The FUTURECORK project collects more than 2 tons of corks in one year and consolidates the foundations of the first state cork recycling system

The Catalan Cork Institute (ICSuro) foundation has successfully completed the pilot test for collecting cork stoppers in Palafrugell and Cassà de la Selva within the project FUTURECORK, a pioneering initiative to turn cork into a real example of a circular economy on a state scale. In just one year, more than 2 tons of corks, the equivalent of more than 360,000 units, which can now be reused and reincorporated into the production cycle of this natural, renewable and recyclable material.

ICSuro would like to thank all the participants for their involvement. establishments, restaurants, wineries, schools and collection points who have participated in the project, as well as the support of town halls of Palafrugell and Cassà de la Selva, with an event held at its headquarters in which a diploma of recognition was awarded to the participants. The event was attended by the mayor of Palafrugell, Laura Millán, the councilor for Neighborhoods and Urban Nuclei, and the Elderly, Guillem Genover. and the director of ICSuro, Alba Balcells.

A participatory and replicable collection model

This cork collection project was born with a clear objective: collect the information necessary to implement a large-scale Integrated Management System (GIS), which allows the cork circle to be closed and guarantees that this valuable material is reused in a sustainable way.

The system, designed and coordinated by ICSuro, has been based on a capillary network of collection points located in restaurants, shops, schools and social facilities. In Palafrugell, they have been collected 516 kg of corks (93,780 units) and in Cassà de la Selva 128 kg (21,924 units). Furthermore, it is worth noting that wineries and individuals, upon learning about the initiative, have made specific contributions to the campaign that have allowed it to be nurtured.

This model, which emphasizes collaboration between citizens, businesses and administrations, has proven to beefficient, scalable and easily adaptable to other municipalities.

The first practical applications are already a reality: Cassà de la Selva has inaugurated a children's park with pavement made of recycled corks, while in Palafrugell an action has been carried out using the crushed cork in urban tree saplings, improving its sustainability and water retention. Both initiatives show how cork can become a natural ally against climate change and a resource with multiple uses within the green economy.

The pilot test has allowed us to evaluate the efficiency of the implemented capillary collection system and the key collection points. It is estimated that if this system were extrapolated to a state level, it could recover up to 2878 tons of corks each year, avoiding its dumping and reducing the carbon footprint of cork stoppers by up to 9%.

FUTURECORK: innovation, sustainability and territory

the project FUTURECORK, is part of a global strategy to promote the bioeconomy and innovation in the cork sector, with the support of the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) and financing of the European Union – NextGenerationEU within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

With a budget of more than1.4 million euros, FUTURECORK groups research centers, companies, administrations and local entities with a common goal: give new life to cork and reinforce the role of this material as a driver of sustainability and Mediterranean identity.

“The circularity of cork is a reality”

According to the director of ICSuro, Alba Balcells, “This pilot test demonstrates that cork circularity is possible, viable and necessary. We have moved from idea to action, and now the challenge is to continue exploring ways of working with the administrations to see how to scale this model across the territory.”

With this milestone, the Catalan Cork Institute reaffirms its leadership in innovation and sustainability and takes a decisive step towards first national cork recycling system, with the aim that each cap has a second life and contributes to a more sustainable future.