Sustainability Report 2010
In 2010 cork products and solutions achieved an unprecedented level of recognition and strengthened in leading markets as high quality solutions that meet the demanding technical and environmental challenges of a wide range of different sectors.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- 172 tons of used cork stoppers recycled in 2010;63% of CORTICEIRA AMORIM’s energy needs supplied by biomass;
- 16,500 hectares of cork oak forest considered by the technical advisory service, sponsored by CORTICEIRA AMORIM;
- 14 units with FSC certification;
- application for registration of 18 patents from 2007 to 2010.
Life Cycle Analysis of Closures
The environmental benefits of natural cork stoppers over alternative wine closures have been highlighted in an independent life cycle analysis released by Corticeira Amorim.
The PricewaterhouseCoopers study found that carbon dioxide emissions — a key factor in global warming — resulting from the life cycle of a screwcap are 24 times higher than a natural cork stopper, while a plastic stopper is responsible for 10 times more CO2 than a natural cork.
