Green goals: MA Silva launches eco-friendly Neo Select stopper

Cork company MA Silva always has sustainability front of mind, and the launch of its new Neo Select technical stopper is no exception.

MARKING A significant milestone towards a greener and more sustainable future, cork producer MA Silva has released its latest creation, Neo Select, made using only plant-based polyol.

“These technical cork stoppers provide the benefits of an ecological stopper while maintaining the feel of a natural one, making them the ideal choice for anyone who prioritises both environmental sustainability and the quality of wine preservation,” says Nuno Silva, global marketing manager, MA Silva.

The Portuguese company, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, prides itself on creating sustainable solutions in the cork industry, balancing the technical demands of a fully integrated operation with the production of natural and technical cork stoppers.

Its latest innovation, Neo Select, was designed to set a new sustainable standard in the cork industry. Neo Select is completely free from microspheres and uses only plant-based polyol as a bonding agent. It has been crafted from high-quality raw materials, and uses premium granules from MA Silva’s internal production process, ensuring consistency.

The new micro-agglomerate closure, Nuno Silva explains, is an example of how more ecological products are being incorporated throughout MA Silva’s 100% vertical production process.

CAREFULLY SELECTED

The company has crafted these technical stoppers with the benefits of an ecological stopper and the feel of a natural cork. After punching the natural cork stoppers, cork shavings are carefully selected and processed.

Through a series of mechanical operations, the material is reduced to uniformly-sized particles. These particles are carefully treated and sterilized through the cutting-edge NeoTech system, passing then to the moulding system, a process for producing the agglomerated bodies. MA Silva ensures the quality of its products by purchasing its raw material from four regions split between Portugal and Spain: Alentejo, Algarve, Andalucia and Extremadura. Setting the benchmark for premium natural cork stoppers, its products have nondetectable levels of TCA, ensuring the very best wine preservation can be achieved without cork taint.