I don’t know why but I somehow did not expect cork tree bark to be just straight up cork. I always assumed corks were chipped up and glued to shape or something. Very cool video!
Some of them are. Several quality grades of cork exist, from Grande, Extra, Superior, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. The cheapest corks are made from trimmed bark, chipped and glue pressed in cork form.
I’m a space engineer and I can confirm that natural cork is an amazing material for heat protection, I’ve seen it used in several spacecraft and handled pieces that have returned from space !
I love that someone planted those trees, realising they wouldn't be ready for decades. Most people are focused on what feels best for them at the moment, they can barely plan their own lives more than a few months in advance. So the idea of someone planting these trees, knowing it would be a legacy for their descendents. Great video!
Cork is an incredible thermal engineering material: super low mass, high thermal resistivity, and good char holding properties. You'd be amazed how much cork ends up in rockets and other aerospace vehicles.
What an amazing bunch of people working at this company. Everybody looks and sounds so confident and proud of their work. As a Spaniard, I hope most if not all of our cork wine stoppers come from these people
Neno, si Portugal produce un 40-50% mundial, España produce un 30-40%, hablo de memoria. Son las dehesas de Extremadura, Andalucía y León, y las sureras catalanas y queda algo relíctico en Galicia, Valencia y La Mancha (aunque la toponimia indica una extensión antigua mayor). Y no consigue crecer fuera del Mediterráneo. Aquí tampoco se encuentran operarios de saca. Pero la gente marcha del campo. Por qué? Porque el gobierno los acribilla a impuestos y regulaciones, como si los campesinos no hubiesen sido los que han permitido que durasen hasta nuestros días.
in sri lanka we use mangrove roots as bottle stoppers. mostly used in ayurveda industry. but nowadays plastic or metal. it's lovely to see this business and culture still standing preserved.
I love these kinds of videos because they focus on the amount of effort put into the things we don't really think about, but that make a significant impact on the modern world
Since the Lusitanian/Celtic times the cork oak's acorns are used to make flower for Lusitanian bread. Even the traditional axe seen here for cork extraction is as old as time.
This is awesome, nice to see a company that knows the product won't be available for decades, and figures it out. Always loved korks, such a unique material.
Very mundane subject but very interesting and informative. My Uncle fought in the 1st world war he had a cork bound diary that he carried with him, we still have it today and the cork is still intact but is a bit dusty, we have it in an air sealed case I believe that has maintained its integrity. I own a pair of Birkenstock cork soled mules bought in 1982 that I still use today , I have sealed the cork and I treat the leather every year and they just get more comfortable with time.
Cork is also a very useful insulation material in the building industry! They are water resistant, so no mold growth. They are fireproof, so also usable in big apartment blocks. They are vapor permeable, meaning that it allows buildings to dry, so the wood you are using to resistant the loads, is protected from decaying too, because wood only decays when it gets too wet. It has a decent R value, higher than fiberglass, and only slightly lower than wood fiber or mineral wool. And, it has a pretty good Thermal mass, it is even much higher than mineral wool. High thermal mass helps to keep buildings cooler in the summer. But unlike mineral wool, that is also fire safe, this is a completely sustainable product. And unlike wood fiber, another eco friendly product, cork is naturally resistant to termites, pest, and ants. So there is not need for adding borate, a chemical that is not healthy for your indoor environment to breathe in, and also its effect on the wood fiber decreases every year because the chemical releases into the air. Thought it was a shame that this wasn't mentioned in the video. So therefor I posted it!
Amazing video-I love how you blended history with present day operations. In World War II, American submarines had cork in their inner hulls. I'm not sure how much was covered, but I've read books where they talked about cork. They would take cork pieces, clothes, lifejackets, oil and release it so it would float to the surface and make Japanese destroyers think they had sunk the subs.
@@sn5301679 limited supply... what do you mean?? its a renewable resource meaning that its a seemingly endless supply due to being replenished naturally.
@@sn5301679actually there’s extra. I just met a man from the cork and chestnut savanna and he said his community is dying because the perception is it’s not eco friendly and too expensive. He said towns are emptying out and the land is idling and the system is failing because there aren’t enough people there anymore. It’s very sad because it’s a complex ancient system that produces many yields and has sustainably done so for thousands of years without fertilizer or chemicals. Sadly there is no respect for peasants
You can literally grow more trees… it’s BENEFICIAL to do so, seeing as they’re native to the Iberian peninsula and are a home for many animals there and prevent desertification If you grow more, the supply increases and it becomes cheaper
I wish they used the cork as it comes for more than just stoppers. It looks lovely. I know it's limited in possible sizes and shapes, but I still think they could find some other things it could work for.
