Originating from the Mediterranean, cork flooring has been made for over 100 years. Cork is an evergreen tree (Quercus Suber) grown mostly in Spain and Portugal as well as India and the western U.S. Cork flooring is an abundant, renewable and sustainable product when harvested and produced appropriately.

Only the bark is used for flooring. Once a tree reaches 20 years old, its bark is ready to be harvested. Subsequent harvests of regenerated bark occur at 9 to 14 year intervals without harming the tree. Plantation cork oak can easily live for 150 years. Bark quality (smoothness) is said to improve with each harvest.
During cork production, the bark is granulated, pressed with binders, formed into blocks, baked and sliced into tiles. Production is usually chemical-free. Manufacturing generates little waste, recycling it back into the product. Some manufacturers fabricate their product from recycled bottle-cork industry waste.
Cork tiles can be made in virtually any color, providing great design possibilities. Currently, the availability of sustainable dyes used in cork production is limited. Cork tiles are easily cut and can be crafted into designs and patterns more easily achieved than with other materials. Cork parquet is available and so are cork/rubber combination hybrids.
Cork is an excellent sound and thermal insulator. Its structure of miniscule, airtight 14–sided cells makes it one of the best natural insulators. Cork also exhibits superior indentation recovery, a natural ability to spring back to original shape after compression. It is durable and suitable for various applications including libraries and gym floors. It is resilient and fire resistant. It is naturally anti-bacterial and known to be chemically benign with the possible exception of the binder, which can be natural or synthetic resins and/or glues. Newer cork flooring products include tongue-and-groove products with a top layer glued over a pressboard backing or vinyl-cork-hybrid tiles, which are not considered sustainable products.
Cork is usually long lasting and moisture resistant. Cork is not recommended for bathroom applications or other places where water contact may regularly occur. Unless pre-finished, a sealant and protective finish should be applied periodically since cork can retain water and stain. For those with chemical sensitivities, cork flooring is best when water-based adhesives and top finishes are used.
Installation: Cork-tiles are generally glued to the subfloor. There are many water-based adhesives and sealants to choose from.
LEED points: MR Credit 6 for rapidly renewable materials and possibly MR Credit 4 for recycled content materials.