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1 million corks and still counting! A pilot scheme run during 2000 by Amorim, the world's leading supplier of cork, in conjunction with the UK Guide Association to collect natural wine corks has been tremendously successful. Over 550 participating guide units have collected over one million corks from throughout the UK. The role of the cork forests as the home for endangered species, together with the importance of natural cork as a recyclable, renewable, sustainable resource, has been easily understood by the units. The groups have been creative in devising ways to collect corks and the response from their local communities has been very positive. Units are working with their local churches, hotels, restaurants, shops, pubs, libraries, post offices, businesses and schools, as well as family and friends, to collect corks. For each kilo collected Amorim pays the units and the monies are used for a wide variety of causes. These range from helping club funds for new equipment or an activity to sending money to support another worthy cause. Discussions are now taking place between Amorim and a major multiple grocer to have a national scheme in place by spring next year - involving collection points at 350 stores nationwide. The response to the 2000 scheme has exceeded all expectations and has led to the commercial decision to support the recycling initiative in Portugal. Scottish Guides and Brownies pull out all the stops in cork recycling challenge Scottish Guides and Brownies are pulling out all the stops in a bid to collect and recycle one million natural wine and champagne corks. Units from all over the country are taking up the Amorim Cork Recycling Challenge, launched by Amorim, the world's largest cork producer, in association with the Guide Association. The scheme is designed to make best use of a valuable resource, while helping preserve the delicate eco-system of Portugal's 670,000 hectares of cork forest. Guides and Brownies raise cash for every kilogram collected, which they can invest back into their unit, or donate to a good cause. Various schemes are currently being put into place by enterprising units across Scotland. The 74th City of Edinburgh unit, for example, is setting up a collection point in the church where they meet and, with help from adults, are also involving local pubs. Brownie Guider, Susan Dewhurst, said: "We are extremely enthusiastic because recycling cork is worthwhile. Also, our efforts will raise funds for a charitable cause. "In addition, the scheme will get the girls involved with their local community, which is something we hope they will continue to do when they become adults." Elsewhere in Scotland, the 5th Largs Guides are targeting the numerous hotels in the Ayrshire holiday resort. They plan to use monies raised on a trip to Holland. The Ist Uphall Guides in Livingston are hoping to collect enough corks from family, friends and neighbours to fund a weekend camp with a difference. Instead of staying in tents, they want an indoor camp! The 4th Crieff Brownies are collecting amongst friends and family, but they, too, plan to establish pick-up points in pubs and hotels. Their funds will help meet the cost of maintaining the unit. Elizabeth Maytom from the Guide Association headquarters said: "Some 350 Guide and Brownie units across Britain are involved in the scheme so far, with even more expected to join in the coming weeks. "The challenge has been taken up with enormous energy because the reasons for recycling a valuable resource like cork are easily understood. Also, the results of the girls' labours are tangible." All corks collected are being sent to a central warehouse, near Heathrow, for dispatch to Portugal, where they will be recycled for use in the making of cork products such as insulation, tiles and pin-boards. In Australia, a long-standing cork recycling scheme has seen Guides recycle over 75 million corks. Guide Association pulls out all the stops in national cork recycling challenge Members of the Guide Association are pulling out all the stops in the UK's first ever national scheme to collect and recycle wine and champagne corks. Over 10,000 have so far taken up the Amorim Cork Recycling Challenge, launched by Amorim, the world's largest cork producer, in association with the Guide Association. Thousands more are expected to join the scheme, designed to make best use of a valuable resource, while helping preserve the delicate eco-system of Portugal's 670,000 hectares of cork forest. Sackloads of corks have already been retrieved by enterprising members of 300 Guide units around the country, who have set up collection points in homes, offices and churches. Under adult supervision, they have even organised dump bins in pubs, off licences and restaurants. Local businesses are lending a hand by passing on corks left over from office parties and board meetings. Local authorities, too, are playing a role, with local Guide units working with their recycling departments. In one initiative, Loughborough Guides have recruited The Lord Mayor to help them launch a cork appeal. Philippa Creasy, leader of the 13th Loughborough Guides, said: "Our aim is to involve the whole community."Competition is intense amongst the guides. Each patrol is fighting to see who can collect most corks. We are diesel driven!" The Guides raise cash for every kilogram collected, which may be invested back into their unit, or donated to a good cause. Elizabeth Mayton from The Guide Association said: "The challenge has been taken up with enormous energy because the reasons for recycling a valuable resource like cork are easily understood. Also, the results of the girls' labours are tangible. "Guides are a resourceful lot and managed to save six million units of energy in our recent environmental campaign." All corks collected are being sent to a central warehouse, near Heathrow, for dispatch to Portugal, where they will be recycled for use in the making of cork products such as insulation, tiles and pin-boards. In Australia, a long-standing cork recycling scheme has seen Guides recycle over 75 million corks. Wine educators visit Amorim Wine educators Keith Grainger, Wink Lorch, Adrian Wells, Chris Smith, Richard Goodacre and Sandy Leckie had their knowledge about Amorim's cork production process expanded during their recent visit to the company in early January. A tour of Amorim's new raw cork bark processing plant at Ponte de Sor in the Alentejo and meeting the new Research & Development team headed by Professor Miguel Cabral were the highlights of tour. Keith Grainger commented, "The new factory at Ponte de Sor is most impressive; the purification systems for water used for boiling the cork demonstrated the technological advances being made at Amorim. Discussions with Professor Miguel Cabral proved very enlightening. Professor Cabral's team will be seeking scientific validation of Amorim's advanced production processes commencing with the ozone water purification treatment." The visitors were able to follow production of natural wine corks, Twin Top® (technical corks) and sparkling wine corks from start to finish and see the quality control checks at all stages. Sandy Leckie said, "I was very impressed by the enormous attention to detail and the care taken to monitor and control any possible contaminants at every stage of production". Amorim Communications Manager, Francisco Brito Evangelista explained, "We are delighted to welcome any visitors from the wine trade to visit our factories and to see for themselves the steps we have taken and are developing to produce fault free corks. The visit by the wine educators was very positive for Amorim and is part of our on going commitment to communicating, working and listening to with the wine trade worldwide".
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