Saving the Corks

ReCORK America has started a recycling program to reclaim a small portion of the estimated 13 billion natural cork wine stoppers sold in the world each year. The six-month trial will involve 25 Northern California Whole Foods Market stores. Each store will have a collection box situated in the wine department. Customers will be encouraged to add wine corks to their list of recyclable packaging.

Roger Archey, program manager for ReCORK, is pleased with the partnership. “Whole Foods Market is a benchmark for environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices,” says Archey. “We are pleased to be able to provide Whole Foods Market customers with a convenient recycling option that extends the useful life of corks for years to come.”

Unlike plastic or metal screwcap closures, recycled cork can be turned into flooring tile, building insulation, shoe soles, fishing rod handles, bulletin boards, and even soil conditioner. Natural cork is biodegradable, sustainable and a valuable source for carbon retention.

Adesina Stewart, green mission specialist for Whole Foods Market’s Northern California Region, likes the idea of providing customers with more recycling options. “What’s not to like about recycling corks?” says Stewart. “With billions of corks ending up in landfill each year, you can see how a seemingly insignificant packaging product like a wine cork can have a positive impact on our environment if we reuse it.”

For a listing of the Northern California Whole Foods Market stores participating in this recycling program, visit www.recorkamerica.com.

ReCORK America is a recycling program sponsored by Amorim, the world’s largest producer of natural cork wine closures, and their U.S. affiliates, Portocork America and Amorim Cork America. For information about Amorim’s sustainable business practices and environmental stewardship, visit their Web site at www.amorim.com.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Fran F.

7:04PM PDT on May 16, 2012

I save bottle corks because they are beautiful. When there are enough of them, I plan to use them in a collage, along with the cool wooden bottle tops from Cholula Hot Sauce.

send a green star

John B.

6:27PM PDT on May 16, 2012

I never buy that wine doesn't have a real cork stopper and I do recycle them. Thanks Jana for the post.

hid i.

4:40AM PDT on Sep 7, 2011

good way to recycle corks.

Catherine B.

3:53AM PDT on Sep 3, 2011

I eventually threw out years of corks I collected because I couldnt bare to throw out and no body wanted them. And now my wine bottles are screw-ons. This article could have been more timely for me. ;-)

Robert O.

1:36AM PDT on Sep 1, 2011

Thanks Jana.

Teresa W.

5:57AM PDT on Jul 30, 2011

interesting

Francisco W.

5:54AM PDT on Jul 30, 2011

thanks

Brenda T.

5:51AM PDT on Jul 30, 2011

They can be strung together to make a door curtain!! It looks really good!