Amorim takes sustainability award

Amorim has again been praised for its environmental practices, claiming an ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability Award’ at the inaugural Drinks Business Green Awards in London.

Staged by leading UK industry publication, The Drinks Business, the awards were established to reward companies and individuals displaying leadership on environmental issues and implementing dynamic ethical practices.

A panel of judges reviewed nominees in areas such as environmental performance, training, motivational initiatives, green campaigns and ethical initiatives.

Eight companies were short-listed for the Sustainability Award category that recognised efforts to employ efficient and effective sustainable practices. 

Amorim was acknowledged for the work undertaken in its production facilities and in cork forestry in order to produce the most sustainable natural cork products and improve its overall carbon footprint.

Soul Mate collection visits MoMA

Amorim Cork Composites and leading Portuguese ceramic manufacturer Matceramica have launched a collection of household consumer goods under the brand name Soul Mate.

The collection, which consists of four product ranges, combines cork and faience — two raw materials with a strong Portuguese tradition. The product ranges include ceramic dinnerware, breakfast ware, kitchenware and decorative pieces.

The Soul Mate collection has been launched on the world stage. It was presented at MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) Design Store locations in New York early this year and exhibited at Tokyo’s Interior Lifestyle Fair in June.

World Expo a showcase for cork

The stunning Portugal Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 is a showcase for natural cork. Amorim has supplied 5500m² of cork for the pavilion, which boasts a bold architectural design.

Cork is displayed on the building’s facade, as a prominent element of the aesthetic design, as a flooring material and in several technical solutions. The 3640m² facade is covered with 28 thousand kilograms of insulation corkboard. Inside, Wicanders^® cork flooring covers an area of 1100m². 

In keeping with the Expo theme of ‘Better City, Better Life', cork demonstrates sustainable construction, shows innovation in harmony with nature and has excellent acoustic, thermal and anti-vibration insulation qualities.

Corticeira Amorim is a major sponsor of the Portugal Pavilion at Expo Shanghai 2010 which runs from 1 May to 31 October.

Whistler Tree yields again

The most famous cork tree in the world has once again yielded hundreds of kilograms of high-grade cork.

Known as the Whistler Tree, the 227 year-old oak is acknowledged as the world’s oldest cork tree. It gets its name from the songbirds that regularly perch on its limbs.

On average, cork oaks have an economic lifespan of 170 years and are in their prime when aged between 60 and 90 years.

The Whistler Tree continues to defy the odds with the 2009 harvest producing a massive 825 kilograms of cork. This was a significant increase on the 650 kilograms produced in 2000 when the tree was last stripped and is about 12 times the yield of an average cork tree.

Most improved supplier

Amorim Australasia has been awarded ‘Most Improved’ supplier status by leading Australian winemaker De Bortoli in the company’s Supplier of the Year awards.

Amorim finished in second place in an analysis of all of De Bortoli’s suppliers and was just 0.5 marks behind the leader with a score of 30 out of 32.

On its supplier review score sheet De Bortoli commented that Amorim had greatly improved its customer service over the previous judging period.

Although it was not taken into account, De Bortoli also acknowledged the effort behind Amorim securing Forest Stewardship Council certification.

“It is these kinds of corporate social responsibility actions that will split the difference between suppliers that are otherwise equal in all other areas,” said De Bortoli Wines quality manager Sharon Adams.

100% Cork campaign launched

The overwhelming preference of American wine drinkers for wines sealed with natural cork closures is being reinforced through a new promotional campaign titled 100% Cork.

The Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR) and the US-based Cork Quality Council officially launched the campaign at the 2010 Sustainable Brands Conference in California.

100% Cork aims to encourage US wine consumers to choose wine sealed with natural cork stoppers because of cork’s environmental, technical and societal benefits. It will also seek to influence winemakers and retailers to choose natural cork over alternative closures.

The 100% Cork campaign website asks consumers to pledge their support for natural cork, while an informative Facebook page has already attracted thousands of fans.