We have just taken yet another step forward in our environmentally-friendly strategy and our gradual implementation of the very latest environmental solutions, by launching the project “CORK2CORK”. Working with Amorim, the world leader in cork coverings and production, we plan to collect and reuse the corks from the bottles opened at the company, accounting for around two million corks a year.

Corticeira Amorim dates its start-up of operations back to the nineteenth century. It is now the largest cork product processor in the world, with a turnover of around 450 million euros in 103 countries. They are part of a combined effort aimed at conserving and preserving millions of cork trees around the Mediterranean region. Their contribution towards the correct use of these major woodlands plays a major role in fixing CO2, in preserving biodiversity and in fighting against desertification.

The idea of the project, the first of its kind among European hotel chains, is to recycle this material which, when recovered and reprocessed, can be reused for making coverings and excellent isolating materials. This will help to cut down the need for artificial heating and cooling in our buildings. It has been calculated that the number of corks expected to be recovered every year will be enough to produce two floors of new or renovated hotels. Isn’t it amazing? This recycled cork can also be used to produce many other products, such as applications in the aircraft, fashion or ecological furniture industries.

Luis Ortega, our Head of Engineering and Environment says, “NH Hoteles’s commitment towards natural cork products makes for a major contribution towards protecting one of the 35 key points of biodiversity on the planet”. In just one hectare of cork trees in Portugal or Spain, one can find more than 100 different animal and plant species.

In addition, Marcel Kies, the Sales Manager at Amorim Revestimientos has said, “Cork can be the best ally for developing a global environmental strategy. Be it because it can be reused in a large number of different ways or because planting cork trees has proved to be a strong shield against desertification of the environment and a major method for retaining CO2.” The cork trees in the western part of the Mediterranean region retain nearly 12 million tons a year and, according to the WWF, provide nearly 100,000 jobs in the area.

Some of the hotels taking part in this project are the emblematic NH Berlin Alexanderplatz, NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky, Nhow Milano o NH Palacio de Tepa in Madrid so next time you ask for a bottle of wine at the Estado Puro Tapas Bar remember that recycling its cork you will be doing your bit for the environment.

Photo credit: Image 1 by Eugene