Cork by cork sow the collection - Municipality of Valongo and LIPOR Launch Awareness Campaign for Cork stoppers Collection

Last November 15, the Municipality of Valongo, in collaboration with the HORECA sector (restaurants, hotels, cafes, and bakeries), launched the awareness campaign for the Cork by Cork Sow the Collection project, promoted by a team from LIPOR, Quercus, and the Municipality of Valongo.

The launch event was attended by José Manuel Ribeiro, Mayor of the Municipality of Valongo and Chairman of the Board of LIPOR, who joined the awareness team.

In the first phase, around 65 HORECA establishments will be informed about the project, with the goal of engaging over 700 participants to the Cork by Cork Sow the Collection project by the end of the campaign.

Currently, 653 establishments (restaurants, hotels, cafes, and bakeries) in the municipalities of Maia, Matosinhos, Porto, Póvoa de Varzim, and Vila do Conde have been making significant contributions to the project, having collected 1,256 kg of cork stoppers for recycling. This amounts to a total of 251,210 corks collected, preventing the emission of 286.75 kgCO2e into the atmosphere (data from January through October 2024).

The project, developed by Quercus, LIPOR, and its associated municipalities, aims to encourage cork recycling and contribute to reforestation in Portugal. For every 50 corks collected, one native tree will be planted, in partnership with BA Vidro, Amorim, and Extruplás. The project also allows participating establishments and their customers to contribute to fight climate change by reducing CO2e emissions stored in the corks, as well as promoting the development of the circular economy.