Preserving the cork oak forests

BUYING a bottle of wine sealed with a natural cork stopper helps sustain one of the world's most biodiverse forests and protect an extraordinary ecosystem. The greater the demand for cork, the stronger the economic incentive to protect the cork oak forests for future generations.

The 6.6 million acres of cork oak forests in the Mediterranean Basin not only serve as a refuge for endangered species but also help reduce greenhouse emissions. Every cork stopper represents a carbon offset of 113.5 grams. As such, the 6.6 million acres of Mediterranean cork oaks capture approximately 14.4 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Further, cork stoppers are 100% natural and recyclable. 

"We have recycled more than 47 million cork stoppers and have planted more than 8,000 cork oaks," says Matt Hughes, brand manager at ReCORK, North America's largest cork recycling initiative. The recycled corks are used to replace petroleum-based materials in consumer products and to extend the useful life of wine corks.

On average, 90 to 130 pounds of bark are harvested from each cork oak. A tree can produce enough cork for 4,000 to 6,000 stoppers. Cork oaks are never harmed or cut down during the harvesting process. Highly skilled professionals use axes to safely and carefully strip the bark.

Cork's unique attributes make it a highly versatile material. Because it is composed of a honeycomb of microscopic cells, it is very light, easy to compress yet strong, impermeable to liquids and gases, adaptable to temperature and pressure, acts as an insulator against moisture and noise, and is resistant to fire. In terms of preserving wine, cork allows just the right amount of oxygen to interact with the liquid, making it the perfect material to allow wine to age properly. As to the wine experience, no artificial stopper can come close to reproducing the iconic "pop" when the cork is removed.