Here are some of its main applications: 1. Wine and Beverage Industry Bottle stoppers: The most traditional use of cork, especially for wine, champagne, and other beverage bottles. 2. Construction Industry Thermal insulation: Cork is an excellent natural insulator, used in boards or granules for walls, ceilings, and floors. Acoustic insulation: Cork is used in floor or wall coverings to reduce noise. Flooring: Cork can be processed into tiles or boards for floor coverings, providing a comfortable, durable, and eco-friendly surface. 3. Furniture and Decoration Furniture: Chairs, tables, and other items can be made of cork, especially in modern, sustainable designs. Decor: Cork is used in decorative items, from rugs to cork-paneled walls. 4. Fashion and Accessories Clothing: Some brands use cork as an alternative to leather, creating jackets, shoes, and other garments. Bags and wallets: Cork is processed into flexible materials for making bags, backpacks, and wallets. Footwear: Cork is used in insoles or in the manufacture of sandals and shoes. 5. Sports and Leisure Surfboards: Cork can be used in the core or surface of surfboards, offering a lightweight and durable material. Cricket and baseballs: Some balls have cork cores. Yoga and Pilates: Cork mats and blocks are popular due to their lightness and durability. 6. Office and School Products Corkboards: Used for pinning notes and reminders with pushpins. Cork blocks: These can be used to support books, computers, and other office items. 7. Automotive and Transportation Vehicle interiors: Parts of vehicle interiors, such as panels, use cork for its insulating properties. Aerospace: Cork is used as thermal insulation in components for airplanes and even rockets. 8. Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industry Bottle caps: Used as a sealant for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Pills and capsules: Some pills may contain cork components since it's natural and hypoallergenic. 9. Sustainability and Eco-Design Sustainable products: Cork is a popular choice in eco-friendly products due to its renewability and low carbon footprint. It’s used in household items like coasters, placemats, and in sustainable design objects. Cork is a renewable material widely used, especially in Portugal, the world's largest producer. Its properties-such as flexibility, lightness, water resistance, and thermal and acoustic insulation-make it ideal for a wide range of applications.
I always thought there were a bunch of guys soaking the corks to get them in the wine bottles, with the master cork soaker being the best cork soaker in the world
I once got a free dinner at a restaurant by proving to the bartender that if he pushed a cork all the way down inside an empty wine bottle, I could get it out without breaking the bottle. A cute little bar trick.
I can’t help but think about the Saturday Night Live episodes of the family of cork soakers. That was hilarious and I highly recommend you watch it if you haven’t seen it.
Amazing material and I’m glad they’ve been able to find so many uses for it but the majority of wines produced aren’t intended for or capable of long term cellar aging so I don’t see them regaining any share of that market. For most wines other types of sealing materials work just fine.
Its fairly amazing to me. I think this company realised that they have to invest far into the future and also invest into their enviroment. Which is doing good against climate change for sure. Some companys now realise that the best investment is into our future but sadly most dont.
Once you discover cork shoe soles, you really can't go back. There simply isn't any kind of other inner sole that would feel as comfortable, cool in the summer, warm in the winter.
I don’t know why but I somehow did not expect cork tree bark to be just straight up cork. I always assumed corks were chipped up and glued to shape or something. Very cool video!
Some of them are. Several quality grades of cork exist, from Grande, Extra, Superior, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. The cheapest corks are made from trimmed bark, chipped and glue pressed in cork form.
The mire expensive the wine, the better the cork. After all, the stopper is just a part of the price.
Yeah all the wine I buy has either screw tops or glued-up composite corks 😝
ME TOO!! I thought it was like particle board in comparison to solid sheets of plywood.
I’m a space engineer and I can confirm that natural cork is an amazing material for heat protection, I’ve seen it used in several spacecraft and handled pieces that have returned from space !
Wow!!! Powerful! AMAZING
A friend of mine works on spacerockets too and he always tells me he is the master of cork there.
Get a real job
Get a real job
Okay, you must watch Crazy Way they produce Wooden matches.
I love that someone planted those trees, realising they wouldn't be ready for decades. Most people are focused on what feels best for them at the moment, they can barely plan their own lives more than a few months in advance.
