On a mission to reduce landfill by at least 1 million pieces of footwear waste.

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The Cork Oak Forest

Sustainable by Nature

The cork oak forests, Montado in Portuguese, are living ambassadors of sustainability and a driving force of sustainable development. They play a crucial role in the world’s ecological balance, fighting climate change and desertification, and sustaining biodiversity.

Sourced from the most generous tree

The Sustainable Cycle of Cork Harvesting

Primal sources all its products from the Quercus Suber, the cork oak tree. The cork is manually harvested once every nine years from the bark of the tree without harming it. In fact, by stripping the bark, it contributes positively to both the environment and the tree's regenerative capabilities.

Endlessly recyclable

A Closed-Loop Ecosystem

With 40 million cells per cubic centimeter, cork is endlessly recyclable. Of course, there needs to be a closed-loop ecosystem in place to enable circularity. Together with its partners in Portugal, Primal allows for full circle recycling for all its cork products in accordance with the European Parliament's regulations on the Shipping of Green List Waste.

Carbon negative

Negative Carbon Balance

Primal has a negative carbon balance of -8,2 kg CO₂/m³, when considering the CO₂ sequestration of the cork oak forest and the CO₂ emissions associated with the industrial process.

  • Emits up to 6 times less GHG than average PU foams
  • Consumes up to 3 times less energy than average PVC materials
  • Consumes up to 8 times less resources than average EVA foams

Biodiversity in the Montado

One of 36 UN Biodiversity Hotspots Left on our Planet

Over 200 animal species and 135 plant species, some of them endangered, find their preferred habitat in the cork oak forest. Because it’s biologically rich and varied, but also extremely vulnerable, the cork oak forest is one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, on a par with Amazonia and the African Savanna.

Two Brothers Enter The Story

Student Project Turned Real Business

What started out as just a passion for travel combined with a student project about regenerative business models suddenly got us shortlisted for a Financial Times award. Going from complaining about the lack of sustainable shoe insoles to presenting the world's first circular ones took less than 1.5 years.

It was January 2023 when we first set foot in Davos and received the award for Top Student-Led Project with an impact on society and the environment for our work in the circular economy.

Photo: Cotopaxi, Ecuador 5897 m.

Fast Forward to 2025

Backed by InTent for Change, I4N and Rabobank

Primal has been backed by some of the world's leading environmentalists and has developed deep partnerships along its value chain. Most notably, the partnership between Amorim Cork Solutions, Hunter Amenities and WestCord Hotels to enable the world's first closed-loop recycling system for single-use hotel slippers.

Advisory Board

Doing Business For Good

Primal has been fortunate to connect with a wide variety of experts in their respective fields. They assist us in growing our impact.

  • André Hoffmann is a Swiss philanthropist at the forefront of environmental preservation and climate change known for his roles at World Wildlife Fund, World Economic Forum, Roche and InTent for Change. He is the author of The New Nature of Business: The Path to Prosperity and Sustainability
  • Barbara Dubach is the Executive Director at Innovate 4 Nature and Founder of Engageability
  • Paul Rose is the Head of Expeditions for National Geographic's Pristine Seas and broadcaster for BBC
  • Stefano Pogutz is the MBA Director at SDA Bocconi and President of the Scientific Committee at One Ocean Foundation
  • Carmen Tal is the Co-Founder and CMO at Moroccanoil
  • Herman Mulder is the Chair of True Price, Impact Institute and SDG Netherlands