Projects
Implemented in 2008, Green Cork is a Quercus project, developed in partnership with Corticeira Amorim and several other partners, which collects cork stoppers and finances the planting of native trees through the Common Forest Programme. Through this programme, around 8.4 million cork stoppers have been collected and approximately 113,500 native trees planted. A true circular economy project that not only extends the life cycle of cork, but also makes a positive contribution to preserving Portugal's forests.
Thanks to the collection and recycling programme set up by Amorim in 2010 and the dynamism of the associative network, France is the world champion of cork recycling, with 517 million corks already collected and recycled, equivalent to more than 2,000 tonnes of cork. More than €600,000 has already been donated to research by 50 associations (e.g. Agir Cancer Gironde) - an initiative that the Amorim group wants to strengthen by calling on partnerships throughout France. Most of the cork recycled by Amorim (around 300 tonnes/year) comes from France.
Created in 2011, it has around 1,000 volunteers and more than 5,000 collection points. Inspired by this project and Italy's close ties to the world of design and architecture, the SUBER collection was launched in 2019, offering a new range of contemporary furniture and objects made from recycled cork.
Based on a partnership with NH Hotels, Cork2Cork started in 2011, with the aim of collecting cork stoppers in hotels located in Spain, Belgium, Italy, Germany, France and the Netherlands. To date, more than two tonnes of corks have been recycled and 8,000 m2 of flooring produced (the equivalent of around 300 hotel rooms).
The Majestic Cork Harvest is the UK’s first nationwide cork recycling programme, in partnership with the Portuguese Cork Association. Natural cork stoppers, not synthetic, can be left at any Majestic store in the recycling bins provided. Collected corks are delivered to the Eden Project, where they are used to enrich soils and protect plant roots, giving cork a second life while supporting a more sustainable future.
Launched in 2013, among other initiatives, Amorim Cork Life helps to create jobs through the construction of handicrafts and decorative objects, based on recycled cork stoppers, making a real impact not only on the environment, but also on the local community.
Launched in 2024, in New York, with the aim of reducing waste, this project collects used cork stoppers from local businesses, wineries, and consumers to be repurposed rather instead of being discarded in landfills. Besides promoting circular economy, this initiative educates people about the importance of cork. Through partnerships and awareness campaigns, the programme not only minimises environmental impact, but also values wine culture and the tradition associated to cork.
CorkCycle is an environmental initiative that reduces CO₂ emissions by collecting and recycling used cork on a large scale. It promotes sustainable practices across the HoReCa and wine sectors, creating a coordinated network committed to giving cork a responsible second life and supporting a healthier natural environment.
Re-CORTIZA is a recycling campaign that brings together sustainability and social inclusion in Galicia. The cork stoppers collected from restaurants and bars are no longer treated as waste but given a second life. With the support of Amorim Cork, the material is recycled and turned into new products, while also providing financial support for the Lenda Association. With 50 collection points already in place, the initiative is growing and becoming increasingly accessible.
Launched in 2023 in partnership with Australia’s largest liquor retailer, Endeavour Drinks Group, and with support from the South Australian Government, this programme sees the collection of used wine cork stoppers at over 100 stores across Australia, and the conversion of the resulting cork granulate is being trialled into a range of usable products. In coming years the programme will expand to more sites across the country as further retail, hospitality and industrial partnerships are created. To date the programme has recycled over 3 million cork stoppers.
It’s the largest cork recycling project in the United States and Canada, created in 2008 on the initiative of the footwear company SOLE. The recycled cork stoppers, collected through a network of more than 3,000 partners, are transformed to be applied in the production of shoe soles.