Amorim is the only closure supplier in a global ‘top 50’ ranking of companies with strong environmental influence, released by major UK drinks trade publication ‘the drinks business’.

The world’s leading natural cork producer was acknowledged for “its commitment to forest preservation, biodiversity and land stewardship through its analysis of stopper materials and their environmental footprint”.

Amorim also won praise for “promoting the green benefits of cork and working with the WWF on Forestry Stewardship Certification”.

‘The drinks business’ highlighted the hundreds of thousands of website ‘hits’ on Amorim’s international ‘Save Miguel’ campaign and the thousands of virtual cork oaks planted by members of the public as a result of the internet-based promotion.

Amorim ranked 25 on ‘The Green List’, which made its debut in the publication’s January 2009 edition.

The criterion for securing a place was the extent to which a company influenced the public on green issues. As a result, retailers dominated the highest rankings with the UK’s Tesco taking out the number one spot, followed by US-based Wal-Mart and French international retailer Carrefour.

Corticeira Amorim’s chairman and CEO António Amorim said he was pleased that Amorim had received this important trade recognition for its commitment to the environment.

“This report acknowledges a number of organisations that are working hard to reduce their environmental impact and in the process are influencing consumers on green issues,” he said.

“We are pleased Amorim has been ranked amongst them and were delighted to see several Amorim customers acknowledged for their green credentials.”

Among the leading international wine companies named on ‘The Green List’ were Torres, Foster’s, Concha y Toro, Constellation Brands, Vranken-Pommery Monopole, Freixenet, Diageo and Pernod Ricard.

For further information on Amorim’s green credentials visit www.corkfacts.com

Amorim continues to build on its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditations under the stringent Rainforest Alliance Smartwood Program with four cork processing business units and two sales operations now holding ‘chain-of-custody’ certification.

Recently Amorim Cork America and Amorim Cork South Africa became the first sales companies to receive the prestigious acknowledgement for their positive environmental practices.

The four certified business units in Portugal include two main units in raw materials, the cork stoppers unit and another in cork composites.

The Forest Stewardship Council is a non-profit organisation devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. It sets standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable way.

“FSC certification means we must operate under a very strict set of environmental standards that ensure our cork products are manufactured according to a prescribed chain of custody that begins in the forest and continues until the closure is sold to the winemaker,” said Daryl Eklund, general manager of Amorim Cork America.

“It gives our customers confidence that the natural corks they buy from us come from solid, sustainable practices where cork forests are protected and where workers are appreciated for their knowledge and craft.”

Amorim has also joined forces with retail chain Woolworths in South Africa to offer wines closed with natural cork harvested from FSC-certified forests. Natural corks branded with the FSC logo can be found in Woolworths’ range of organic wines throughout the Republic.

Ivan Oertle, from Woolworths' wine and beverage buying department, said procuring South Africa's first FSC corks was part of the company's ‘Good Business Journey’.

“Woolworths has committed to sourcing all its wood-based packaging materials — such as cork — from certified sustainable sources,” said Mr Oertle.

In addition to the significant improvement in the quality of cork in recent years, Mr Oertle pointed to the positive environmental role that gives cork an edge over other closures.

“Cork is a natural material that has been used for thousands of years to seal wine containers and it has a great performance record,” he said.

“Factors such as cork's low carbon footprint and certified sustainability are very much part of our Good Business Journey. Using FSC corks underscores our commitment to responsible business practices, which we want our customers to be part of, as well as helping to change the way people buy and use materials in general.”

Amorim Cork South Africa is delivering FSC certified corks to Woolworths.