Press Release WINE NEED NOT COST THE EARTH
WINE NEED NOT COST THE EARTH
Press Release
According to new research published today, whilst 96% of the UK’s 28.5 million 1wine drinkers claim to recycle their wine bottles, the last thing on two thirds (63%) of the population’s mind when buying wine is the environment, let alone the impact of wine stopper types on biodiversity, rural communities and centuries old traditions.
However there is now enough evidence to show that consumers do care about the type of closure and that they want to know more.
According to new research 2 among British wine drinkers, only one in 20 (4%) consumers prefer plastic stoppers whilst nearly three in five (58%) say that once told of the environmental, social and cultural benefits of natural cork, they would buy more wine sealed in the traditional way.
Top ten reasons to choose natural cork:
1.1.1. 100% natural
Natural cork is a truly sustainable product - 100% natural, renewable and recyclable.
2.2.2. Working with nature, not destroying it
Not a single tree is felled in the production of cork stoppers. In fact, the bark of the cork oak tree is harvested after 25 years and then once every nine years thereafter. Each year 340,000 tonnes of natural cork stoppers are produce.
The sustainability of cork closure production has been recognised by leading NGOs and auditing firms around the world, some even having achieved accreditation from the Forest Stewardship Council, providing independent reassurance that these forests are responsibly managed to guarantee the long term protection of delicate ecosystems and habitats.
1Wine Intelligence Landscape Report, 2009 2Research undertaken by ICM Research, using a sample of 2,039 UK consumers, 1,453 of whom are wine drinkers.Research undertaken between 18 and 20 June 2010
WINE NEED NOT COST THE EARTH
Press Release
3.3.3. Zero waste
Literally all of the cork bark is used in the production of cork. Cork waste generated in the production process is granulated and returned into the process to make more corks. Even the fine particles of cork dust are collected and used as fuel to heat the factory boilers.
4.4.4. Less greenhouse gas emissions
Analysis by PwC in 2008 found that the production of some alternative stoppers emits as much as 24
times more CO 2 than the production of cork stoppers.
5.5.5. Environmentally unbeatable
Overall, the analysis found that when comparing the total lifecycle environmental impact across all closure types, from production through to disposal, cork stoppers performed best. Artificial stoppers performed badly against cork stoppers in terms of non-renewable energy consumption, emission of greenhouse effect gases, contribution to atmospheric acidification, contribution to the formation of photochemical oxidants, contribution to the eutrophication of surface water and total production of solid waste.
6.6.6. Fighting global warming
Natural cork actively helps to prevent global warming with cork oak trees absorbing over 14 million tonnes
of CO 2 each year.
7.7.7. Protecting delicate ecosystems
The cork forests are home to 24 species of reptiles and amphibians, 100 bird species and 37 mammal species, some of which are endangered. Per one thousand square metres of cork forest, there are approximately 135 species of plant and many of these species have aromatic, culinary or medicinal uses.
8.8.8. A more mature taste
Letting wine breathe and mature naturally is vital to ensure the final taste and experience is the best it can be, as intended by the winemaker. Natural cork closures provide the perfect balance of letting in a micro- amount of oxygen sufficient to enable the wine to develop and mature. Artificial stoppers oscillate between
WINE NEED NOT COST THE EARTH
Press Release
letting too much air into the bottle, leading to oxidation (as in the case of plastic stoppers) and screw caps have been identified as being too tight a seal, letting in too little oxygen and causing reduced flavours in the wine.
The cork industry has invested millions in tackling naturally occurring taint. At this year’s ‘world championship of wine’ – the ConcoursMondial de Bruxelles – of almost 7,000 bottles opened at the prestigious event only 1% were identified as being affected by cork taint (or 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) as it is more commonly known in the trade). This is well within the standards set by the industry and also, importantly, in line with other recorded faults with wines sealed with screw caps and plastic stoppers.
9.9.9. A natural born sealer
Natural cork is made of very small cells: 800 million per cork stopper. This characteristic makes natural cork the most effective material for closing bottles as it is light, elastic, resistant, impermeable and easy to remove. Despite advances in technology, man has yet to be able to duplicate this incredibly complex structure.
