The concern in its cultivation and manufacture is always for sustainability.
Cork oak forests are characteristic of the countries of the Mediterranean basin which are influenced by the Atlantic Ocean (the Southern part of the Iberian Peninsular, Italy, France, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco). The European Union is the biggest producer of cork in the world (over 80%) and Portugal in particular is the world’s largest exporter of cork, producing over 60% of all cork consumed. It also contains the largest area of cork oak forest in the world (736,000 hectares, equivalent to 34% of the world total). Such a delicate eco-system has been regarded as part of Portugal’s national heritage for centuries and this indigenous tree has been protected by law since 1209, when the first agricultural laws prohibited it from being felled and encouraged it to be grown and harvested. Portugal is also a leader in research, development and innovation in this sector, and stands out not only for the quantity of the cork produced but also for its excellent quality.