Napa, CA– ReCORK America has added another partner to support its cork recycling program. SOLE, the manufacturer of premium footbeds, socks and sandals, will use a blend of recycled cork wine bottle closures in its line of 2010 footwear products.
SOLE joins the many restaurants, resorts, organizations, wine retailers, and wineries who help collect and find use for used natural corks.
To read the full article on this new partnership, please follow this link
Amorim has launched a new cork stopper targeting the high-volume sectors of the global wine industry.
Named Acquamark, the closure has been developed using the latest in cork production technology to provide winemakers with a clean natural cork stopper at a highly competitive price.
The product name is derived from the innovative water-based coating that is a feature of this cork.
Carlos de Jesus
“Acquamark is an environmentally friendly closure that provides enhanced performance in sealing capacity and wine preservation,” says Amorim’s director of marketing and communications, Carlos de Jesus.
“It is a welcome addition to Amorim’s product mix as it allows us to compete aggressively with producers of alternative closures, particularly in the ‘basic’ and ‘popular premium’ sectors of the wine market.
“New technology means we can produce a cost effective natural cork closure for sectors where price competition is at its fiercest.”
As with all natural cork closures, Acquamark is made from renewable resources, is recyclable and biodegradable.
“In many instances wineries are faced with a difficult choice on closures between cost effective options and those that play a strong role in protecting the environment,” Mr de Jesus said.
“With Acquamark there no longer needs to be a compromise.” It’s price is 30-50% cheaper than synthetic closures.
Amorim has applied innovative processes to the production of the Acquamark closure, ensuring total particle retention as well as consistent visual appearance. The safe and environmentally friendly water-based coating enhances the restructuring process.
Acquamark corks are subject to Amorim’s unique CONVEX boiling system that prevents contamination as well as stringent quality control procedures.
Aveda Fredric's Institute
The design of Aveda Fredric’s Institute Indianapolis began and ended with the environment and its inhabitants in mind. The design teams were given the task throughout the entire design process of seeking out materials that are eco-friendly and friendly to the end-user of the space. Whether their selections were made from recycled materials, or are recyclable or manufactured in an environmental way with environmentally friendly, sustainable materials, they were challenged to create a difference. Taking the selections one step further, much thought has been given to the psychology of color and the way it can enhance the space for the guests, students and instructors alike. Color was added through the use of varying materials, textures and applications though the flooring, paint, cabinetry, wall materials and fixtures.
Aveda Retail
A natural choice for flooring was Wicanders Corkcomfort Glue-down HPS, which was used in the retail space, the cosmetology clinic and in the hallway. Wicanders offers a flooring solution that is environmentally friendly, aesthetically appealing, durable yet practical. Specifically designed for high traffic areas, and with a 15 year commercial warranty, Corkcomfort Glue-down tiles have our patented HPS finish. HPS, or High Performance Surface, works by embedding a fine shield of nano-beads atop the surface layer of the flooring, protecting it from scratches, scuff marks, stains and abrasions. The unique strength of this finish is that it also protects the natural properties of cork flooring.
Wicanders cork floors with HPS are giving and resilient underfoot, are hygenic and easily cleaned. Wicanders Corkcomfort Glue down HPS tiles are a perfect choice for salons where students and employees are on their feet all day using chemicals and dyes.
Amorim Flooring North America, Inc. has appointed Architectural Systems, Inc. (ASI, www.archsystems.com) as its distributor in the commercial segment of Wicanders cork flooring. ASI will cover the Metro New York and New Jersey areas.
Founded in 1990, ASI has been known from the start for its fresh, innovative solutions for commercial interiors. Today, the company’s products are confidently specified by the foremost architecture & design firms and installed globally in major retail, entertainment, hospitality, corporate, healthcare, education and institutional projects.
ASI’s clients return again and again for ASI’s extensive product expertise, professionalism, commitment to service, and collective eye for what’s next®, and the ability to find it all in one place. Founders 
Nancy Jackson (President) and Ron Jackson (CEO) are design advocates who help their clients materialize their vision and have worked with the most prestige clientele. ASI’s team of experts has been recognized for their involvement in every part of the contract project process from concept to installation. Their innovative style and established relationships in the A& D community distinguish them from the rest. Their exceptional knowledge of the industry is known globally and sets trends before anyone recognizes them as trends.
