When you recycle cork, you extend its useful life. The material is diverted from a landfill (where, because of overstuffed conditions, even biodegradable items rarely biodegrade) and is (re)used in a wide range of products including floor tiles, place mats, dart and memo boards, and coasters.
Reusing cork for these items means not having to harvest and import new material from overseas, which saves energy and reduces carbon emissions. Cork forests are said to absorb millions of tons of C02 yearly and provide vast quantities of oxygen. Though they’re considered among the most sustainably harvested forests in the world, minimizing the extraction of new cork by reusing what is already available protects them.
To locate cork drop-off locations near you, check out the sites listed below. Your local Whole Foods may also have a cork recycling bin. Set up a spot in your kitchen where you keep your wine corks. Almost 60% of the world’s cork is used in wine bottles, so this is likely what you’ll be recycling.