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Corticeira Amorim acknowledged by the Portuguese Platform for Sustainable Construction as the only gold level company.

Corticeira Amorim has just been awarded a Seal of Sustainability by the Platform for Sustainable Construction, the managing authority of the Sustainable Habitat Cluster in Portugal. This Platform has launched an initiative to acknowledge the efforts towards sustainability made by organizations and companies in this cluster. Corticeira Amorim was the only company to achieve the gold level award, meeting 11 of the required criteria, which was given last Friday, September 20, during CINCOS'12 - Congress of Innovation on Sustainable Construction.

Boasting a corporate culture directed towards sustainable development, Corticeira Amorim’s application was based on its vast portfolio of cork-based sustainable solutions for the construction industry, on the added value arising from the use of cork and also on the high potential of cork for applications in this industry.

The market for building and decoration materials is one of the most important for the cork industry, accounting for about 23 per cent of total exports. Corticeira Amorim’s sales to the construction industry account for about one-third of the business of our Company, which has three Business Units – Wall and Floor Coverings, Cork Composites and Insulation – involved in the development of products and solutions for the construction industry.

Carlos de Jesus, Corticeira Amorim’s Head of Marketing & Communication, said: "This award is further recognition of the extensive work done by Corticeira Amorim in developing and promoting cork-based solutions bringing real added value to the market and our continuous investment in adopting and strengthening sustainable development practices."

The use of cork in relevant architectural works worldwide is being promoted by a number of international organizations in partnership with Corticeira Amorim. This has helped to increase the awareness and notoriety of this material as these cork-based solutions - unlike any other on the market - add technical performance to sustainable development.

The Seal of Sustainability was launched with the aim of giving visibility to companies and organizations in the Habitat cluster. This Seal is awarded to companies that, based on rigorous criteria, demonstrate a clear commitment to sustainability requirements and promote innovation and competitiveness. In view of the multitude of organizations that form part of the Habitat cluster as well as the comprehensiveness of the sustainability concept - which includes environmental, social and economic aspects - these criteria are quite varied.