Amorim reports on sustainability

Once again, there has been significant progress in the drive to reduce the company’s carbon footprint, switch to renewable energy sources,  and encourage responsible farming practices in the cork oak forests – themselves a key contributor to the absorbtion of Europe’s waste CO2.

Key figures emerging from this Report – which in the past has won international corporate awards for transparency and clarity – include:

• A reduction  of almost 50% in the company’s overall carbon footprint over the past five years

• Over 60% of all Amorim’s units are now powered by renewable energy – cork waste and cork dust

• 10% more cork has been recycled across the world, compared to 2010

• An increasing number, currently 30, of Amorim’s  production and distribution units are now certified with the FSC chain of custody

During 2011, the International Year of Forests, the cork oak was named Portugal’s National Tree – an honour that recognizes the contribution made by these forests to the world’s ecology.  Working with this 100% natural material spurs Amorim on to developing systems and strategic initiatives that makes the practice of sustainable development a positive and differentiating factor in the closures market overall.

“While responsible winemakers and retailers the world over appreciate the sustainable benefits of a natural cork stopper, it is important that we, at Amorim – who produce those unique environmentally-friendly closures – make sure that we play our part, too, in monitoring and reducing our overall carbon footprint,” comments Carlos de Jesus, marketing director at Amorim. “I believe that six years of annual, and public, sustainability reports demonstrates that commitment – and subsequent achievement.”

The full report can be viewed on www.corticeiraamorim.com/relatorios2011

1 August 2012 - Felicity Murray