So the idea of someone planting these trees, knowing it would be a legacy for their descendents.
Great video!
“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit” - Greek Proverb
There's an old saying "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."
@@MarvinMartianMan thank you friend
@@samuelphilips6091 shared both these quotes with the fam.
@@samuelphilips6091The second best time was 19 years ago.
Cork is an incredible thermal engineering material: super low mass, high thermal resistivity, and good char holding properties. You'd be amazed how much cork ends up in rockets and other aerospace vehicles.
It's also the real capital of Ireland....
@@R18Ythat's cock
What an amazing bunch of people working at this company. Everybody looks and sounds so confident and proud of their work. As a Spaniard, I hope most if not all of our cork wine stoppers come from these people
Neno, si Portugal produce un 40-50% mundial, España produce un 30-40%, hablo de memoria. Son las dehesas de Extremadura, Andalucía y León, y las sureras catalanas y queda algo relíctico en Galicia, Valencia y La Mancha (aunque la toponimia indica una extensión antigua mayor). Y no consigue crecer fuera del Mediterráneo. Aquí tampoco se encuentran operarios de saca. Pero la gente marcha del campo. Por qué? Porque el gobierno los acribilla a impuestos y regulaciones, como si los campesinos no hubiesen sido los que han permitido que durasen hasta nuestros días.
in sri lanka we use mangrove roots as bottle stoppers. mostly used in ayurveda industry.
but nowadays plastic or metal. it's lovely to see this business and culture still standing preserved.
Send me some of those roots
are you from ?.
@@aslamdoubt I’m from Brooklyn
@@northwing3416
is this plant not available there ?.
I love these kinds of videos because they focus on the amount of effort put into the things we don't really think about, but that make a significant impact on the modern world
1:15 I love the typical cork squeak
Agreed! Any time a video about cork harvesting comes up, I have to watch just for that noise.
5:20
Man I love this series. It’s always so fascinating
What a great mini documentary. Keep them coming.
5:19 that shipment of cork, or rather the ship itself, could never ever sink.
From Portugal to the World, there you go ❤
Since the Lusitanian/Celtic times the cork oak's acorns are used to make flower for Lusitanian bread. Even the traditional axe seen here for cork extraction is as old as time.
This is awesome, nice to see a company that knows the product won't be available for decades, and figures it out. Always loved korks, such a unique material.
Very mundane subject but very interesting and informative. My Uncle fought in the 1st world war he had a cork bound diary that he carried with him, we still have it today and the cork is still intact but is a bit dusty, we have it in an air sealed case I believe that has maintained its integrity. I own a pair of Birkenstock cork soled mules bought in 1982 that I still use today , I have sealed the cork and I treat the leather every year and they just get more comfortable with time.
Cork is also a very useful insulation material in the building industry! They are water resistant, so no mold growth. They are fireproof, so also usable in big apartment blocks. They are vapor permeable, meaning that it allows buildings to dry, so the wood you are using to resistant the loads, is protected from decaying too, because wood only decays when it gets too wet. It has a decent R value, higher than fiberglass, and only slightly lower than wood fiber or mineral wool. And, it has a pretty good Thermal mass, it is even much higher than mineral wool. High thermal mass helps to keep buildings cooler in the summer.
But unlike mineral wool, that is also fire safe, this is a completely sustainable product.
And unlike wood fiber, another eco friendly product, cork is naturally resistant to termites, pest, and ants. So there is not need for adding borate, a chemical that is not healthy for your indoor environment to breathe in, and also its effect on the wood fiber decreases every year because the chemical releases into the air.
Thought it was a shame that this wasn't mentioned in the video. So therefor I posted it!
Thank you for the additional information.
so cool to see an excellent company marketing a product steeped in tradition, thanks guys!
Such high production of corks per day, it’s amazing to me that there are enough trees to produce the bark.
I’m impressed they don’t kill the trees. Never knew where corks came from. Amazing!
Real cork tiles look amazing in flooring
They feel fantastic underfoot too. Warm and inviting
Very informative and educational,all the best
What an interesting topic we had never really thought about before. And to think Portugal produces so much of it.
*Wow! I love how they literally utilize every single piece of waste into usable products and renewable energy. Quite impressive*
🍾 my favorite material 2024
- Pretty cool seeing how this company is, *still standing* ...!
Just like these trees! 😸
5:40 the worker casually pushing his hand into that large milling machine
I've driven through those forests many times. ...the roads suck. but, it's a beautiful place on this planet. I love Portugal!
