Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/898117
62 / the tasting panel / november 2017 COVER STORY What About TCA? The cork industry has made sig- nificant investments in eliminating "cork taint" well beyond the threshold humans can detect, which is as little as 3–4 nanograms for still wines and 1.5–2 nanograms for sparkling. "We can measure TCA at levels of 0.5 ppt (parts per trillion or 0.5 nanograms). That's the benchmark of quality control in the industry today," attests de Jesus, adding that it's the equivalent of finding one drop of water in 800 Olympic-sized swimming pools. While producing alternatives like technical cork stoppers and guaran- teed TCA-free natural whole corks may be costlier, the cork industry is heavily invested in eliminating TCA from their supply. "We are constantly brainstorming and bridging together innovation, technology, and science to advance the cork industry as quickly as possible," says APCOR President João Rui Ferreira. "APCOR pushes several initiatives at the same time to make sure we are improving the standard from every aspect. Several companies are working hard at this as well; they are improving their scale and capacity without compromising the quality and guarantee of every single cork stopper." ReCORK: Harnessing the Power of Cork Through Upcycling In 2008, Mike Baker, the CEO of footwear company SOLE, was searching for sustainable materials to incorporate into the company's product line of insoles. Cork was already a consideration due to its versatility. "When he got wind of ReCORK, he worked with Corticeira Amorim [a longtime world leader in the cork industry that initially launched the program] and adopted ReCORK to collect cork," explains Pia Dargani, Program Director for ReCORK. This allowed SOLE to replace most of the EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate, a petroleum-based material) in its products with recycled cork. ReCORK has since collected in excess of 70 million corks from more than 3,000 partners. The corks are recycled, ground down, and incorporated into a new line of insoles and sandals designed to mold to the shape of an individual's foot. ReCORK has also launched its own line of products, including recycled yoga blocks and traction pads for surfboards, and has new products in development. So what's next for recycled cork? "Cork is so versatile; it gives rise to an endless array of products," says Dargani. "With everything from cork footwear to phone cases to flooring, almost everyone I've ever asked has owned some cork product in the past. I really believe the opportunities are endless." João Rui Ferreira is President of APCOR, a Portuguese association of cork grow- ers and manufacturers that promotes the use of natural cork closures.