Architectural Systems, Inc. (ASI), a family business, is acclaimed by the industry as a leading provider of architectural materials including sustainable products.
Amorim’s international flooring portfolio is known for its unique ecological properties, aesthetic design and technical attributes.
This new strategic partnership reinforces the demand for high quality eco-efficient flooring solutions, and will strengthen Wicanders’ presence in the New York and New Jersey markets.
We welcome ASI to our family.
Team WIcanders
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Surfaces, here we come! From February 3rd–5th, 2009 we’ll be in beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada bringing you the latest innovations in natural, quiet, eco-efficient, affordable, and fashionable flooring.
And we couldn’t be more excited this year, as we will once again present an exciting new portfolio of products that are sure to set new trends for the future of floor covering. Our designers have created new colors, patterns, shapes, textures and combination of materials that are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. You will be thrilled with the elegant shapes and rustic charm of our new collections and will simply love the exotic contrast between urban design and nature’s touch.
Series 200 WRT Champagne
Series 200 HPS Secrets
So be sure to stop by and be one of the first to experience our gorgeous 2009 product line. We’ll be located in Hall A, at booth # 2854.
See you there!
Team Wicanders
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Happy New Year Everyone!
We hope your holidays were filled with love, joy and peace. And lots of “green” resolutions for 2009…
We thought we’d start the year off right by bringing you exciting updates about some of the efforts that are being made to preserve the Cork Oak forests of Portugal—the Montados.
Cork Oak Tree at the beautiful Alentejo region
Many people still believe that by reducing their use of cork they are helping to save the forests, when in fact it’s quite the opposite that is true. By choosing cork wine stoppers (instead of metal or plastic) or cork flooring for example, you are creating shared value for the farmers who own the land. You are also helping protect one of the most biologically diverse habitats in the world.
The Iberian lynx, the world's rarest big cat
If you are a frequent visitor to our blog, you already know about Amorim’s (the manufacturers of our Wicanders cork oak floors) latest initiatives such as Save Miguel and ReCork America. Now, we are pleased to announce a new partnership in Portugal between WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and one of the world’s leading health and beauty specialists.
Harnn & Thann have produced a limited edition black rice soap which will sell for five Euros in their Portuguese retail stores. All proceeds are going to sponsor WWF’s work in conserving Portuguese forests and biodiversity and to the on-the-ground projects that WWF is running across Portugal.
Also, BBC’s award-winning program entitled Natural World recently focused on the wealth of natural history amongst the Cork Oak forests of Portugal’s Alentejo region. BBC’s Paul Morrison, together with fellow producer Mike Salisbury followed a year in the life of Francisco Garrett, whose family has harvested cork for five generations. They learned about the many threats to the region and how, once felled, cork woodland is very difficult to restore because a complex ecosystem such as the Montados takes knowledge and patience to recreate.
The stripping of the cork bark does not harm the tree in any way. A cork oak tree can be safely harvested up to 20 times during its life cycle, making cork a truly sustainable natural resource.
To quote Paul Morrison:
“There is […] an important reason to insist on cork. Every time you weigh up which bottle of wine to buy, you hold in your hands the fate of one of the most important wildlife areas in Europe.”
Read Paul’s full report here.
If going green in 2009 is a priority to you, cork is certainly a natural choice. So we say bring on the wine (responsibly, of course) and make your home or business healthier and much more stylish by choosing our Wicanders Cork Oak Floors.
Cheers!
Team Wicanders
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Happy New Year!
We came across this brief write-up by Mark Tercek in the January issue of Reader’s Digest. Mark is the president and CEO of the Nature Conservancy, and we thought sharing his article might inspire you as much as it inspired us. It carries an important message about how, in this New Year to come, each one of us can make sustainability our guiding principle.
To quote Mark:
“As a nation, we must recognize that the health of the environment is inextricably linked to our well-being and prosperity. Functioning natural systems and a stable climate support livelihoods, feed our families, sate our thirst, provide clean air, enrich us spiritually, and represent a legacy for future generations.
I urge you to make sustainability—using resources no faster than they can be replenished—a guiding principle. This commitment will spark progress toward developing clean energy sources, fighting climate change, conserving our land and waters, and rebuilding a battered economy. Your example will inspire leaders around the world to do the same.”
From all of us at Team Wicanders, we wish you a prosperous and sustainable New Year.
Cheers to 2009!
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Wicanders Cork Oak Blog 