Acousticork by Amorim has launched three products that have a negative carbon balance: T10 Essence, T10 Essence with a vapour barrier and T56 Endurance with a vapour barrier are more environmentally friendly solutions when compared to other products composed of 100% synthetic materials.

These underlayments, produced by Amorim Cork Composites, make a decisive contribution to the performance of the floors where they are applied, in terms of acoustic insulation, thermal comfort and improved air quality. The solutions are produced with cork - a 100% natural, reusable and recyclable raw material. They offer high performance, impact resistance and walking comfort, protect the final flooring solution, while offering greater durability over time.

According to a recent study conducted by the consultancy firm, EY, Acousticork T10 Essence and T10 Essence with a vapour barrier underlayments have a negative carbon balance of -18.6 kg CO₂ eq/ m2 and -18.0 kg CO₂ eq / m2, respectively. Acousticork T56 Endurance underlayment with a vapour barrier has a negative carbon balance of -5.2 kg CO₂ eq/ m2.

This means that these products foster carbon sequestration in the cork oak forest that is greater than the CO2 emissions resulting from their production. They therefore constitute excellent options for customers who aim to strike a balance between performance and environmental sustainability.

The results confirm the importance of using cork - one of the world’s most sustainable raw materials, which can make a positive contribution to combating climate change, foster a greener planet and defend the values of sustainability. This is also an example of Amorim Cork Composites' commitment to science, study, technology, knowledge, innovation and research & development, in order to continue to supply the best products, applications and solutions in order to respond to the challenges that arise in our daily lives.

About the study
The study of the environmental footprint of Acousticork T10 Essence, T10 Essence with a vapour barrier and T56 Endurance with a vapour barrier underlayments was conducted by EY, using Life Cycle assessments, which considered the carbon sequestration fostered by the cork oak forest, using a cradle-to-gate approach, which considered the environmental impact of all activities - from resource extraction, through production of all components, up until the factory gate. The methodology was based on the ISO 14040/44 standards, complemented by the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) guidelines. Production data was provided by Amorim Cork Composites. The general production processes associated with the production of raw materials, energy, transport and waste management were obtained from the ecoinvent 3.5 database.