10.10.10. Why settle for second best?
In 1870 The French Benedictine monk, Dom Pierre Pérignon, was trying to find a new sealing solution to replace using wooden bungs wrapped in hemp to seal bottles of his sparkling wine (Champagne). In 1680, he successfully used cork. Since then the finest wines and champagne houses have continued to trust in natural cork. If it’s good enough for the best, why settle for anything less?
Worryingly for environmentalists, the British wine buying public seems confused over what is and isn’t environmentally friendly. One in four people (25%) think screw caps, made from aluminium obtained from open-pit bauxite mining sites, are the most environmentally friendly closure whilst a small but still significant 3% are convinced plastic closures, which are petroleum-based, have a green bill of health. Nearly one in five people (18%) simply had no idea.
WINE NEED NOT COST THE EARTH
Press Release
WhaWhatt can be done
Now is the time for wine drinkers to do one small thing to make a huge environmental difference. Visit ilovenaturalcork.co.uk and pledge your support for natural cork. Join the conversation about natural cork on our Facebook page too. Don’t just take our word for it
Julia Bradbury, presenter of BBC One’s Countryfile and supporter of rural and environmental issues, comments: “Natural cork has an incredible story which most people aren’t aware of – it is so much more than just a stopper for a wine bottle. The cork oak forests of the Mediterranean are a true bio-gem of the world. They support a sustainable industry and it’s quite scary to think that we are putting the forests, the animals and 100,000 people that rely on them, at risk. By making a small decision to choose wine which is sealed with natural cork rather than an artificial stopper, you really can do something tangible to protect nature, the environment and make a difference. I would urge everyone to make the pledge now to support natural cork.”[To be approved by Julia]
JillyGoolden, wine critic, says:"For me there isn't a completely satisfactory alternative to real cork as a wine bottle closure. Cork is entirely natural and environmentally sound, to say nothing of the romance, history and theatre of the cork," she said. [To confirm with Jilly that we can use for other titles]
[insert quote from WWF]
[insert quote from RSPB]
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), if natural cork’s share of the wine closure market continues to decline at the same rate, then three quarters of the Western Mediterranean’s cork oak forests could be lost within the next ten to fifteen years. 3
3Cork Screwed?, WWF, May 2006
WINE NEED NOT COST THE EARTH
Press Release
-ends- Notes to editors:
For more information please contact:
The APCOR press office on 020 7478 7839 / [email protected]
About ilovenaturalcork.co.uk
ilovenaturalcork.co.uk is a campaign to recruit UK wine consumers to choose wine with natural cork stoppers because of cork’s environmental, economic and social/cultural benefits. The campaign seeks to educate, organise and recruit wine drinkers to request that wine producers and retailers choose natural cork over artificial closures. The campaign is funded by APCOR, the Portuguese Cork Association.
About APCOR ––– Portuguese Cork Association
APCOR’s mission is to represent and promote the Portuguese Cork Industry, with almost 250 members, representing around 80% of the total national cork production and 85% of all cork exports. APCOR is also responsible for promotional activities, with added value to cork, on both a national and international scale, in addition, as extensive Information Resource Centre on cork.
Additional cork facts
• The cork industry is 100% sustainable and natural with zero waste. When a cork tree reaches full maturity, the bark is harvested in a centuries old tradition that produces 340,000 tonnes of natural cork stoppers a year. The bark is left to regenerate for nine years before the process starts again. Literally all of the cork bark is used – any waste is granulated and returned into the process to make more natural corks. Even the fine particles of cork dust are collected and used as fuel to heat the factory boilers. • Natural cork is made of very small cells: 750 million per cork stopper. This characteristic makes natural cork the most effective material for closing bottles as it is light, elastic, resistant,
WINE NEED NOT COST THE EARTH
Press Release
impermeable and easy to remove. Despite advances in technology, man has yet to be able to duplicate this incredibly complex structure. • By choosing natural cork, it is not just the environment that sees the benefits: the soul of the wine itself is preserved too. Natural cork allows wine to breathe and mature and is vital to ensure the final taste and experience is the best it can be, as intended by the winemaker. Natural corks provide the perfect balance of letting in a micro-amount of oxygen sufficient to enable the wine to develop and mature. Artificial closures either let in too much air into the bottle, leading to oxidation (as in the case of plastic stoppers) and screw caps have been identified as being too tight a seal, letting in too little oxygen and causing reduced flavours in the wine.