Portugal is the world’s largest producer of cork, making nearly 50% of the world’s supply. Yet the reason you don’t hear about Portugal razing forests for cork production is because it’s one of the most sustainable harvesting practices out there. Cork oak trees are carefully shaved every nine years until they are at least 200 years old.

Despite a slow moving economy and high unemployment rates, Portugal’s cork industry provides as many as 20,000 well-paying seasonal jobs throughout 500+ cork production factories each year.Cork production creates a significant positive effect on Portugal as the country’s largest export and independent source of income.

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As the producer of nearly half of the world’s cork, Portugal boasts an impressive industry, designed to protect the integrity of the environment. Under Portuguese law, Cork trees are only stripped every 9 years, allowing the trees time to regenerate high-grade bark to prolong the life of the species.