Launches Campaign To Promote Natural Cork
The
world's leading cork producer, Amorim, has today launched the
second phase of a campaign in Australia to promote the environmental
qualities of cork oak forests and natural cork products.
Rolled-out
with a teaser promotion under the banner "Save Miguel"
the campaign has now entered an educational phase designed to
inform consumers of the social, environmental and economic benefits
of using cork. The educational elements of the campaign include
a website and on-line video featuring Hollywood actor Rob Schneider
that can be viewed at www.savemiguel.com
Amorim
Australasia general manager Kym Wilsdon said it was important
that consumers had a clear understanding of the environmental
benefits of purchasing wine with natural cork closures.
"Natural
cork is the only wine closure that is truly environmentally
friendly - renewable, recyclable and biodegradable, it also
plays an important role in carbon dioxide retention," he
said.
Mr
Wilsdon said the Australian wine industry was now placing greater
emphasis on environmental sustainability and this was an area
where natural cork could play an important supportive role.
"Amorim
is the natural CO2-retention partner for the Australian wine
industry in its growing efforts to make the industry more environmentally
friendly and sustainable," he said.
Environmentalists
argue that a decline in cork manufacturing - which could result
from an increase in the use of alternative wine closures - would
jeopardise the future of cork forests and lead to a loss of
habitat and increased emissions of CO2.
It
is estimated that the cork oak forests of the Mediterranean
basin help offset a massive 10 million tonnes of CO2 every year,
making them a significant carbon sink.
"Many
people think cork oak trees are cut down to produce cork, but
this is not the case and that is one myth we are keen to dispel,"
said Mr Wilsdon. "Rather, the bark of the tree is harvested
once every nine years and the average lifespan of a cork oak
is 170 years."
The
forests also support a great natural biodiversity and prevent
soil degradation across large areas of Portugal, Italy, Spain
and North Africa. The production of cork wine stoppers creates
thousands of jobs and it has been estimated that more than 100,000
people in the Mediterranean depend directly and indirectly on
the cork industry.
Last
month Corticeira Amorim released its second Sustainability Report
that outlined the company's policies and practices in sustainable
manufacturing and the environmental benefits of using natural
cork stoppers over alternatives.
It
follows the company's award-winning 2006 report that highlighted
the crucial role of cork forests in carbon dioxide retention,
preserving biodiversity and combating desertification as well
as the role of cork manufacturing in sustainable development.
One
of the key ingredients of Amorim's sustainability program is
a commitment to forest preservation, biodiversity and land stewardship.
A full copy of the 2007 Corticeira Amorim Sustainability Report
is available at www.corticeiraamorim.com/en
More
information on the "Save Miguel" campaign can be found
at
www.savemiguel.com
For
additional information:
Carlos
de Jesus, Amorim, Portugal
Phone: + 351 22 747 5519
E-mail: carlos.dejesus.ai@amorim.com
Ken
Davis, Clifton Group, Australia
Phone: + 613 9654 3522
Phone: 0402 117 924
E-mail: ken.davis@cliftongroup.com.au
CORTICEIRA
AMORIM, SGPS, S.A.
Tracing its roots to the 19th century, Corticeira Amorim has
become the largest cork and cork-derived company in the world,
generating over Euro 450 million in sales through more than
100 countries. Corticeira Amorim and its subsidiaries are an
integral part of a conservationist effort to guarantee the survival
of hundreds of thousands of cork oak trees throughout the Mediterranean
basin. We are proud of our contribution to the correct utilisation
of these important forests that represent a key role in CO2
retention, preserving biodiversity and preventing desertification.
We encourage you to learn more by visiting informative websites
such as www.corkfacts.com
or www.realcork.org
Pdf of News Release - click
here...
Rob
Schneider - “Save Miguel" - click
here...