Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/101495
claims when one considers that a consumer pouring out a tainted bottle of wine represents a complete waste of production and transportation resources. Following Keller���s remarks Waterhouse said he felt compelled to respond because he had specifically asked the panel not to refer to the life-cycle report in question. He criticized Keller for attempting to undermine the sustainable value of the cork forest with ���scanty data��� while he had not completed and released a life-cycle analysis of VinPerfect���s production chain. Keller conceded he lacked his own analysis, adding he���s not ���anti-cork��� but just wanted to refute some of the claims made by cork producers. APCOR JANUARY NEWS Cork council defends sustainability claims Peter Weber, executive director of the Cork Quality Council, wryly noted after Keller���s remarks that he was glad someone was able to use the images and content of the report he had been asked not to present. He went on to say that cork is naturally sustainable and has been endorsed by the International Organization of Vine and Wine, the World Wildlife Fund and other groups. Weber said some of the trees being harvested for cork are 250 years old, and the United The International Organization of the Vine and Wine endorses natural cork, and the United Nations calls cork forests (above) environmentally and economically sustainable. Nations has concluded the forests are environmentally and economically sustainable. He said the trees provide a definite offset to carbon dioxide production. ���It���s small, but it can be an offset, and that���s important.��� On the synthetic side, Maurizio Ugliano, head of research for Nomacorc, said the company has reduced its per-closure CO2 rate of 16 grams in 2007 to 11 grams per closure this year. He said that���s far less than the lowest per-bottle production output number for bottles he���s seen of 1.28 kg of CO2. Ugliano also noted that if just 3.5% of corks are tainted, and only 35% of consumers detect the taint and then pour the wine down the drain, that waste has a far larger impact than any CO2 generated through synthetic production. Following the panelists��� remarks, Waterhouse sought out the input of Glenn O���Dell, the director of quality improvement for Constellation Brands Inc., which had earlier in the day discussed conducting closure trials. O���Dell said the carbon footprint of the closure industry is relatively minor, and there is not enough research to conclusively state which closure is the better option in terms of being the most sustainable. ���I don���t think anyone has enough information at this point to say who can wear the greenest hat,��� he said. ���Andrew Adams The world's leading provider of stainless steel beverage containers The Global Standard for Quality - US standard 1/2 bbl, 1/6 bbl, and tall 1/4 bbl - Innovative design and manufacturing processes - The only keg manufacturer with US keg service, repair, and rebranding facilities Kwik Kegs - US standard keg sizes ready to ship directly from stock - Order any keg size and quantity - Embossing and silk screening available for all sizes and quantities Mark Carpenter, Franke Beverage Systems, Inc., 166 Jefferson Pike, LaVergne, TN, 37086 Phone: 615.462.4334, Fax: 615.462.4734, Email: mark.carpenter@franke.com Win es & Vin es JA N UA RY 20 13 27