09 December 2019
Diam Bouchage's latest environmental report, published in June 2019, shows excellent results in terms of its carbon footprint. By considering the carbon sequestration by cork oak forests in the analysis of their life cycle, each closure produced actually has a negative carbon footprint!
In 2009, Diam Bouchage implemented an environmental policy that is now perfectly integrated into all its industrial sites. It is a commitment by the company to continuously improve the performance of its production tools.
‘The cork that we work with every day is a noble, natural material... we understand the importance of preserving our beautiful planet. The willingness to work for the future, that extends beyond compliance with regulations, is at the forefront of all our developments.’ Dominique Tourneix, Managing DirectorThe carbon footprint of Diam and Mytik closures is calculated from the sourcing of raw materials to the factory exit of the finished products. It also reflects the exceptional carbon sequestration capacity of cork oaks, in compliance with the recommendations of the European Commission.
Cork oak forests are carbon sinks, capturing CO2 through photosynthesis. According to experts, this carbon sequestration is estimated to be in the order of 10 to 15 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of harvested cork.
A Diam closure for still wine and a Mytik closure for sparkling wine contribute 150g and 250g of CO2 respectively; that is 6 to 8 times more than the emissions resulting from their production.
In total, a Diam closure produces -124g EqCo2, and a Mytik closure, -218g EqCo2; these figures also have an impact on the carbon footprint of the winegrowers who use these closures!
‘Using cork is a long-term contribution to climate change mitigation. This is not the case for other solutions using plant polymers from fast-moving crops such as sugar cane, where the captured CO2 is released back into the atmosphere well before the 100-year mark called for by environmental standards.’ Joaquin Herreros, QSEDiam Bouchage is increasingly involved in sustainable development and social responsibility initiatives; the development of Origine by Diam, a bio-sourced closure, and the revival of the French cork industry being excellent illustrations of this.