ReCORK by Amorim, a US-based cork recycling program, continues to build momentum with the announcement of a major partnership with a Canadian shoe manufacturer, strategic agreements with leading US wine trade associations and a re-branding program that is raising its consumer profile.

ReCORK has entered into a partnership with SOLE to reclaim and ‘upcycle’ a portion of the billions of natural cork wine and champagne closures opened each year by US and Canadian consumers.

A leading footwear manufacturer that distributes its products throughout North America, SOLE has been working with ReCORK for 12 months and the formal agreement will dramatically expand collection efforts.

“ReCORK provided us with thousands of used corks and we did the R&D necessary to successfully come up with a cork blend in our footwear products that enhances the material properties of the footwear while extending the useful life of the cork for years to come,” said SOLE chief executive Mike Baker.

ReCORK has also announced that the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance Board (WWVWA) has selected ReCORK to collect and recycle used and surplus natural cork closures from its 100-plus members in Washington state.

“When you consider there are 13 billion natural corks sold into the world market each year, most of which find their way into already overcrowded landfills, it just makes sense to find new uses for this, until recently, under-appreciated resource,” said Elizabeth Martin-Calder, executive director of WWVWA.

Event-based partnerships are also a feature of the program, such as the decision by the Washington State Wine Commission to select ReCORK as its natural cork recycling partner for its Taste Washington! wine and food event. ReCORK is now working with the commission on a recycling program for its 650 members.

Through partnerships such as these, ReCORK has recycled more than six million natural wine corks since 2007 with a dramatic increase in volume over the past six months.

Previously known as ReCORK America, the program has been re-branded to raise awareness of the role cork forests play as a sustainable natural resource and to increase the number of natural wine corks recycled.

Natural cork wine closures are a truly sustainable resource and one of the few forms of product packaging that is 100 per cent recyclable, renewable and biodegradable.

Two leading supermarket chains in the United Kingdom have committed to using Amorim’s environmentally friendly FSC corks in 2010.

Early this year Sainsbury’s announced it would become the first retailer to make all its corks Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.

The move started with the supermarket’s Blanc de Noirs Champagne and will include all wines, spirits and beers sealed with natural cork closures by the end of 2010. 

It will make Sainsbury’s the biggest user of FSC certified corks in the world.

Amorim is the sole supplier of natural cork closures to Sainsbury’s and the retailer is committed to ensuring all the cork it uses comes from the most sustainably managed forests.

The Co-operative Group — which has more than 2500 food stores and supermarkets across the UK — has also committed to Amorim’s environmentally friendly closures, announcing that its own-brand wines packed at Kingsland Wines will be sealed with FSC certified corks.

The Co-operative Group intends to continue working with its supply base to move about a third of its own-brand wines to FSC corks in 2010.

Amorim stopper division CEO Victor Ribeiro applauded the commitment by Sainsbury’s and The Co-operative Group.

“The UK wine trade makes a vital contribution to the maintenance of the unique triple bottom-line balance between environmental, social and economic issues associated with the cork forests of the Western Mediterranean,” he said.

“Because 70 per cent of the value-added income created by natural cork comes from its wine and champagne stopper application, the kind of leadership demonstrated by Sainsbury’s goes a long way to help support a more sustainable trade.