Specifier Briefing · BREEAM

BREEAM Mat 03 Exemplary in Cork Detail

Cork is one of the few finishes that can land Mat 03 at the Exemplary level without creative accounting. Here is the why, and the evidence pack we hand you to prove it.

The Mat 03 grade scale, briefly

BREEAM Mat 03 (Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products) rewards specifiers who select materials whose supply chain has been independently verified. The grade scale runs Pass → Good → Very Good → Excellent → Exemplary, with each step demanding tighter chain-of-custody evidence and broader environmental disclosure.For most flooring substrates, hitting Excellent is achievable; hitting Exemplary requires the manufacturer to combine third-party chain-of-custody, full EPD coverage, and demonstrable regenerative or low-impact harvest. Cork clears all three by default.

Why cork lands at Exemplary

The decisive factor is harvest method. Engineered oak, walnut and ash are felled, the tree is removed and a replacement planted. Cork is stripped: the outer bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber) is harvested by hand on a nine-year cycle, and the tree continues to grow. A working cork oak in the Alentejo will be harvested 17–18 times across its 200-year lifespan.

How Mat 03 is calculated for cork in practice

BREEAM Mat 03 awards points based on the proportion of "responsibly sourced" material in the finished product, weighted by the credit tier of the certification. For our Classic Cork (7 mm) and Cork Styles (11 mm) ranges, the breakdown the assessor sees is:

Layer	Material	Certification
Wear layer	Cork agglomerate	FSC® / PEFC chain of custody
Core (Cork Styles)	HDF carrier	FSC® mixed / PEFC
Backing	Cork agglomerate	FSC® / PEFC chain of custody
Adhesive system	Water-based	Eco-Institut tested, M1, Blue Angel

Both ranges carry a published Type III EPD (ISO 14025) covering the full A1–A3 cradle-to-gate boundary, with optional A4–A5 transport and installation modules on request. The EPD plus the chain-of-custody letters together unlock the Exemplary credit tier.

The evidence pack we issue per project

For projects targeting Mat 03 we issue a single PDF pack containing:

• Type III EPD (ISO 14025), product-specific, with sequestration line item
• FSC® / PEFC chain-of-custody letter, dated within 12 months
• BREEAM-aligned material declaration: VOC, formaldehyde, PVC content, recycled content
• Eco-Institut and Blue Angel test certificates
• Manufacturer responsible-sourcing policy

The pack is sized to drop straight into the BREEAM evidence folder, assessors recognise the format and we have not had a Mat 03 challenge against it on a TFG-supplied scheme.

Where this has played out on real schemes

Recent specifier projects where the Mat 03 evidence has been used:

• Sybarite (Mayfair). Studio fit-out using Cork Styles plank, full EPD pack issued at tender stage.
• Klay London. Members' wellness floor, cork plank with PEFC chain of custody documented.
• Pomus Restaurant (Mallorca). Hospitality floor with full A1–A5 EPD modules issued for the project's environmental dossier.

What this is not

Mat 03 Exemplary is not a magic-wand credit. The assessor still needs the EPD scope, the dates on the chain-of-custody letters and the project-specific quantity schedule. What cork removes is the, uncomfortable, conversation about whether a tropical hardwood with a partial COC letter is really Excellent. With cork the answer is unambiguous, and Exemplary is the floor, not the ceiling.