How The World's Largest Cork Company Makes 22 Million Wine Stoppers A Day | Big Business

Summary

This documentary explores the history and sustainable practices of Portugal's cork industry, with a focus on Corticeira Amorim, the world’s largest cork supplier. It highlights the meticulous, environmentally-conscious process of harvesting cork from ancient oak trees, which are carefully protected and harvested every nine years. The company has overcome challenges, including a fungal crisis that threatened the cork sector, through innovation and research. Amorim has expanded into new markets like aerospace and flooring, while also ensuring the future of cork by planting millions of new trees. Their commitment to sustainability and quality ensures cork’s continued global relevance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cork harvesting requires precision and experience, with strict rules to ensure the trees remain healthy and productive.
• 🌳 Cork oak trees are never cut down; only their outer bark is harvested, and the trees can live for up to 250 years.
• 🛠️ The harvesting process is labor-intensive, with workers using specialized tools like small saws and axes to avoid damaging the trees.
• 💰 Harvesters in Portugal earn significantly more than the average agricultural worker, highlighting the skill and expertise required for the job.
• 🔬 Technological innovations, such as sensors and robotic arms, are being used to improve efficiency in cork harvesting and production while maintaining sustainability.
• 🌍 Portugal produces more than half of the world’s cork, with a significant portion of that coming from Corticeira Amorim, a 150-year-old family-owned business.
• 🍾 Cork is an ideal material for wine stoppers due to its low porosity, which allows for the right amount of oxygen to pass through, helping wine develop complex flavors.
• ⚠️ The cork industry faced a major crisis in the late 1990s due to a fungus contaminating corks, but innovative research has since reduced this issue to less than 1%.
• ♻️ Amorim has embraced sustainability by recycling cork, using by-products for other products like flooring, coasters, and even space technology.
• 🌱 The company is committed to replanting cork oak trees to ensure the future of the industry, with plans to plant 1.5 million trees in the next five years.
• 🚀 Cork has applications beyond wine, including in space technology, where it’s used as a heat shield material for NASA and the European Space Agency.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of cork harvesting in Portugal?

The primary goal is to harvest cork without damaging the trees, ensuring their longevity. Harvesters aim to keep the cork oak trees alive for as many years as possible to continue producing cork.

Why is harvesting cork such a skilled and precise job?

Cork harvesting requires precision because any cut that is too deep can damage or kill the tree. Harvesters must carefully remove the bark without harming the tree's inner layers to prevent infection.

How does the harvesting process respect the cork oak trees?

The harvesting process respects the trees by ensuring that they are not cut down and only the outer bark is removed. The trees are only harvested after reaching a certain age and size, and they are given ample time to regenerate between harvests.

What was the impact of the cork taint crisis in the late 1990s?

The cork taint crisis, caused by a fungus that produced TCA (trichloroanisole), ruined the smell and taste of millions of bottles of wine, leading many winemakers to switch to alternative closures, such as plastic and screw tops, resulting in a significant drop in cork’s market value.

How did Amorim respond to the cork taint crisis?

Amorim invested heavily in research and development, establishing a lab to screen and eliminate TCA. By 2015, less than 1% of the corks produced by Amorim were affected by TCA, helping restore the reputation of cork wine stoppers.

What is the environmental impact of cork production, and how is it mitigated?

Cork production has a positive environmental impact since cork oak trees are renewable and absorb carbon dioxide. Amorim mitigates environmental concerns by using 70% of its energy from biomass and planting new cork trees to replace older ones affected by climate change.

How does Amorim integrate technology into the cork production process?

Amorim uses automation, such as robotic arms and automatic drillers, to speed up production. This integration helps increase efficiency and output, allowing the company to produce millions of cork stoppers daily while maintaining high-quality standards.

What new applications for cork have Amorim explored in recent years?

Amorim has expanded cork’s uses beyond wine stoppers, including producing cork flooring, composite materials, and innovative products like coasters, bricks, and even materials for space applications like heat shields for NASA.

What role does cork play in the aerospace industry?

Cork is used in aerospace for its insulating and lightweight properties. Amorim supplies cork to NASA and the European Space Agency for thermal shields, showcasing cork's potential beyond traditional uses.

What steps is Amorim taking to ensure the future of cork harvesting?

Amorim is actively planting new cork trees to ensure the continuity of cork harvesting. The company has planted 300,000 trees since 2023 and plans to plant 1.5 million more in the next five years, focusing on trees that are resistant to disease and drought.