This Is Not Cork A functional manifesto for systemic change

This is Not Cork reflects a future-oriented approach to regional material sourcing and stands as an object of systemic transformation. A call for circular practices grounded in local production and vernacular knowledge. This project also explores how small materials shifts can lead to broader cultural change, from waste to renewal, from production to reflection. By grounding innovation in what is already around us, it suggests that the future of design also lies in reimagining the familiar.

At first glance, it looks like cork, but it’s made from what we discard: olive pits, one of Portugal’s most abundant by-products. After harvest, the pits are dried to remove residual oils, then cleaned, sorted and ground into granules of varying sizes. These granules are bound to form a durable composite material that preserves the raw, organic character of the original residue. Fully recyclable and suitable for multiple life cycles, the agglomerate reflects a circular approach to material development.