Sustainability

“For Cork Supply, sustainability is at the core of
who we are and how we do business.”

Jochen Michalski

Download our Sustainability report here.

-30%

Of Waste Produced

99%

Cork dust to energy recovery

45%

Renewable Energy Consumption

22

Countries with commercial activity

Harvesting for the Future

We align ourselves with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals with the aim of having a better impact on the local communities and economies of the countries we operate in.

To ensure that we have a global strategy that is in alignment with other global entities and truly impactful, we use the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the base for our strategy. Every and any action that we develop is associated to one, or more, of the UN’s SDGs.

At Cork Supply we understand that Operations management plays an important role in delivering positive results. In 2012 Cork Supply initiated a LEAN Roadmap towards Operational Excellence. This Long-term thinking is transforming the organization into a LEAN company focused on the principles of respect for people and society, continuous improvement, and process improvement.

Harvesting for the Future – 3P Strategy

As a company with a global scale we have an even larger responsibility to care for the future.

Today, in everything that we do, we are focused on being better in these core areas where we can have a more significant impact, People and communites, Products and innovation, Planet and operations are in harmony with the ecosystem.

PLANET & OPERATIONS

Cork Supply controls vertically integrated operations, from Forest to Bottle, to ensure that its cork closures are of the best quality. Our specialized team of forestry professionals in Portugal work with producers from the main cork oak forest regions in both Portugal and Spain, implementing advanced forest management programs and selecting the best quality raw material for their corks.

We are strongly committed to the use of resources more efficiently, thus minimizing the environmental impacts of our activity reducing our emissions. We have a daily focus on :

Minimizing the environmental impacts of our activities - the mitigation and adaptation to climate changes, the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems and pollution prevention.
Fostering a sustainable management of the value chain, which implies the sustainable use of resources.
Assessing the possibility of implementing environmental improvements, whenever there are changes in processes, people, and products.

Natural Carbon Sinks

“Cork Supply promotes, enhances and enables forests that are important natural CO2 sinks"

As a leading supplier of natural cork, we want our customers and consumers to have complete assurance that natural corks supplied by Cork Supply are sustainably and ethically sourced. We consider our proactive role in this area especially necessary because, as the WWF verifies, montado cork forests:

support one of the world's highest levels of forest biodiversity, including the highest diversity of plants found anywhere the world.
offer irreplaceable sanctuary to millions of wintering birds, and vital habitat for a native wildlife population that includes several highly endangered bird and animal species.
provide an essential, sustainable income source that supports local industry, traditional cultures, and family livelihoods.
function as massive carbon sinks, naturally sequestering and providing critical long-term storage for the dangerous atmospheric carbon greenhouse gasses (GHG) that impact climate change.
play a key role in critical ecological processes, including water retention, fire prevention and soil conservation.
defend European landscapes against creeping desertification and consequent depopulation, poverty and loss of vital ecological biodiversity.
are one of the best examples of balanced conservation and development anywhere in the world.

Sustainable Forestry

“Cork Supply was a pioneer in the development of rehabilitation plans of producers’ estates to promote cork oak quality and combat pests and diseases.”

Cork Supply is aware of the importance of preservation of cork oak forests. Not directly owning cork forests, Cork Supply maintains close and strategic relationship with cork forest owners in Portugal and Spain, building lasting partnerships based on trust, shared knowledge, and quality.

We consider it an essential part of our mission to ensure we meet our generation's needs today in a manner that does not compromise our future generations' ability to meet their needs tomorrow.

Cork Supply is aware of the importance of environmental preservation and commitment to minimize the company footprint. The team continually assesses and improves their environmental practices, so they address both inbound and outbound impacts.

Decarbonizing our Activity

Energy reduction and transition to renewable sources

In order to reduce our greenhouse gase emissions, we employ two key measures with direct impact. Firstly, we prioritize the reduction of energy consumption by conducting energy audits to identify critical areas of intervention with a particular focus on energy efficiency. Secondly, we actively invest in a transition to renewable energy sources by producing renewable electricity in our facilities.

