Corticeira Amorim, the world’s leading cork processing group, and HAPE, the world’s leading producer of wooden toys, have joined forces to explore the cork toys market. This partnership has resulted in Korko - a joint venture that aims to respond to growing demand for safe, ecological and natural toys.
One of Korko's toy collections - produced by Amorim Cork Composites, Corticeira Amorim's business unit that develops products, solutions and applications for some of the world’s most sophisticated industries - is called «Building Blocks». It is based on a concept of building blocks that aims to promote children's creative development, playful learning and skills training.
This collection simultaneously aims to respond to environmental concerns of parents, educators and guardians, while raising children's awareness about the use of Earth-friendly materials from an early age.
A life cycle assessment (LCA) conducted by Itecons – the Institute of Research and Technological Development for Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability - concluded that the three available sets of «Building Blocks» (with 20, 40 and 60 pieces) all have a negative carbon balance. The sets with 20 and 40 pieces have a carbon balance of -19.88 kg CO2 eq. and -39.75 kg CO2 eq., respectively, while the set of 60 pieces has a carbon balance of -59.59 kg CO2 eq.
In the calculation of the Carbon Footprint of Korko toys, IPCC 2021 (100 years) method was used, according to the international standard ISO 14067. The impact categories evaluated were: Global Warming Potential – fossil; Global Warming Potential – biogenic; Global Warming Potential – CO2 uptake; Global Warming Potential – land transformation; and Global Warming Potential – total. To calculate the carbon balance, a methodology provided by Amorim Cork Composites was used, which considers both the carbon sequestered by the cork oak forest and the GHG emissions from the product stage, calculated using international standard ISO 14067.
As a 100% natural, ecological, renewable, recyclable and reusable raw material, “cork delivers extraordinary benefits to the toy market”, suggests António Rios de Amorim, Corticeira Amorim’s Chairman and CEO, who emphasises that “cork is light, odourless and soft-to-the-touch. These characteristics facilitate playing with cork toys, as a learning resource. We believe that Korko will bring happiness to children, while contributing to a more sustainable world. To help safeguard everyone’s future”.
