Cork by Cork, We Keep Sowing the Collection

The Cork by Cork, Sow the Collection project continues to encourage cork recycling. In 2024, after three years of implementation, the project has over 687 establishments participating in the initiative.
These establishments - including restaurants, hotels, cafés and bakeries - across the municipalities of Maia, Matosinhos, Porto, Póvoa de Varzim, Valongo, and Vila do Conde, have made a significant contribution to the project. In 2024 alone, they have delivered 1,766.5 kg of cork stoppers for recycling, totaling 346,500 cork stoppers collected. This has prevented the emission of 421.76 kgCO2e into the atmosphere, the equivalent to 70% of the Portuguese household's annual electricity-related emissions.

As a result of this effort, the municipalities will plant approximately 7,066 trees, which will produce a total of 70 tons of oxygen and capture 26 tons of carbon, allowing 75,924 people to breathe clean air for an entire day. This also equates to the cooling effect of five air conditioners running for 26 years.

The recycled cork stoppers are transformed and reintegrated into floor and wall covering, insulation materials, memo boards, high-performance kayaks, badminton rackets, tennis and cricket balls, automobile and aircraft components, fashion and design pieces, and many other uses.

This initiative, developed by Quercus, LIPOR, and its associated municipalities in partnership with BA Glass, Corticeira Amorim, and Extruplás, is part of the Green Cork program (created in 2008 by Quercus in partnership with Corticeira Amorim and Continente). Its goal is to promote cork recycling while contributing to the reforestation in Portugal, as for every 50 cork stoppers collected, one native tree is planted.