Don’t Throw Those Wine Corks Away, Upcycle Them!

You like to drink the occasional bottle of vino, and if you are like my wife as opposed to me, you like the stuff that comes in a glass bottle rather than a can. (I kid, do they even make wine in a can?) Nothing wrong with that as long as you’re responsible, right? You can recycle the glass bottle, which is infinitely recyclable, but what about that darn cork? As long as it’s natural, it’ll biodegrade in a landfill over time, but there’s no benefit to that, and it certainly doesn’t help the depletion of cork forests. If only there were a way to recycle it, or better yet, upcycle it.

Well hold on to your hats dear vinophile, because your prayers have been answered. Thanks to companies like Recork, the answer to your problems lies only a post office or drop off box away. Recork will take back your natural corks, and make them into new shoe treads for a company called Sole. How cool is that? You can send your corks in (they’ll send you a free mailing label for 15 lbs or more), or better yet, you can find a drop off in your area and turn them in as you use them. According to their website, to date, they have upcycled over 8 million corks and planted over 2000 trees (they do that too).

Of course Recork isn’t the only company doing this, a simple google search comes up with more than a few sites that turn your wine stoppers into everything from shoes to flooring and beyond. Regardless of who you use, the important thing is to keep those corks out of the landfill and put them to some good use.

Dave

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Emma S.

6:49AM PST on Nov 24, 2011

Maybe people have already said this ... but you can cut them into slices and glue to the underside of stuff to help grip.

send a green star

Chris R.

2:03PM PDT on Aug 22, 2011

That's great! Thanks!~

Janine H.

1:15AM PDT on Jul 29, 2011

thank you very much

Michael B.

1:56AM PDT on May 22, 2011

Although we get through seven bottles of wine per week, we never see a natural cork any longer. Most of the wine we buy has a screw cap, and those that don't, have a synthetic cork.

Brenda T.

7:29AM PDT on May 8, 2011

I know someone who threaded all their corks and made a curtain from them to act as a divider.

9:05AM PDT on Apr 5, 2011

There are so many creative uses for re-purposed wine corks.

Maritza F.

9:47PM PDT on Apr 1, 2011

like the upcycle idea.

minkie a.

1:43PM PST on Dec 17, 2010

I use them when I sew as a pin cushion, If you glue them together, they can be used under the plant pots.

9:53AM PST on Dec 16, 2010