Wine corks are more than just the stoppers for bottles; they are a sustainable material that can be recycled. The ReCORK program accepts corks through various collection partners across North America. These corks are then transformed into ReCORK Recycled Cork, a material with similar properties to synthetic foam but with a significantly lower environmental impact.
SOLE, a footwear company, founded ReCORK in 2008 after being inspired by the sustainability and durability of a 75-year-old natural cork floor. Cork is harvested from cork oak trees every 9 to 12 years without cutting the trees down, which contributes to the longevity of the trees and increases carbon consumption. The cork industry is a model of sustainable land use, providing habitat for endangered species.
ReCORK has collected over 132 million corks for recycling, aiming to replace carbon-intensive foams in footwear with recycled cork. The unique properties of cork, such as being lightweight, insulating, antimicrobial, and shock-absorbing, make it an ideal material for footwear products. ReCORK Recycled Cork is a blend of ground cork that flexes, rebounds, and is impervious to water.
By recycling corks and supporting ReCORK’s mission, individuals and organizations can help set a new standard for sustainable materials. Whether as a Public Collection Partner or a Private Collection Partner, everyone can contribute to the recycling efforts and reduce the reliance on petroleum-based polymers and foams in consumer products.
About the Author
Paul Maughan-Brown is the words guy at SOLE, responsible for press releases, product descriptions, blog posts, and banner-mantras.
