CORK
2014
CORK
A BUSINESS AREA ON A GLOBAL SCALE
CORK STOPPERS
FLOOR AND WALL COVERINGS
COMPOSITE CORK
EXPANDED CORKBOARD
At the very core of the Amorim Group's activities
since its foundation 145 years ago, Cork is the
business area that has done most to spread the
Amorim name around the planet, as the market
leader in cork, from manufacturing to distribution.
Cork 1
MEDITERRANEAN,
2.1 MILLION HECTARES OF CORK OAK FOREST
With 2.1 million hectares of cork oak forest, the countries
of the Mediterranean have in the farming of cork and the
manufacture of cork products a fundamental cluster for the
development of their economies and an ever increasing
decisive source of hope, sustainability and progress of
numerous communities.
SPAIN
PORTUGAL
736,775 ha
100,000 tonnes
AT L A N T I C O C E A N
MOROCCO
2 Cork
383,120 ha
11,686 tonnes
574,248 ha
61,504 tonnes
FRANCE
ITALY
65,228 ha
5,200 tonnes
64,800 ha
6,161 tonnes
Mediterranean Region:
2,100,000 hectares of cork
oak forest, the planet's
largest concentration of
the species.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
TUNISIA
85,771 ha
6,962 tonnes
ALGERIA
230,000 ha
9,915 tonnes
Lower density > Higher density
Distribution of cork oak growing
areas in Mediterranean countries,
where the concentration in the
Iberian Peninsula is clearly shown.
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PORTUGAL, THE WORLD LEADER
OF THE CORK INDUSTRY
Portugal is the world leader in the cultivation of
cork oaks, and is home to the largest cork oak
covered area in the Mediterranean.
Portugal is also the leader in terms of cork
extraction, accounting for almost 50% of the
world's cork production, making the country the
leading exporter of this raw material.
MAIN EXPORT DESTINATIONS
FOR PORTUGUESE CORK
2012
(Source: National Statistical Institute)
FRANCE
€ 165.2 million
ITALY
€ 81.6
million
GERMANY
€ 79 million
SPAIN
€ 94.4 million
USA
€ 139 million
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PRODUCTION (tonnes)*
Source: FAO (2010)
SPAIN
61,504
tonnes
PORTUGAL
100,000 tonnes
30.5%
49.6%
ALGERIA
9,915 tonnes
4.9%
FRANCE
5,200 tonnes
ITALY
6,161 tonnes
2.6%
MOROCCO
11,686 tonnes
TUNISIA
6,962
tonnes
3.1%
5.8%
3.5%
CORK OAK FOREST AREA (ha)*
Source: Portugal: AFN (2010);
Spain: MARM (2007); Italy: FAO (2005);
France: IM Liège (2005);
Morocco: HCEF Marroc (2011);
Algeria: EFI (2009); Tunisia: Ben Jamaa (2011)
ALGERIA
230,000 ha
SPAIN
574,248 ha
27%
PORTUGAL
736,775 ha
34%
11%
MOROCCO
383,120 ha
18%
FRANCE
65,228 ha
TUNISIA
ITALY 85,771 ha
64,800 ha
3%
4%
* Western Mediterranean Countries.
3%
PRESENT IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES
The business activities of Amorim related to cork cover the world,
in terms of industrial production and the sale of its products. We
are present on 5 continents in more than 100 countries. We have a
network of 83 companies, 30 of which are industrial plants, and we
also have 248 agents operating in different
markets and sectors.
11
INDUSTRIAL UNITS
OF RAW MATERIAL
19
INDUSTRIAL UNITS OF
CORK SOLUTIONS
42
DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES
11
JOINT-VENTURES
248
KEY PLAYERS
6 Cork
AMORIM, WORLD LEADER
CORK STOPPERS · CORK COVERINGS · COMPOSITE CORK · EXPANDED CORKBOARD
Geographic Location
Industrial Units
8 Cork
Cork 9
MONTADO
THE CORK OAK
A REMARKABLE TREE
As well as being the only tree in the world
that produces bark with the singular
features of cork, the cork oak plays a
decisive role in the sustainability process:
> Prevents soil degradation
> Makes soils more productive
> Regulates the water cycle
> Fights against desertification
>Retains and stores carbon for long periods of time
> Generates high levels of biodiversity
> Fights the climate changes
> Creates employment and wealth
Amorim Award
recognises best forestry
management practices
Corticeira Amorim has set up and
exclusively funds a National Award to
recognise the best forestry management
practices. This is a protocol established
with 4 other entities: National Forestry
Authority (AFN); Institute for the
Conservation of Nature and Biodiversity
(ICNB), Quercus and WWF, under the
European Business & Biodiversity initiative.
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CORK STRIPPING
AN ANCIENT MANUAL PROCESS
The removal of the cork oak bark is called stripping. This is the beginning of the
industrial cycle of cork, which does not end with the final product reaching the market
because cork's special qualities allow it to be 100% recycled and systematically returned
to the market in an almost eternal cycle.
