Shakeout in Plant Materials—and Why Cork Endures
Over the past few years, the sustainable materials sector has been shaped by experimentation. A new generation of materials derived from pineapple fibres, cactus plants, mushroom mycelium and agricultural waste promised to redefine how accessories and lifestyle products could be made without relying on petrochemical synthetics.
Many of these materials were well intentioned and, in some cases, genuinely innovative. However, the reality of commercial manufacturing has proven far more demanding than early optimism suggested.
In 2024 and 2025, several of the most visible plant-based material innovators either collapsed, paused operations or significantly scaled back. Piñatex, pineapple leaf fabric created by company Anas Anam, has entered insolvency in the United Kingdom and its Spanish arm is waiting for court approval to begin liquidation . US innovator Natural Fiber Welding, creator of MIRUM®, has announced an orderly wind-down after failing to achieve commercial viability despite substantial investment. Other plant-derived composite materials quietly disappeared from the market.
For retailers and brands, this period has been instructive.
The challenge was not sustainability itself, but the attempt to industrialise highly complex materials at scale while maintaining consistency, affordability and durability. Many of these materials required specialised processing and proprietary formulations that proved difficult to stabilise over time. Supply chains became uncertain. Production costs remained high. Product performance varied between batches.
As a result, retailers have begun reassessing what constitutes a genuinely sustainable material in practice, not just in theory.
In this reassessment, cork stands apart.
Cork is not an experimental material. It is harvested from the bark of cork oak trees, primarily in Portugal, using a method that allows the tree to regenerate naturally. The same tree can be harvested repeatedly over its lifetime without being cut down. This process has sustained ecosystems, communities and industries for centuries.
Unlike many next-generation plant materials, cork does not rely on complex chemical stabilisation to function. Its natural cellular structure gives it flexibility, resilience and durability. It is naturally water-resistant, lightweight and long-lasting, making it well suited to everyday accessories and lifestyle products.
Just as importantly for retailers, cork offers supply chain stability. The cork industry is mature, regulated and supported by long-term forestry management practices. This makes it possible to plan ranges, reorder confidently and communicate sustainability credentials without fear of sudden material shortages or shifting claims.
This stability is increasingly valuable.
Retailers are under pressure to meet rising consumer expectations around sustainability while also managing cost, reliability and product performance. Materials that are unfamiliar, difficult to explain or prone to supply disruption introduce unnecessary risk. In contrast, cork provides a material story that is simple, credible and verifiable.
CORKSTORE was created around this understanding.
Rather than chasing experimental materials, the brand focuses exclusively on cork-based accessories designed for everyday use. From compact mirrors and pouches to card holders and desk accessories, each product is built on the same foundation: a natural, FSC-certified material that is plastic-free and proven to perform.
In a market where many “innovative” materials have struggled to move beyond the prototype stage, cork’s longevity has become its greatest strength. It delivers what sustainability increasingly demands — not novelty, but trust.
The recent shakeout among next-generation plant materials does not signal a failure of sustainable innovation. It marks a transition toward more grounded, resilient choices. Materials that have stood the test of time are being reassessed through a modern sustainability lens.
Cork, with its renewable harvesting, low-impact processing and enduring performance, fits squarely within that future.
For retailers seeking stability in an uncertain materials landscape, cork is no longer just an alternative. It is the benchmark.