MOR FOR CORK

MOR for Cork

In recent years, CORTICEIRA AMORIM has undertaken a strong commitment to Research, Development and Innovation (RDI), with the purpose of developing new products and business areas for the group.

Beyond the R&D taking place at each BU relating to current businesses, CORTICEIRA AMORIM also deploys a team with the specific mission of conceiving and developing new cork products and rendering technical support to the development of new business areas. These transversal activities are the responsibility of the recently renamed MOR for Cork, the CORTICEIRA AMORIM Department of Market Oriented Research.

The main areas of work intended for new uses of cork are focused on three main areas of action: environmental remediation, 3D materials and cosmetic/food additives.

The promotion of cork as an absorbent material is aimed at presenting cork as a tool for environmental remediation. In addition to following up on the technical matters concerning CorkSorb, including certification, other projects on this theme are underway, such as WaterCork and HidroCork, which study cork’s potential for the purification of effluents contaminated with various pollutants.

In relation to CorkSorb, the range of natural cork-based absorbents for the control and clean-up of oil spills, 2011 was marked by the recognition of its relevance in terms of sustainability, in its three-fold environmental and socio-economic components. It was awarded the following prizes:
• Winner of the «Product» category at the Green Project Awards 2011.
• Winner of the «Product» and «Business and Biodiversity» categories of the European Business Awards for the Environment.

The development of cork composites intends to incorporate more sustainable materials in the 3D structures that surround us in our daily lives, through the use of renewable and plant-based raw materials. The use of cork in 3D applications that are generally not accessible to the usual cork agglomerates means the diversification of its applications.

The cosmetic and food areas have been given special attention by CORTICEIRA AMORIM. The mechanical and structural properties of cork as well as its chemical composition have proven to be an inexhaustible source of potential new products. The specific nature of these markets as well as the distance of such product ranges from the Organisation’s normal markets generate additional challenges. In an area strongly oriented towards customer requirements, significant strides have been made in the cosmetics field and it is estimated that it may be possible in the short-term to turn that potential into results. In the food area, a long road of essential validations has already started, which precedes the period of product approvals.

Partnerships

Continuing to invest in existing cork applications, which will continue to form the basis of the industry, CORTICEIRA AMORIM reflects permanently on the best way of meeting the challenges facing the sector.

It is the strong conviction of CORTICEIRA AMORIM that this emphasis on RDI involves both continuing with investment in knowledge about cork as well as the establishment of partnerships with research entities and companies, nationally and internationally, that combine the complementary knowledge and requirements for the implementation of strategic scale projects.

If you are interested in sharing ideas on these topics, please contact us at: MOR@corticeira.amorim.com