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CORTICEIRA AMORIM’S CORKSORB WINS GREEN PROJECT AWARDS

CorkSorb, an innovative range of natural cork based absorbents developed by CORTICEIRA AMORIM is used for controlling and cleaning up oil spills. This product has won the 2011 Green Project Awards in the Product category.

CorkSorb was distinguished by its sustainability's relevance based on a three-pronged approach focusing on the social, economic and environmental aspects, which are enhanced by the use of cork. This project is the result of CORTICEIRA AMORIM's research into new applications for this 100% natural raw material. CORTICEIRA AMORIM is planning to extend its portfolio of solutions by using cork in the environment.

Boasting a much higher ability to absorb than mineral absorbents and a higher ability than many other natural and synthetic organic absorbents, CorkSorb separates water from flammable or toxic products. When it is used, its absorbing ability leads to the creation of 20 times less waste than a conventional mineral absorbent.

By selectively absorbing oil and hydrocarbons and not water, CorkSorb avoids water saturation and thus the additional cost associated with sending water to treat mixed with the oil spill waste. This innovative product solves any spill situation whether on the industrial and road environment and/or on the aquatic environment.

CorkSorb was launched in early 2010 and was given the Portuguese Environmental Innovation Award. The market has welcomed the CorkSorb solution which is marketed in 10 countries.

In addition to the environmental benefits arising from its use, CorkSorb is manufactured by using an integrated production process that generates no waste. As CorkSorb is made of cork, it sustains an entire indigenous ecosystem with an undeniable value: cork and cork products play a key role in CO2 retention, in regulating the hydrological cycle, combating desertification and preserving biodiversity.

The Green Project Awards are a joint initiative of the Portuguese Environmental Agency (APA), Quercus and GCI, whose main objective is disseminating best practices in order to enhance sustainability. The fourth edition of the award ceremony was held yesterday at Culturgest's  Large Auditorium in Lisbon and was attended by Mrs. Assunção Cristas, the Portuguese Agriculture, Sea, Environment and Spatial Planning Minister and Mr. Henrique Gomes, the Secretary of State for Energy.

Além das vantagens ambientais decorrentes da sua utilização, o CorkSorb é gerado através de um processo de produção integrado que não gera desperdício e, ao ter cortiça na sua composição, suporta todo um ecossistema endógeno de incontestável valor: o sobreiro e os produtos de cortiça desempenham um papel fundamental na retenção de CO2, na regulação do ciclo hidrológico, no combate à desertificação e na preservação da biodiversidade.

Os Green Project Awards são uma iniciativa conjunta da Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (APA), da Quercus e da GCI, cujo principal objectivo é a divulgação das melhores práticas na área da sustentabilidade. A entrega de prémios desta quarta edição decorreu ontem, no Grande Auditório da Culturgest, em Lisboa, e contou com a presença da Ministra da Agricultura, do Mar, do Ambiente e do Ordenamento do Território, Assunção Cristas, e do Secretário de Estado da Energia, Henrique Gomes.