The Corksorb range of cork based oil absorbents has just won the Product Innovation Award promoted by Cotec and Unicer. This award is intended to recognize innovative products developed by Portuguese companies as a result of a steady and consistent innovation effort, which products are aimed at global markets.
In the words of André Macedo Teixeira - the person responsible for Corticeira Amorim's Corksorb project, this award is "a source of pride for Corticeira Amorim, because it rewards our Company's constant commitment to R&D and innovation as well as its investment to create new and enhanced uses and solutions of cork."
Launched in 2010, the Corksorb range has won several prestigious awards. The COTEC/Unicer award was the 4th award won by this highly competitive natural absorbent product line providing greater absorbing capacity and generating 20 times less waste than a conventional mineral-based absorbent. By selectively absorbing oil and hydrocarbons and not water, CorkSorb is the ideal solution for any spill/leak situation, even in aquatic environments.
André Macedo Teixeira explains the reasons that differentiate the Corksorb product range from others: "It is a product line developed in close collaboration with our customers and it was designed with a view to meeting the actual needs of a market that seems to be mature in this area. Corksorb has proven to be a technically and economically efficient answer. This product range is manufactured on a base of a natural and sustainable raw material that explains its success."
The Corksorb product range is steadily building up a good brand reputation in the international market and about 87% of its sales are channeled into export markets. Corksorb is currently sold in 18 countries, including Spain, Germany, France, Morocco, Australia and South America.
The Corksorb range of cork based oil absorbents won Portugal's 2010 National Award for Environmental Innovation (PNIA). This product has won the 2011 Green Project Awards in the "Product" category. At the end of 2011 it was also awarded the Sustainability Innovation Award (EBAEpis) and scooped two of the four prizes awarded by the European Business Awards for the Environment in the "Product" and "Business and Biodiversity" categories.
