Cork Placemats Explained: Answers to 5 Common Questions

Are you thinking about making your home at once more eco-friendly and more stylish? Or maybe you simply want something practical for your dining table. Either way, cork placemats are a fantastic and popular option.

In this guide, we answer the 5 most common questions about cork placemats, which include whether they’re heat resistant, if you can recycle them, and what to do with them once they wear out.

1. Are Cork Placemats Good?

To start out with their most obvious purpose - making sure that dishes and glasses don’t fall from the table - cork is conveniently resistant to slipping. But it also has a soft texture, which means that you won’t have problems with scratches and heat marks. Finally, it lasts for a long time and is easy to clean, so it’s great for regular use.

2. Are Cork Placemats Heat Resistant?

Cork can handle temperatures up to around 120°C (or 250°F), so these placemats are appropriate for moderately hot plates or mugs. This is another of the reasons why they’re so popular.

It also means, however, that they’re not suitable for very hot cookware, such as pots or pans just taken out from the oven; in those cases, it’s better to use something else, like a heat mat designed for higher temperatures.

3. Are Cork Placemats Recyclable?

This is a common question, but it depends on the product: if your placemats are made from 100% natural cork, without coatings or backing made from synthetic materials, then yes, they are recyclable and even compostable in some regions.

But it’s common for cork placemats to be treated with, for example, glue or vinyl, which can make them non-recyclable.

4. What to Do with Old Cork Placemats?

There are several good ways to dispose of your cork placemats if they have reached the end of their table life:

• Recycling - if they're made from raw, untreated cork, recycling centres will often accept them
• Composting - natural cork breaks down in compost, provided that it has no artificial elements
• Upcycling - cut them into coasters, DIY cork boards, drawer liners, or craft projects
• Garden uses - place them under plant pots to prevent water stains or use them as mulch filler
• Protecting furniture - they make great pads for a vase or a chair

5. Are Cork Placemats Eco-Friendly?

Cork is completely eco-friendly: not only is it biodegradable, its harvest doesn’t even harm the tree; the cork oak eventually regrows its bark, which makes it a renewable resource.

Cork production also has a low impact on the environment, and even a positive side, as cork oak forests help to absorb carbon dioxide.

All this means that opting for products made from cork - especially if it’s pure, natural cork - is undoubtedly an environmentally responsible choice.

Conclusion

Thinking about upgrading your dining setup? Cork placemats bring more than elegance to the (literal) table - they’re practical, heat-resistant, and surprisingly versatile. They’re kinder to the planet too, and will help to protect your dinner table while protecting the environment.

Portuguese Treasures offers a wide range of natural cork placemats, combining sustainability with everyday functionality, perfect for protecting your table while adding a warm, eco-friendly touch to your dining room.

*Images on this blog have been AI generated.