barkprodukter

Barkprodukter is a term used in Scandinavian contexts to denote products derived from tree bark. The category includes materials manufactured from bark itself as well as substances extracted from bark, and it spans sectors such as packaging, construction, cosmetics, medicine, and energy. Much of the bark used in industry is a by-product of forestry and lumber operations, but some barks are harvested specifically for value.

Cork, obtained from the outer bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber), is the best-known bark product. It is collected without killing the tree and is used for wine stoppers, flooring, insulation, and composites. Other examples include tannins and other extracts used in leather tanning, flavorings, and traditional medicines; willow bark historically provided salicin for analgesics; pine bark extracts are marketed as dietary supplements and cosmetics; birch bark has traditional medicinal uses and may be processed into tar or extracts.

In addition to extracts, bark residues and fibers find uses in energy and materials, including biomass fuels, mulch, soil amendments, and, in some cases, fiber or paper products. Advances in processing have enabled bark to be converted into composites, adsorbents, and specialty papers.

Environmental and economic considerations emphasize sustainable harvesting and supply chain responsibility. Cork harvesting is widely regarded as sustainable due to its selective removal and bark regeneration, while other bark-derived products depend on sustainable forest management and appropriate regulatory oversight, especially for medicinal and cosmetic extracts.