Melker of Sweden’s Värmdö kayak has made headlines for redefining what a sea kayak can be: lightweight, durable, and environmentally responsible. At the center of this achievement is a material that is as technical as it is natural. Amorim Cork Solutions’ MNL020 is a bio-based cork core developed for structural composite applications.
The Värmdö has been honored as Product of the Year 2025 in the Sea Kayaking category at the Paddle Sports Show in Strasbourg, and Best Sea/Touring Kayak 2024 by Paddling Magazine in North America. Behind this recognition is a design philosophy focused on performance, comfort, and reducing environmental impact at every stage of production.
Amorim Cork Solutions is proud to have played a pivotal role in the Värmdö’s success, supplyng MNL020 as the structural and thermal core. The material contributes directly to the kayak’s strength, weight efficiency, and sustainable identity.
A New Kind of Kayak for a Changing Market
The Värmdö was developed in response to specific feedback from paddlers and dealers in North America, the world’s largest kayak market. Melker recognized the need for a kayak that was not only easier to transport and more comfortable to paddle, but also designed with sustainability as a priority.
With a shorter, wider, and more accessible geometry, the Värmdö is a light touring and recreational kayak that blends Scandinavian design with practical versatility. It combines Scandinavian design principles with practical usability for both recreational and performance paddlers, being able to perform across a wide range of water conditions.
During development, Melker used full-scale 3D printing to streamline prototyping. Final production involved vacuum infusion techniques using natural flax fibers, bio-based resins, and MNL020 as the structural core. This approach resulted in a product that balances manufacturing efficiency with material circularity.
The technical contribution of MNL020
Amorim’s MNL020 is a cork agglomerate core material engineered for composite applications that require strength, lightness, thermal insulation, and vibration control. Its closed-cell structure resists water absorption, while its mechanical behavior supports structural integrity under demanding conditions like paddle strokes, hull flex, and impact.
MNL020 is compatible with hand lay-up, vacuum bagging, and resin infusion processes. Its conformability and low resin consumption make it ideal for curved kayak molds and efficient to process during production. In the Värmdö, it was used to form the inner core of the kayak’s laminate, paired with flax reinforcement and bio-resins.
The result is a highly stable and lightweight structure that performs in the water and supports Melker’s commitment to building better with less environmental impact.
By using MNL020 in place of plastic or foam cores, Melker eliminated synthetic materials from the kayak’s core construction and created a product that is easier to recycle, more durable in the field, and better aligned with circular design practices.
Elevating the Experience Through Cork
While advanced engineering and smart design define the Värmdö’s structure, it is the integration of natural materials like cork that elevates the paddling experience. Cork’s inherent acoustic and vibration-dampening properties contribute to the kayak’s smooth, quiet glide, while its low thermal conductivity enhances comfort in variable conditions.
The Värmdö is praised for its stable, responsive handling and intuitive performance across a range of environments: from calm inland waters to more technical coastal conditions. Its accessible design supports new paddlers, while still offering the control and agility experienced users demand.
Melker’s attention to detail, including a modular cockpit, ergonomic seating system, and streamlined storage, complements the natural advantages of cork. The result is a kayak that combines innovation and sustainability with a distinct on-water feel that paddlers immediately recognize, making the Värmdö as functional as it is forward-thinking.
A Blueprint for the Future
The Värmdö represents more than a new kayak. It is a model for how the outdoor industry can rethink materials, speed up development cycles, and embrace renewable design without compromising on quality or performance.
Amorim Cork Solutions is proud to have supported this vision with MNL020, a material that not only performs at a high level but also reflects what the future of mobility and outdoor products should look like: renewable, recyclable, and responsible.
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