Board · 25–100 mm
Plant-Based — indicative fig. O·10
Fire Euroclass E Euroclass EEmbodied carbon -5.42kgCO₂e/kg Stores carbonCompressive 100-220 (at 10% deformation)kPa StructuralDesign life 50yr
100% natural expanded cork insulation board (ICB) from renewable cork oak bark, offering thermal conductivity 0.037-0.040 W/mK, verified carbon-negative lifecycle (-596.50 kg CO2/m3), zero VOC emissions, and 50-60 year service life without degradation or settling.
01 Physical
Density 110-200 (standard 110-120)kg/m3
Specific gravity 0.11-0.20
Porosity 85-92%
Water absorption 0.17 kg/m2 (partial immersion)kg/m2
Hardness Semi-rigid (characterised by compressive strength)Shore
UV resistance Moderate (darkens but maintains performance)
Chemical resistance Excellent
pH tolerance 4-9pH
02 Mechanical
Tensile strength 50-150kPa
Compressive strength 100-220 (at 10% deformation)kPa
Flexural strength 150-200kPa
Impact resistance Good (compresses rather than shattering)J/m
Creep resistance Excellent
03 Thermal
Thermal conductivity 0.037-0.043W/mK
Specific heat 1500-2000J/kgK
Thermal expansion Negligiblemm/mK
04 Compliance & Fire First question
Combustibility class Euroclass E (self-extinguishing)
Fire resistance level Assembly dependent (cork layer contributes through charring resistance)minutes
Ignition temp 300-400degC
Flame spread index 25-75FSI
Smoke dev. index 25-100SDI
Heat release rate 40-100kW/m2
05 Sustainability & Health
Embodied carbon -596.50 (Amorim EPD) / -116.23 (peer-reviewed LCA)kg CO2-eq/m3
Carbon footprint -5 to -1 (consistently negative)kg CO2-eq/kg
Embodied energy 4-15MJ/kg
Water footprint 50-200L/kg
Recyclability 100%
Recycled content 70-100 (from cork processing by-products)%
Renewable content 100%
Circular score 9.5/10
VOC emissions 0 (zero VOC — 100% natural)ug/m3
Toxicity rating Zero (100% natural, no synthetic additives)
LEED contribution 10-14points
06 Durability · Cost · Logistics
Expected lifespan 50-60+years
Maintenance interval None required (permanent installation)years
Warranty period 25-50years
Material cost (range) 30-170 (thickness dependent)AUD/m2
Material cost (per unit) 25-150 (volume dependent)AUD/m2
Lead time 14-90days
Lifecycle cost 80-250AUD/m2
Annual maintenance 0AUD/m2/year
Market availability Limited — specialist import only
07 Assessment
Advantages
- 100% natural — no synthetic binders, adhesives, or chemical treatments
- Verified carbon-negative lifecycle (-596.50 kg CO2/m3 per Amorim EPD)
- Zero VOC emissions — safe for sensitive indoor environments
- Thermal conductivity 0.037-0.040 W/mK (standard density)
- Extraordinary service temperature range: -180 degC to +120 degC
- 50-60 year service life with no degradation, settling, or loss of properties
- Naturally breathable — excellent moisture vapour permeability for wall assemblies
- Self-extinguishing fire properties — does not propagate flame
- Natural resistance to insects, rodents, and mould (suberin content)
- 100% recyclable and biodegradable at end of life
Constraints
- Premium pricing — 3-5x cost of synthetic insulation (EPS, XPS, PIR)
- Limited availability in Australia — all products imported from Portugal/Spain
- Higher thermal conductivity (0.037-0.040 W/mK) than PIR (0.022) or phenolic (0.020)
- Long lead times for Australian delivery (6-12 weeks for special orders)
- Euroclass E fire rating — lower than mineral wool (A1) or PIR (some achieve B/C)
- Greater thickness required than high-performance synthetics for same R-value
- Requires protection from prolonged direct water exposure (breathable but not waterproof)
- Limited Australian technical support and installation expertise
08 Applications
A1 External wall insulation (EIFS) systems Breathable external insulation under render or cladding for energy-efficient wall assemblies
A2 Roof and ceiling insulation Above or below rafter insulation with natural breathability and moisture management
A3 Under-floor insulation Above or below concrete slab insulation with compressive strength >= 100 kPa
A4 Thermal bridge breaking applications Precision-cut cork insulation for eliminating thermal bridges at structural junctions
A5 Passive house and zero-energy construction Certified insulation material for high-performance building envelopes with vapour permeability
A6 Historic building restoration (breathable insulation) Breathable insulation compatible with solid masonry walls and heritage building fabric
A7 Acoustic insulation for sound studios High NRC acoustic absorption for recording studios and noise-sensitive environments
A8 Cold storage and industrial insulation Service range -180 to +120 degC for cryogenic, cold storage, and industrial applications
09 Sources & Standards
Sources pending — citations for this material are not yet recorded. Verify all figures against manufacturer data and current standards before specifying.