Zero Waste & New Energy Sources

“Zero waste is one of Cork Supply’s sustainability goals.“

Cork Supply has set zero waste as one of our sustainability goals and is proactive in seeking to eliminate and reuse the by-products resulting from our operations. In addition to making energy-efficiency and waste-reducing improvements and investments throughout our operations, we seek to reuse and recycle wherever possible.

Targeting our two main production inputs — corkwood and water — Cork Supply has developed closed-loop systems to optimize material and energy waste in both cases.

Today, virtually 100% of harvested corkwood can be reutilized. Therefore, at every stage from the forest onward, Cork Supply has developed closed-loop systems to capture all excess and sub-grade corkwood by-products. Cork Supply has installed a centralized vacuum system throughout our production facilities to capture this cork dust before it reaches the air. This also creates a cleaner, healthier work environment. We have begun to substitute the use of natural gas and electricity by biomass. The result of this is 535,6 ton of CO2eq p/year that are not released into the atmosphere

HIGH-EFFICIENCY USE OF HEAT ENERGY & WATER

Cork Supply has installed a high-efficiency corkwood boiler system that optimizes both heat energy and water usage. After each batch of corkwood is boiled, heated wastewater gravitates to a holding tank, where a heat exchanger transfers the heat energy from the wastewater to a new batch of clean water. Water use is simultaneously maximized via continuous high-pressure filtration and recycling of boiling water through a steam condensation collection and purging system that prevents cross-contamination between batches.

ALTERNATIVE & RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

With the goal of minimizing our contribution to Climate Change, Cork Supply has defined numerous action plans and targets with respect to energy reduction : - 18% energy reduction by 2024 in the technical cork production unit. - 5% energy reduction by 2026 in the natural cork production plant. - Renewable energy alternatives in place at the technical cork production unit by 2023. - The use of cork dust as a source of energy by 2023.

PRODUCTS & INNOVATION

Adding Value & Quality Driven

We are committed to:

Producing products that comply with global regulations and are safe for food contact.
Promoting Circular Economy by using 100% the of the raw material.
Leveraging the rich and naturally environmentally friendly products our forests provide us with.
Developing environmentally friendly technologies, processes, products, and packaging materials.
Producing products that are an added value to customers, meeting real market needs, with the highest quality possible.
Investing heavily in R&D and QC to give our customers real guarantees.

Product Portfolio

Our complete portfolio of cork closures results from the efficient use of all cork materials. The recovery rate of all cork materials confirms the value added to by-products, integrating diverse production cycles (natural corks, discs, technical corks), and demonstrates how we are dedicated to the efficient use of the raw materials.

Carbon Neutrality

The result of our carbon footprint study clearly shows the cork CONTRIBUTION TO CARBON NEUTRALITY.

The study shows a very low impact in Carbon Emissions, and when we consider the cork oak forest as Carbon sink System, we can Cleary show that the extraction ok corkwood actively contributes to carbon sequestration and neutrality.

Montado Carbon Sink of 7,7 to 14 ton (CO2)/ ha / year.

CORK CLOSURES

The Naturally Sustainable Option

Zero Waste!
Use 100% of the raw material we purchase;
Produce products that comply with global regulations and are safe for food contact;
Produce products with the least impact;
Leverage the rich and naturally environmentally friendly products our forests provide us with.
Promote Circular Economy.

600M

Million Natural and Technical Cork Stoppers

75M

Million Bartops

Plant-based binder in our technical corks

We developed Vinc Natura, a new technical cork that eliminates the need for synthetic materials, by utilizing a 100% plant-based polyol as an alternative to the traditional polyurethane-based glue – launched in 2023.

New Bartop capsule material with bio source plastic mixed with cork

In 2022, Cork Supply introduced Bloom by Talis, an innovative bartop capsule solution for spirits and fortified wines. This capsule material is produced by combining a biobased polymer with cork granules, that are a by-product from our own production facilities transformed into a key component of this new product.

