SOLE Produces Footwear from Recycled Natural Wine Bottle Corks
SOLE will use a blend of recycled cork wine bottle closures in its line of 2010 footwear products.
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SOLE, the manufacturer of premium footbeds, socks and sandals, announces its partnership with ReCORK America™, a US-based wine cork recycling program sponsored by Amorim of Portugal, the world’s largest producer of natural cork. SOLE will use a blend of recycled cork wine bottle closures in its line of 2010 footwear products.
“We have been working with ReCORK for over eight months,” states Mike Baker, president of SOLE. “They provided us with thousands of used corks and we did the R&D necessary to successfully develop a cork blend that enhances the material properties of our products. This is the kind of sustainable effort that benefits everyone.”
ReCORK and SOLE have an agreement to find sustainably optimized ways to reuse and recycle as many corks as can be collected. Roger Archey, a spokesman for Amorim’s ReCORK, says the timing is perfect. “We have collected nearly four million corks since the program started in 2007 – that’s without promotion or fanfare. The SOLE partnership will give us the opportunity to dramatically expand our collection efforts and better serve our current and future collection partners.”
ReCORK’s recycling partners include many familiar names in the wine, hospitality and retail markets, including: American Airlines/Sodexo, The Wine Tasting Network, Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, Rodney Strong Wine Estates, Cakebread Cellars, Whole Foods Markets in Northern California, the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, Rutherford Wine Co. and PlumpJack.
About ReCORK and Amorim
ReCORK America is a natural cork recycling program sponsored by Amorim of Portugal and its US affiliates, Portocork America and Amorim Cork America. For additional information, visit www.recorkamerica.com or www.savemiguel.com. Tracing its root to the 19th century, Amorim has become the largest cork and cork-derived company in the world, generating over Euro 450 million in sales throughout more than 100 countries. Amorim and its subsidiaries are an integral part of a conservation effort to guarantee the survival of hundreds of thousands of cork oak trees throughout the Mediterranean Basin. Amorim is proud of its contributions to the correct utilization of these important forests that represent a key role in CO2 retention, preserving biodiversity and preventing desertification. Information about Amorim of Portugal can be found at www.amorim.com/en and www.corkfacts.com.
About SOLE
SOLE launched its line of supportive, do-it-yourself, heat moldable footbeds in 2001. Millions of happy feet later, SOLE extended its expertise in foot health and comfort to a line of Premium Performance Socks. In 2008, SOLE launched its Platinum Sandal, which offers unrivaled orthopedic support and comfort. REI, Red Wing Shoes, Zappos.com and thousands of specialty retailers around the world carry SOLE. All SOLE footbeds and sandals are accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association. For more information on SOLE, go to www.yoursole.com or call 866-235-SOLE.
