Sustainability
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Working toward a better tomorrow
Ever since we began operations, sustainability has been one of Lafitte’s core priorities. We believe that cork is one of nature’s greatest gifts, and we want to honor the very system that gave it to us: nature. As such, we are constantly improving every step of our production process with the goal of reducing our ecological footprint.
35
Biodiversity sanctuaries around the world, including the Montado
14.000.000
The Montado offsets
s of atmospheric CO2 every year
34%
s of the world’s cork oak forest area is located in Portugal
49%
% of the world’s cork production comes from Portugal
135
Plant species per square meter
s of cork oak forests
+200
Animal species inhabit the Montado
4x
The production of cork stoppers releases less CO2 (compared to aluminum)
730.000
Hectares of land make up the area of Portuguese cork oak forests
What makes cork so unique?
All-natural
Cork is the bark of Quercus suber, also known as the cork oak, a tree that can live up to 250 years. It is a 100% natural, 100% reusable, and 100% recyclable raw material, consisting of a network of microscopic cells filled with a gas identical to air and coated primarily with suberin and lignin.
This unique chemical composition gives cork a wide range of properties—lightness, elasticity, compressibility, durability, water resistance, and thermal and acoustic insulation—that are unmatched by any man-made material. These unique characteristics allow it to be used for a variety of purposes, which, in turn, make it an easily reusable material.
Eco-friendly
From an environmental perspective, the cork oaks from which cork is harvested play a fundamental role in soil conservation, the regulation of the hydrological cycle, and water quality.
The harvesting of cork from cork oaks does not harm them—quite the opposite. Careful harvesting, carried out by professionals, does not harm the trees, as they are stripped of their bark rather than cut down. The cork naturally regenerates after nine years. The cork industry allows these vast forests to be protected and managed without disturbing their ecosystem—in fact, harvested cork oaks absorb 3 to 5 times more carbon dioxide than unharvested trees.
These trees actively counteract the tendency toward desertification found in Mediterranean regions. In addition, thanks to their vast oxygen production, cork oaks sequester approximately 14 million tons of carbon dioxide each year and form a unique and extraordinarily rich ecosystem that is home to thousands of species. In fact, the Montado is internationally recognized for its biodiversity and is one of the 35 global biodiversity sanctuaries.
Reusability
The cork used in the production of cork stoppers is recycled into other products, meaning that any waste generated during production isn’t actually waste at all!
This cork is ground up and used in other products, such as composite materials, panels, footwear, vehicles, home decor, and much more.
Aging capacity
About 50% of cork’s volume consists of a gas identical to air, which gives it extraordinary lightness, allowing it to float. This chemical composition also gives cork surprising elasticity, enabling it to adapt to changes in temperature and pressure without warping. This same elasticity causes the cork to expand inside the neck of a bottle in order to seal the liquid inside.
However, the magic lies in the tiniest details—its microscopic porosity allows oxygen to interact with the wine in just the right amount to promote rich aging.
Thanks to the waterproofing provided by the suberin that surrounds the walls of its cells, cork serves as an excellent insulator, resisting moisture and aging without deteriorating.
Choose Cork.
The consumption of bottles sealed with cork stoppers can offset a significant portion of the pollution caused by emissions from shipping.
In addition to the ecological and economic benefits, there is just one more thing to mention: the pleasure itself. It is no coincidence that cork has been admired for centuries. Nothing preserves the wine’s original body and color as faithfully as the natural purity of a cork stopper.
And what about Lafitte?
Our second nature
Across our entire product line, the Lafitte Group is firmly committed to providing our customers with sustainable, environmentally friendly solutions. We are proud to use ethical and eco-responsible methods to produce our cork closures and capsules. And, of course, the main raw material used by Lafitte—cork—is entirely natural, clean, and renewable.
All waste generated during the production of cork closures is recovered and repurposed in new production processes. The residual dust from the production process is used to generate energy, thereby reducing the use of fossil fuels and carbon emissions at Lafitte’s processing facilities.
The Lafitte Group is committed to a vision of harmony between the economy, society, and the environment.
Protecting the forest
The Lafitte Group has a dedicated department focused exclusively on establishing strategic, long-term partnerships with forest owners to ensure the protection of these natural areas and, thereby, preserve these biodiversity hotspots.