The highest excellence standards recognized

At Cork Supply, we have integrated all relevant management systems to meet the highest quality
and control standards, enhancing the excellence of our portfolio in the market.

We highlight the most important certifications in this context:

Cork Stoppers:

A Bioproduct That Goes Beyond Recycling

At Cork Supply/ Harv 81, we value sustainability at every stage of the production and life cycle of our cork stoppers. While recycling is widely seen as an important environmental solution, we believe that could not be the best option for cork stoppers.

Cork stoppers are a 100% natural, biodegradable, and 100% renewable product with a life cycle that minimizes environmental impact. The cork oak tree, from which cork is harvested, is a sustainable tree that is not damaged during harvest, contributing to the preservation of forests and biodiversity. Additionally, these forests play a crucial role in carbon capture, absorbing approximately 10 tons of CO2 per hectare per year.

While the recycling of other materials, such as plastic and glass, is essential to reducing environmental impact, cork stoppers stand out as an exemplary bioproduct. Their ability to naturally biodegrade means they do not require the intensive processing that other materials demand. At the end of their life cycle, cork stoppers should be placed in the organic waste, where they can degrade naturally and return to the environment without causing harm.

Additionally, cork stoppers can be reused in various circular economy processes, such as creating design materials, insulation, and furniture. However, recycling cork stoppers—adding operations to their end-of-life—can increase environmental impact due to the energy and resources required for transportation and processing.

Therefore, while we are not against recycling, we believe that reuse or disposal in organic waste are the most sustainable options. This way, the natural cork cycle is preserved, keeping its environmental impact minimal while maximizing the ecological benefits this bioproduct offers.

By choosing a cork stopper, you are selecting a product that promotes sustainability at every stage of its life cycle, contributing to the preservation of ecosystems and supporting local communities.

Choose a sustainable solution that respects the natural cycle of cork – a choice that goes beyond recycling.

PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES

+10

Nationalities Worldwide

30.8H

Hours of training per person

14

Non-profit organizations supported

Our Employees are our Heart & Soul

Everywhere we set up operations, we look to become an integral part of the community and play a socially active and relevant role.

We know that we can make a difference and we work with that purpose: through the creation of direct and indirect jobs, enhancing local economies, being actively involved in social development projects, and through the environmental management of our activities.

We know that our employees are the heart and soul of Cork Supply’s success. We believe that keeping a health and safe workplace, improving our people skills and education, while promoting a good balance between work and personal life are essential to our strategic development.

The company recognizes the importance of diversity and gender equality, promotes the inclusion and non-discrimination of all employees, regardless of gender, age, race, religion, disability and / or individual sexual orientation, guaranteeing all workers equal conditions and opportunities.

Cork Supply promotes gender equality for every function, including an equal pay policy for equal work. Cork Supply also integrates people with special needs through collaboration with social institutions contracting collaborators for specific functions.

Commitment with Local Communities

We have been collaborating regularly with around 20 social institutions in Europe, in the United States and South Africa.

In fulfilment with out citizenship commitment, Cork Supply continues to promote and support social initiatives, aiming to integrate social responsibility into its culture. Aware that attention to others starts within the organization and extends abroad, social responsibility has been integrated in the Company’s strategy and culture, having contributed to social solidarity actions, Programs and Projects.

Going Beyond Us

As part of our commitment to citizenship, Cork Supply remains dedicated to supporting social initiatives, driving a culture that embraces social responsibility.

In 2022, we created Beyond Us (to be launched in 2023) – a program designed to centralize and organize our charitable donations and volunteer efforts for institutions that assist the vulnerable population and address
social needs. By supporting non-profit organizations that align with our company’s values and mission, we can make a meaningful impact on the community.

When selecting institutions to support, we research the organization to ensure that our contributions are used effectively to create a positiv change.

