Amorim cork returns to the forefront of NASA missions and reaches a new milestone with Artemis II, confirming the strategic role of a natural material formed more than 10 million years ago. Corticeira Amorim supplies the cork‑based materials used in the thermal protection system of the Orion spacecraft, where they shield critical components and structures from the extreme temperatures of launch and re‑entry.
This technology stems from the expertise of Amorim Cork Solutions and the P50 composite, engineered to perform under extreme conditions. For Amorim Cork Italia, this achievement reinforces the value of cork in the wine world as well, where reliability, safety, and sustainability remain essential. The group, a global leader in the sector, continues to grow through research, innovation, and a strong environmental commitment.
Cork: the journey of a high‑performance natural material
Amorim’s contribution to the Artemis missions is not an isolated episode but the result of a long path of research into natural materials. In the aerospace sector, cork is transformed into the P50 composite, capable of combining thermal insulation, energy absorption, flexibility, and compatibility with advanced systems. It is a material that “sacrifices” itself to protect: when temperatures rise, it turns into a carbonized layer that strengthens thermal resistance.
“The role of cork is simple but fundamental: to protect by sacrificing itself,” explains Eduardo Soares, Innovation Director at Amorim Cork Solutions. This ability, combined with high fire‑resistance binders, creates a lightweight and reliable system capable of withstanding extreme heat.
The presence of cork in Artemis I and Artemis II confirms performance already validated in critical environments. “In the aerospace sector, continuity is earned through performance,” notes António Rios de Amorim, President and CEO of Corticeira Amorim. “Materials science has become a central element in mission design.”
Nature, innovation, and sustainability: the core of Amorim’s vision
Cork is a 100% natural, renewable, and recyclable material. It comes from the montados, Mediterranean ecosystems where the bark of cork oak trees is harvested without harming the plant, following a sustainable cycle that repeats for decades. In this context, Amorim demonstrates how a traditional material can be brought into the most advanced fields of science and technology.
For Amorim Cork Italia, this milestone also confirms the value of cork in the wine world, where every detail matters. Reliability, safety, and sustainability are essential for a closure that must guarantee quality and protection.
The Amorim Group is the world leader in cork stopper production, holding 45% of the global market and 28% of wine closures. With 61 subsidiaries in 30 countries and exports to more than 100 markets, it is an international benchmark. Amorim Cork Italia, based in Conegliano, is the group’s main subsidiary: in 2025 it reached €74 million in revenue, completed the expansion of its production site, and strengthened a widespread technical‑commercial network.
The company invests in research, sustainability, and human resources, with initiatives dedicated to work‑life balance and circular‑economy projects such as SUBER, a furniture line created from granulated cork collected and recycled through the ETICO program. This commitment also translates into cultural initiatives, including the exhibitions SUG_HERO, Metaforme, and Il passo del viandante, dedicated to the value of cork and its territory.