The cork is stripped from the cork oak - an extremely delicate manual operation - when
the tree reaches the age of 25-30 years. It is then repeated every nine years, without the
tree being damaged or killed in any of these operations.
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After harvesting, the cork is stacked
to rest for a long period for the raw
material to stabilise, in the Amorim
Group's industrial units.
An adult cork oak produces an
average of 60 kg of cork every time
it is stripped.
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CORK AND ENVIRONMENT
The cork oak forests are major allies in the battle
against global warming, thanks to their capacity to
retain CO2 for long periods of time, given the longevity
of the species.
The cork oak forest is also a major ally in striking
a climatic balance and acts as a barrier against
desertification thanks to the tree's ability to regulate
the water cycle, retaining rainwater and encouraging its
infiltration into the ground.
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30.66 million
tonnes of CO2
343,000
tonnes of CO2
retained by the world's
cork oak forests
per year.
is the value fixed by
Portuguese cork
harvested annually
in Portugal.
The cork
life cycle
25,000
tonnes of CO2
contributes to
the reduction of
greenhouse
gases.
is the amount
retained annually
by Amorim cork
stoppers.
FSC Certification
FSC certification of forests
and products is a crucial
component of the worldwide
environmental protection
strategy. Amorim was one
of the pioneers and main
promoters of this certification
in Portugal and is proud of that
role which has already been
recognised by some of the
most important world market
operators.
AMORIM, RECYCLING CORK
STOPPERS ON A GLOBAL SCALE
Amorim has implemented a worldwide
cork stopper collection and recycling
programme. It has also conducted
countless initiatives to raise awareness
and provide training on product recycling.
Currently has three cork stopper recycling
industrial plants.
CLOSURES
CO2 EMISSIONS
CORK STOPPERS
LEADERSHIP OF THE
CARBON FOOTPRINT
24X
more
CO2
10X
more
CO2
0%
Cork
Closure
20 Cork
Plastic Closure
10X more emissions
Metal Closure
26X more emissions
The cork stoppers produced each
year by Amorim are responsible
for the reduction of 25,000 tonnes
of CO2. If we take into account
their plant nature and the property
of being a material that is 100%
recyclable and 100% reusable, cork
stoppers will continue to perform
their retention function far beyond
their useful life, almost for eternity,
making this product ecologically
unbeatable.
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CORK OAK FOREST, ONE OF THE
WORLD'S 35 BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS
Cork oak forests are one of Europe's richest ecosystems,
supporting a wealth of fauna and flora of great diversity,
associated with the variability of tree densities and the
different soil types.
More than 20 species of reptiles and amphibians, over 160
species of birds, including some of the rarest in Europe and
37 species of mammals (60% of the Portuguese mammals)
form part of this unique mosaic of life.
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RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
A FUNDAMENTAL AXIS IN THE ASSERTION OF LEADERSHIP
The Amorim Group's Research, Development and Innovation
policy is a core pillar supporting its worldwide leadership in the
Cork industry.
Focused on qualitative improvement, the Group has
constantly invested in optimising its portfolio of products,
latest-generation technology and manufacturing processes,
so as to ensure greater efficiency and competitiveness in the
international markets.
The Amorim Group, in partnership with
front-line international entities, is involved
in several innovative projects linked to
the transport sector, such as the Siemens
metro project, the Vega rocket, the IBUS
project and the ISEAT project.
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CORK
STOPPERS
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NATURAL CORK
STOPPER
Cork's natural sealing capacity is
unrivalled, ensuring the perfect wine
evolution and maturing in the bottle.
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CHAMPAGNE AND SPARKLING
WINE CORK STOPPER
Champagne cork stoppers, designed for wines that
combine high pressure with delicateness, have evolved
since the bygone days of D. Pérignon, finding their
definitive form in the combination of an agglomerate
cork body and two natural cork discs at one of the
ends, the one in contact with the wine.
Their excellent mechanical behaviour and ease of
bottling are key advantages and the reasons for
their selection by the most important winemakers
in the world. Amorim cork stoppers for champagne
and sparkling wine have excellent physical, chemical
and oenological performance, making them the
preferred choice for the producers of the world's best
champagnes.
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HELIX, AN INNOVATIVE
PACKAGING CONCEPT
Corticeira Amorim and the American company
O-I - world leaders in the cork and glass
packaging sectors - have developed an
innovative concept, that for the first time
combines the cork stopper and glass in an easyto-open solution, aimed at the fast turnaround
still wine segment.
Helix is an ergonomically-designed stopper
made from cork and a glass bottle with an
internal thread finish in the neck, specially
designed for the continued use of the cork
stopper. 32 Cork
TECHNICAL STOPPER
Developed using state-of-the-art technology,
technical stoppers offer great structural
stability as a result of their composition:
cork microgranules of uniform size.
They are recommended for wines with a
certain complexity and intended for early
consumption. A new generation of stoppers, at
an extremely competitive price.
In response to the winemakers' highest
demands, the Twin Top stopper® is
manufactured based on the technology behind
the production of the champagne cork stopper.
