Why wouldn't natural cork be another example of greenwashing?

Greenwashing is the practice of “misleading consumers about a company’s environmental practices or the environmental benefits of a product or service.” However, it can also be practiced, intentionally or unintentionally, by governments or other entities that make misleading claims about the environmental performance or impact of their activities. Here are three selected examples of greenwashing.

1) Hidden Compromise

This example focuses on a narrow function of environmental protection and neglects broader, more important environmental issues. Examples include technologies that promote energy efficiency without disclosing the hazardous materials used in production.

Why doesn't this apply to natural cork?

For example, expanded cork is made from cork granules heated to high temperatures in special vats. These vats produce a natural ingredient, suberin, that binds the granules together, which allows the production of cork sheets without the use of chemicals.

2) Ambiguous Wording

These are very general and ambiguous claims that are likely to be misunderstood by consumers. For example, using the term "natural" to highlight the environmental benefits of a product or service could be a barrier. For example, arsenic and uranium are both "natural" ingredients, but they are also toxic.

The cork production process is completely transparent.

Cork is obtained from partial bark of the oak tree. This is a sustainable process that occurs without harming the tree or the surrounding flora and fauna. No bark is used during its extraction or use.

No chemicals are added.

3) Fake Sustainability Labels

Some companies create certifications or "sustainability" labels that are simply fake. They can mislead consumers by creating the illusion that a product or service has been independently certified as environmentally sustainable through a legitimate, independent verification process, when in reality, this is not the case.

Natural cork has a globally recognized FSC certification.

FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council. It is an international non-profit organization and a member of ISEAL, a global association of social and environmental standards systems. The certificate is based on the principles, criteria, and indicators of good forest management and is issued by the aforementioned FSC Council.

What are the principles, criteria, and indicators of good forest management?

This standards document was developed in 1994, drawing on the knowledge and experience of ecologists and generations of foresters, both theoretical and practical. In developing it, the FSC Council took these elements into account, as well as the achievements of modern forest management education and practices.