14 Non-profit organizations supporteds:

Bago d’Ouro

Associação Salvador

Enlazados program of Mendoza government

Empujar Foundation in Mendoza

Adopt a Drain – City of Benicia

Highland Elementary School in Vallejo – California

Solano County Food Bank

Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro

Abrigo para a Vida

Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Mãe Solteira

Ukrainian Refugees Donation

Liga dos Amigos do Hospital Sto António

BUS

Unicef

Bombeiros Voluntários de Lourosa

Residência Velhinhos

Irmãzinhas Pobres

Customer Love

At Cork Supply, we believe that transparency is essential to building trusting relationships with our partners. Our 93% customer satisfaction rate reflects one of the core values that guide us: a deep commitment to caring for our customers. This commitment embodies our continuous effort to deliver excellence in the products and services we provide, always valuing the feedback from those who work with us.

Cork Supply Academy

Cork Supply will begin training people, from local communities, in specific jobs/roles that are becoming harder to find experienced people to work in. This enables Cork Supply to pass on industry knowledge and experience, while helping improve unemployment in rural areas.

Zero Accidents by 2025

As a part of our sustainability strategy, we have set a Zero Accident goal to be achieved in 2025. Concrete goals for each of the three years have been created and are aligned with our will to provide and maintain a healthy and safe work environment for our employees.

We Care

Our well-being strategy: from its inception in 2020 to a major boost in 2022

WE CARE is aimed at promoting corporate well-being and an organizational culture that prioritizes the health, safety and quality of life of our employees. Through this program, all employees can participate in structured and planned activities for enhancing their well-being related to mind, body, sleep and nutrition. With these activities, our goal is to further involve employees and strengthen their commitment to Cork Supply and support them whenever they want to make improvements in their lifestyle.

Together With The Ecosystem

Promote collaboration in the cork sector with producers, suppliers and clients to strengthen efforts and synergies around the common challenges we face, such as the preservation of cork oak forests, the availability and quality of cork, and the enhancement of specialized skills in the cork industry (namely, the extraction and transformation process).

Montado Living Lab

A living lab to study the regeneration of Montado in the Alentejo.

Cork Supply is proud to be part of the Montado Living-Lab initiative, a project dedicated to regenerating the Montado ecosystem in Alentejo and managing soil health. From an environmental perspective, the Montado region is a vital source of high-quality food, fiber, and various ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, water storage, soil erosion prevention, fire protection, biodiversity conservation, and habitat for pollinators. On the economic front, the Montado plays a significant role in preventing rural migration to urban areas and is a substantial contributor to the Portuguese economy, with cork exports amounting to billions.

Consortiums like Montado Living-Lab aim to achieve this by fostering enduring partnerships based on trust and transparency. These partnerships bring together key stakeholders, including farmers, multidisciplinary research teams, government institutions, and industry representatives like Cork Supply. The ultimate goal is to improve Montado soil health, restore tree cover, and create more resilient business models for both farmers and industries.

Partnering for the Future

Looking for experience and knowledge sharing

In 2022, we engaged in partnerships with several stakeholders, that provide the possibility for experience and knowledge sharing, participated in collaborative work on the topics mentioned above, as well as others that affect the industry, becoming an active participant in the sustainability agenda. Cultivate experience and knowledge sharing

Our collaboration with Greenvolt, a leading renewable energy supplier, has enabled us to commission a solar photovoltaic system with a total installed maximum power of 1,600 kW. This system now generates 35% of our electricity needs from renewable sources, significantly reducing our carbon footprint and reinforcing our commitment to sustainability.

By partnering with Greenvolt, we demonstrate our dedication to responsible sourcing and our ambition to support suppliers who share our vision for a greener future. This strategic collaboration not only meets our operational energy needs but also aligns with our broader sustainability goals, paving the way for a more sustainable tomorrow.

Responsible Procurement Policy

We are responsible from the forest to the bottle

We respect the environment and the community in which we operate, and because we believe in leading by example, we want suppliers whose values are aligned with ours, which is why we prioritize working with partners with a positive social and environmental impact.

Read the full document here.