It retains all the benefits of the natural cork
stopper, comprising an agglomerated body and
a disk of natural cork at each end. Advantec Colours®
Advantec Colours® This is an innovative range
aimed at the young market segment and
beverages for early consumption, that aims to
impress the consumer and meet the market's
emerging needs, allowing the combination
between the cork stopper's colour and the
product's decorative elements.
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TOP SERIES CORK STOPPER
It is a natural cork stopper with a cap of different materials, such as plastic, metal, wood,
porcelain, etc.
The advantage of this stopper is that it combines an effective seal with extremely easy
extraction. It uses silver, crystal or gold caps.
The Top Series cork stoppers® are aimed at producers of spirits and are manufactured with
state-of-the-art technology.
This new natural cork stopper comes in 4 ranges, for different market segments: Prestige,
Elegance, Premium and Classic Value. 34 Cork
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CORK
COVERINGS
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Victoria & Albert (V&A) Museum
PIONEERING AND INNOVATION
IN COVERINGS
Thanks to Corktech technology, the Amorim coverings
developed by the premium brand Wicanders are of the
highest quality and guarantee an excellent performance
in terms of thermal, noise and walking comfort and
energy saving, in addition to their vanguard design.
Leonardo da Vinci Museum, Milan
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NEZU MUSEUM, JAPAN
BARCELONA CATHEDRAL
2000 m2 of Corticeira
Amorim cork flooring covers
the floor of the crypt of the
Sagrada Família, by Antoni
Gaudí
Cork 41
LEADING EDGE DESIGN IN
INTERIOR COVERINGS
Cork is a material increasingly sought after by architects and
designers for use in interior and exterior architecture, since
it is quick and easy to install and has unrivalled thermal and
acoustic insulation properties in addition to its aesthetic
potential.
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Cork 43
EXPANDED CORKBOARD
Expanded corkboard is a
sophisticated and technologically
advanced material that is a 100%
natural and recyclable product. Its
unique properties make it a highly
efficient thermal, acoustic and
vibration insulator. Therefore, it is used
in the construction of buildings, wine
cellars, in the refrigeration industry,
leisure facilities and also widely used
in the construction of homes.
CORKBOARD
This material of almost unlimited durability is used in external
walls (including fair-face façades), cavity walls, flat and sloping
roofs, door insulation, thermal and acoustic wood panels, and
expansion/dilatation joints.
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MAIN PROPERTIES:
· thermal, acoustic and vibration insulation;
· renewable and 100% natural raw material;
· natural industrial process (additive-free);
· unlimited durability, without loss of properties;
· totally recyclable;
· excellent dimensional stability (even when subject to
large temperature variations);
· density: 110/120 Kg/m3;
· thermal conductivity coefficient
0.038/0.40 W/mk;
· low energy consumption (93% cork, 7% electricity).
CORKSORB
We are promoting new uses for cork, including Corksorb,
which is a material to absorb crude oil spills.
The Ecorkhotel can be found
on the outskirts of the city of
Évora and is the first hotel in
the world covered with cork.
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COMPOSITE CORK The extraordinary expansion capacity of cork (up to 140%
of its original thickness) and its impressive flexibility make it
an excellent choice for expansion joints in the construction
of dams, airports, bridges, railway stations, artificial lakes,
swimming pools, reservoirs, industrial plants, etc, since
it can withstand constant forces without undergoing any
deterioration.
ACOUSTICORK® UNDERLAYS
Cork underlays may be used for any kind of final
flooring, such as ceramics, wood, carpet, linoleum,
screed, etc.
The AcoustiCORK® range provides high
performance, a low noise level and durability,
properties that remain intact during the entire life
cycle of the product.
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FASHION AND SPORT
The huge potential for using
composite cork is well illustrated
by the growing use of cork in
Fashion and Sports Industries.
Corkwear, by the
designer Todd Bracher
for Handmade,
an exhibition by
Wallpaper
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Mercedes-Benz and
Garrett McNamara
announce the
development of a cork
surfboard
2nd Istanbul Design Biennial, 2014
ART
AND DESIGN
Cork is today used in innovative
and creative ways, and is
increasingly a source of inspiration
for designers.
Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012,
by Herzog & de Meuron and Ai
Weiwei, with Amorim cork
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Cork is increasingly preferred by designers and interior
decorators as well as artists, due to its aesthetic qualities
and creative potential, fitting perfectly with the new trends
of eco-design, making it very attractive to consumers.
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METAMORPHOSIS
Eduardo Souto Moura
Naoto Fukasawa
Álvaro Siza
Manuel Aires Mateus
Rua da Corticeira, nº 34 · Apartado 47 · 4536 - 902 Mozelos VFR · Portugal
Tel.: +351 227 475 800 · Fax: +351 227 475 801
www.grupoamericoamorim.com
Editor: Amorim Holding II, SGPS, S.A. • Cork 2014 • 1st Edition: april 2015, Porto • 150 copies • Printing: Lidergraf • Legal Deposit: 391094/15