Cork Oak Forest rooted in sustainability
At Amorim Top Series, sustainability is deeply rooted in our DNA. Cork oak forests, covering over 2.1 M ha in the West Mediterranean Basin, play a pivotal role in mitigating climate change and restoring significant ecosystems. These forests also host immense biodiversity, with hundreds of floral and faunal species. Representing the remarkable cork oak trees — over 200 animal and 135 plant species rely on cork oak ecosystems.
By choosing cork stoppers, both producers and consumers contribute to the preservation of these invaluable ecosystems, ensuring a legacy of sustainability for generations to come.
The air we breathe, the soil we step on, our common future.
Thanks to its unique characteristics, the Montado is a remarkable multi-functional system that creates multiple, measurable benefits:
For the planet
The cork oak forest is essential for climate regulation, sequestering 73 tons of carbon dioxide for every ton of cork produced. In the vulnerable region of the Mediterranean basin, the cork oak forest acts as a barrier against desertification, prevents forest fires, preserves hydrological regulation and soil protection, and promotes biodiversity. This contributes directly to the sustainability of cork, making it one of the most eco-efficient natural materials available.
For people
Cork harvesting is a skilled manual process that generates ongoing employment opportunities, creating more than 100,000 jobs. The work behind every cork stopper in the Amorim Top Series involves generations of tradition.
For prosperity
Cork generates high-value products in several industries and creates a positive impact, driving economic and social development, particularly in rural areas.
The Cork Oak Tree
The cork oak tree, from which we harvest the cork used to make our bartops, is a millennia-old tree known for its beauty, resilience and longevity.
With a well-developed root system, exceptional resistance and a robust trunk armored with a protective layer of cork, cork oaks are perfectly adapted to the hot climate and arid soil of the Mediterranean basin.
Cork
Cork is the bark of the cork oak tree. It is effortlessly sustainable, being 100% biodegradable, recyclable, and renewable. Cork is exceptionally light, impermeable to liquids and gases, resilient, compressible, and elastic. It offers excellent thermal and acoustic insulation as a natural fire retardant and is extremely resistant to abrasion.
Our cork stoppers embody the perfect balance between performance and the sustainability of cork.
80 Million cells
This is the number of cells in a single cork stopper. Thanks to its cellular structure, cork has a unique elastic memory. Cork is the only solid which, when compressed on one side, does not increase in volume on the other.
9% Gas
90% of cork volume is gas. Cork is very light thanks to its honeycomb structure, with cells filled with a gas similar to air.
At Amorim Top Series, sustainability is more than a commitment - it's a driving force.