is a voluntary eco-label used by manufacturers and retailers to indicate that their cork products meet certain sustainability and quality criteria.
The cork logo serves as a seal of quality that helps consumers and construction professionals to identify environmentally friendly and high-quality cork products.
Recognition of the cork logo for certification systems
Yes, the cork logo can be useful for other certification systems such as DGNB, LEED, BREEAM and similar.
Here is an overview of how the cork logo fits into the context of the following systems:
- DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council): The DGNB certification system assesses the ecological quality of building products.
Cork products with the cork logo that demonstrate sustainable forestry and environmentally friendly production can contribute to meeting the DGNB criteria. - LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design): LEED promotes the use of materials with a low environmental impact.
Cork products with the cork logo can contribute to LEED points, especially in the categories for sustainable materials and resource management. - BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method): BREEAM assesses the environmental impact of building materials.
Cork products with the cork logo, which have sustainable and environmentally friendly properties, can be positively included in the BREEAM assessment.