Amazing video-I love how you blended history with present day operations. In World War II, American submarines had cork in their inner hulls. I'm not sure how much was covered, but I've read books where they talked about cork. They would take cork pieces, clothes, lifejackets, oil and release it so it would float to the surface and make Japanese destroyers think they had sunk the subs.
This is way more sustainable than plastic or metal, on top of all the other benefits
Cons: limited supply, expensive
@@sn5301679 limited supply... what do you mean?? its a renewable resource meaning that its a seemingly endless supply due to being replenished naturally.
@@sn5301679actually there’s extra. I just met a man from the cork and chestnut savanna and he said his community is dying because the perception is it’s not eco friendly and too expensive. He said towns are emptying out and the land is idling and the system is failing because there aren’t enough people there anymore. It’s very sad because it’s a complex ancient system that produces many yields and has sustainably done so for thousands of years without fertilizer or chemicals. Sadly there is no respect for peasants
You can literally grow more trees… it’s BENEFICIAL to do so, seeing as they’re native to the Iberian peninsula and are a home for many animals there and prevent desertification
If you grow more, the supply increases and it becomes cheaper
@@chicagotypewriter2094 And more people stays living in rural areas.
Such a natural resource, how can we recycle cork?
0:22 was extremely satisfying 😅
there's a big cork tree in the Beal Botanic gardens at Michigan State University... it's something else to give it a big hug. squishy.
Mary Catherine Gallagher agrees
That's sexual assault
You know, I've always wondered what I'd be like to soak cork, and now I know! Someday, I hope to be cork soaker!
Came here to remind them to soak that cork before use
You should ask yer mum how to soak corks. She has decades of experience.
@@bobbydazzler6990 You know, ever since she lost her teeth, people say she soaks corks better than ever!
Only reason I clicked on this video. It was asking for it...
I wish they used the cork as it comes for more than just stoppers. It looks lovely. I know it's limited in possible sizes and shapes, but I still think they could find some other things it could work for.
Here are some of its main applications:
1. Wine and Beverage Industry
Bottle stoppers: The most traditional use of cork, especially for wine, champagne, and other beverage bottles.
2. Construction Industry
Thermal insulation: Cork is an excellent natural insulator, used in boards or granules for walls, ceilings, and floors.
Acoustic insulation: Cork is used in floor or wall coverings to reduce noise.
Flooring: Cork can be processed into tiles or boards for floor coverings, providing a comfortable, durable, and eco-friendly surface.
3. Furniture and Decoration
Furniture: Chairs, tables, and other items can be made of cork, especially in modern, sustainable designs.
Decor: Cork is used in decorative items, from rugs to cork-paneled walls.
4. Fashion and Accessories
Clothing: Some brands use cork as an alternative to leather, creating jackets, shoes, and other garments.
Bags and wallets: Cork is processed into flexible materials for making bags, backpacks, and wallets.
Footwear: Cork is used in insoles or in the manufacture of sandals and shoes.
5. Sports and Leisure
Surfboards: Cork can be used in the core or surface of surfboards, offering a lightweight and durable material.
Cricket and baseballs: Some balls have cork cores.
Yoga and Pilates: Cork mats and blocks are popular due to their lightness and durability.
6. Office and School Products
Corkboards: Used for pinning notes and reminders with pushpins.
Cork blocks: These can be used to support books, computers, and other office items.
7. Automotive and Transportation
Vehicle interiors: Parts of vehicle interiors, such as panels, use cork for its insulating properties.
Aerospace: Cork is used as thermal insulation in components for airplanes and even rockets.
8. Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industry
Bottle caps: Used as a sealant for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.
Pills and capsules: Some pills may contain cork components since it's natural and hypoallergenic.
9. Sustainability and Eco-Design
Sustainable products: Cork is a popular choice in eco-friendly products due to its renewability and low carbon footprint. It’s used in household items like coasters, placemats, and in sustainable design objects.
Cork is a renewable material widely used, especially in Portugal, the world's largest producer. Its properties-such as flexibility, lightness, water resistance, and thermal and acoustic insulation-make it ideal for a wide range of applications.
I always thought there were a bunch of guys soaking the corks to get them in the wine bottles, with the master cork soaker being the best cork soaker in the world
What a neat product. thanks.
Before this, I thought wine corks is like typical compressed sawdust similar to particle wood
Depends on the quality of cork (and thus wine): cheap ones are agglomerate, cheapest are thin dust, solid are the expensive.
