Portugal looks to put new twist on cork industry 

An employee selects the high quality corks at the Amorim cork factory in Mozelos, near Santa Maria da Feira, north of Portugal on Sept. 10, 2024. An employee works during the cork harvest in a farm in Coruche, central Portugal, on July 23, 2024. An employee passes by baskets full of corks at the Amorim cork factory in Mozelos, near Santa Maria da Feira, north of Portugal on Sept. 10, 2024. An employee passes by baskets full of corks at the Amorim cork factory in Mozelos, near Santa Maria da Feira, north of Portugal on Sept.10, 2024.

Portugal, the world's leading cork producer, is finding new uses for the material, from footwear to furniture, as demand for wine bottle stoppers wanes.