Episode Overview

Podcast: The Entrepreneurs
Episode: Eureka: Why winemakers and NASA engineers rely on cork
Host: Tom Edwards (Monocle Radio)
Guest: António Amorim, CEO of Amorim (world’s leading cork producer)
Date: October 24, 2025

Main Theme:
This episode explores the journey of cork from its traditional use in wine bottles to innovative applications in fields such as aerospace and construction. António Amorim discusses the enduring appeal and sustainability of cork, highlights the company’s commitment to reforestation and R&D, and reveals why cork remains unmatched in both wine and high-tech industries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Superiority of Cork in Wine

• Performance and Evolution with Wine

  • Cork is "the only proven product for all types of wines, all segments of the wines over time or to be consumed very quickly."
  • Decades of research and scientific data consistently show cork closures enhance wine quality over time, helping wines age gracefully.
  • Quote: “We have a long track record and we have proven our technical superiority to alternative closures in aging... due to the cellular structure of the cork over time.” — António Amorim [02:07]

• A Premium Experience

  • Cork offers a sensory and cultural experience: the distinct “pop” and tradition enrich the act of opening a bottle.
  • Its tactile and aesthetic appeal sets a celebratory tone, distinguishing it from screw caps.
  • Quote: “It’s unquestionable: when you open a bottle of wine with a cork… it’s completely different from opening a bottle of wine with a screw cap. Wine is an aspirational product…” — António Amorim [03:22]

• Sustainability Credentials

  • Cork’s carbon footprint is significantly positive; for each ton of cork produced, 73 tons of CO₂ are captured.
  • Using cork closures improves the overall carbon footprint of wine when compared to alternatives like aluminum.
  • Quote: “For every single ton of cork produced, it has captured 73 tons of CO₂… making the carbon footprint of the final wine bottle better under cork than under an aluminium screw cap.” — António Amorim [04:00]

Innovations and New Applications

• Beyond Bottles: Cork in Industry
  • Cork’s unique cellular honeycomb structure makes it invaluable for thermal insulation and lightweight resilience.
  • It’s used in:
    • Flooring, underlayment, insulation, shoes, and sports fields
    • Aerospace technology: notably chosen by NASA as a thermal shield, including on the nose of the space shuttle
    • Home construction and other emerging industries
  • Quote: “Cork has been the preferred material to be used as a thermal shield for the space launches… was the preferred material by NASA to be used… on the nose of the space shuttle.” — António Amorim [05:21]

Stewardship, Reforestation & the Future

• Forest Management and Regeneration

  • Cork oaks are harvested, not felled, every nine years; trees live up to 200 years and are protected by law in the Iberian Peninsula.
  • Amorim has recently acquired 20,000 acres, planting 250,000–300,000 new trees annually, aiming for 1.5 million trees in five to seven years.
  • Emphasis on accelerating maturation through selective breeding, irrigation, and fertilization—hoping for first harvests within 10–15 years instead of 25.
  • Quote: “We’re trying to have the initial harvest not at the end of 25, but [at] the end of 10 or 15 [years]… We want absolutely the quality of that cork to be the same as… existing forests.” — António Amorim [07:32]

• Climate Resilience and R&D

  • Heavy investment in R&D to select cork trees better suited to climate change and disease resistance.
  • Cultivating trees that grow faster and yield high quality cork while maintaining biodiversity and local ecosystems.

• Carbon Credits and Economic Incentives

  • The company envisions selling certified carbon credits from its reforested cork lands as an additional revenue stream.
  • Invites others to follow Amorim’s example and participate in sustainable agroforestry.

Family Legacy and Business Philosophy

• Family-owned and professionally managed, with a view to responsibly expand the business for future generations.

• Quote: “We always have the commitment of trying to transfer it to the next generation in a better shape, in a larger size, and with a greater future.” — António Amorim [08:55]

• Growth and awareness are core principles:

  • Making cork known to wider audiences and used in various industries globally.
  • Quote: “We are absolutely committed to make cork be known to a wider audience… [and] used by a wider range of clients and consumers.” — António Amorim [09:22]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On cork’s historic and future relevance:
  “We truly believe that the company that does not grow has no future.” — António Amorim [09:14]

• On sustainable management:
  “For a species that is protected in the Iberian Peninsula... that tree really contributes for the CO2 balance that we have, at least on this part of the world.” — António Amorim [06:31]

• On inspiring copycats:
  “Hopefully, we’ll be so successful that other people would like to come along with us… use their own carbon credits from these incremental plantations as an additional source of revenue.” — António Amorim [08:19]

Important Timestamps

• [01:20] — António Amorim introduces cork’s superiority in performance and tradition.
• [04:00] — Sustainability and the environmental impact of cork production.
• [05:21] — Cork’s role in aerospace and industrial applications.
• [06:25] — Lifecycle of cork trees and harvesting methods.
• [07:11] — Amorim’s large-scale reforestation and R&D efforts.
• [08:19] — Carbon credits and agroforestry incentives.
• [08:55] — Family business philosophy and legacy.

Summary

In this episode, Tom Edwards and António Amorim expertly navigate cork’s journey from tradition to cutting-edge innovation, making a compelling case for its enduring and growing relevance. Amorim’s vision—rooted in sustainability, stewardship, and technological advancement—positions cork not just as a staple for wine, but as a cornerstone material for a wide variety of industries, from construction to space travel. The conversation blends deep technical insight with a passionate commitment to environmental responsibility and family legacy, offering a fresh perspective on what many may have considered a simple bottle stopper.