What a very interesting documentary
fascinating, i had absolutely no idea where cork came from
I once got a free dinner at a restaurant by proving to the bartender that if he pushed a cork all the way down inside an empty wine bottle, I could get it out without breaking the bottle. A cute little bar trick.
This guy and his family are so incredibly wealthy
2:06 "being careful with trees"
*Cuts to throwing axe*
Humans are amazing when they want to!
I need to replace the turntable on my Scully Lathe!
I can’t help but think about the Saturday Night Live episodes of the family of cork soakers. That was hilarious and I highly recommend you watch it if you haven’t seen it.
this is one of the most fascinating random stumbling upon topics i have ever... stumbled upon. amazing
Corks are the BEST thing to transport in a ship. It will never sink!
10:15 - We had that same Hymmen at my last job... somebody was always breaking it. ✌
In chemistry labs cork rings are used to hold up round bottem flasks
Well done
This is a perfect example of a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship between humans and the earth. We don't need plastic corks!!
Repost??
Think it was a different voice over
yeap
Yes.Although there are a couple of new small details
Thought it seemed familiar but rewatched it, this one has more on their other cork composite products.
super interesting!
New respect unlocked!
I love the ask (axe) they use
Good job Portugal!
The Amorim family main business in Portugal is not cork but energy, biggest share holders of GALP, and they are also the richest Portuguese family.
43 years to get started, damn.
22 million a DAY!
Amazing material and I’m glad they’ve been able to find so many uses for it but the majority of wines produced aren’t intended for or capable of long term cellar aging so I don’t see them regaining any share of that market. For most wines other types of sealing materials work just fine.
Very interesting.
fantastic video, thank you. canada
These are some very skilled cork soakers. I wonder how long each cork must be soaked, before it's ready.
Amazing material came from this tree.
PORTUGAL EURO 16 WINNER 🥇
i always wondered what a naked tree looked like.
Its fairly amazing to me. I think this company realised that they have to invest far into the future and also invest into their enviroment. Which is doing good against climate change for sure. Some companys now realise that the best investment is into our future but sadly most dont.
1:24
It was nice of Destiny's dad to come on to teach us about cork harvesting
Finally some good news
This has a Rick Steves feeling well produced
Se Portugal fornece pra Espanha e França.,.de onde vem ss rolhas para os vinhos/ espumantes do Brasil 🤔🤔
Great doco
La producción de corcho también es un proceso
Also keeping the reptile industry alive lol. I use so much cork in habitats.
It makes me wonder why they don't they make square tops on glass bottles, so they don't have to waste so much.
The Amorim family owns a lot of GALP.
@SdbiblestudyChurch Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
@Fincayra15 is an energy company like shell,
repost?
Is this a Re-upload?
Another banger! As always
From South Africa all the cold rooms used to be lined with cork
Crazy how those trees are older than us. Alot of trees are super old think its cool..and satisfyin how it comes off
Pretty amazing.
It's also the real capital of Ireland....
I'm curious about the automatic "quality check" machine.
Just came back from a video about pain saying skinning is the worst torture method. I hope those trees don’t feel pain.
I'm with you but I think that if the process was too bad for them, they would die of "stress," or at least they wouldn't be able to regenerate.
I guess im a veteran corkman myself. Ive been picking bark off trees since childhood, out of love for the craft
Cork is also used as a high end boat deck in lieu of teak
Wow impressive
22 million per day is insane . Is that number correct?
I thought that too. Seems impossible.
Despite what the SNL skit says, there really are people who soak the cork - AKA "cork soakers". 🤣
I love corks
His coworker busy dangling a hatchet above dudes bald head is giving me anxiety lol
Would you drop it if standing on the ground? Up there the same.
Once you discover cork shoe soles, you really can't go back. There simply isn't any kind of other inner sole that would feel as comfortable, cool in the summer, warm in the winter.
Did they mention anything about the price?
The algorithm is dangerous, it was only last night when I was contemplating my bowl of champagne corks.
Wow finally
Where is this factory located? No mention found in the narrative.
They mention it at 5:03, "outside of Porto". Santa Maria de Lamas to be exact, it is part of the Porto Metropolitan Area.
Carbon fiber compressed into a cylindrical cork shape might make a suitable substitute.
Incredible cork soakers
22 milion... a DAY. I can't wrap my head around that, and I always feel weird when I throw ONE away.