Solidarity, social ethics and wine: the second life of Cork closures

Cork is an entirely natural material, reusable and recyclable without any form of waste. These peculiarities make it perfectly congruent with the innovative idea of eco-sustainable and eco-compatible development, initiated by Gotto d’oro, such as to bring together excellence in quality, fair profits and environmental sustainability.

ETICO project

The winery, in this renewed and ambitious path of “green” growth and development, could not have chosen a better commercial partner than Amorim Cork Italia. The Venetian entrepreneurial reality, indicated by the Nobel Prize winner Mohan Munasinghe as one of the ten virtuous examples to follow on a global level, has for years been the spokesperson for a new model of circular economy and an intense awareness-raising activity among public opinion for the collection and reuse of cork stoppers, as a noble material, which is then given a “second life”. This is demonstrated by the creation of collections of “Suber” interior design objects, signed by Amorim Cork Italia.

This recycling program represents the natural fulfillment of the so-called “ethical project“. The latter makes it possible to recycle as many as one hundred tons of cork stoppers every year. In this virtuous process, the collected cork stoppers are subjected to a manual selection process to remove any capsule or cage waste. The corks are then shredded. The cork is then transformed into “grain”, subsequently bound with natural resins. This blend takes on the characteristics of a new sustainable material that can be transformed into interior objects such as tables, stools, coat hangers and lamps or can even be used in green building.

Creative reuses of cork

The many peculiarities of cork such as impermeability, thermal inertia, softness, resistance and lightness make the stoppers suitable for many other creative domestic uses. Among the objects that can be made there are: trivets by cutting the caps into washers and attaching them to each other; the carpet for the bathroom by gluing the caps close to each other, without the need to cut them; the jewelry boxes; blackboards where you can mark your shopping or daily commitments.

However, the road ahead to get the new model of virtuous circular economy fully operational is still long and demanding.

Only in Italy, over eight hundred million caps are still thrown away in the trash every year. It is about sixteen million tons of cork irreparably removed from the recycling and reuse process. In this process of respect for the environment and nature it is essential to avoid waste of a noble material, such as cork. In fact, this attention makes it possible to reduce CO2 emissions deriving from incineration and at the same time to obtain a positive impact on the ecosystem.

Solidarity and territoriality

For all these reasons, Gotto d’oro was the first in the Lazio region to decide to contribute to this project by subscribing to it through the involvement of Marino’s Assoahandicap Onlus.

The Ethical Project provides for the delivery, by Amorim Cork Italia to Assohandicap Onlus, of the so-called Ethical Boxes for the collection of corks. The Marinese association, dedicated for thirty-six years to the assistance and rehabilitation of the disabled, takes care of positioning the boxes in strategic places, raising awareness on the subject through specific initiatives and campaigns.

Furthermore, the Project allows Assohandicap Onlus to also obtain a precious economic refreshment to be allocated to its social activity: Amorim in fact pays the significant share of seven hundred euros for each ton of cork collected. Gotto d’oro has therefore had the ability to combine realities that deal with different fields by involving them in a single purpose: to do good to all those people who live in a situation of hardship and fragility and, at the same time, improve the sustainability of the activities businesses operating in the area.

Recycling therefore becomes an opportunity to respect the environment and at the same time lend a hand to those who need help.

Separate collection of cork stoppers

If the desirable conferment in the appropriate boxes for selective reuse is not provided, the cork is generally thrown among the organic waste within the separate collection program, as the relationship between the corks and the other wet materials remains well balanced .
The ETHICAL Project therefore becomes a virtuous spokesperson for environmental, social and educational issues, giving an important impulse to the awareness process, among consumers, of the importance of using recyclable materials that are good for the ecosystem, such as cork. This process is conjugated in an innovative marriage that unites solidarity, social ethics and wine, three elements that are so different yet so present in the beautiful territory of the Castelli Romani.