Summary

Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree. While it is harvested by hand without ever cutting down a tree or killing it, the problem is that cork is not an endlessly renewable resource, and in reality, cork oak trees can only be harvested every 9-12 years, up to 15 times in their 200+ year lifespan. (Source) Furthermore, cork oak forests form crucial natural habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal life and many species of endangered animals and birds rely on these habitats. Unfortunately, many cork products, especially those used in the wine industry are regularly thrown away and end up in landfill, even though they have plenty of value still in them. Although cork is beautiful and versatile (lightweight, buoyant, fire‑resistant, insulating, antimicrobial, hydrophobic, rot‑resistant), its value is lost when thrown away instead of being repurposed, resulting in waste and missed opportunities to preserve both natural habitats and a sustainable resource. (Source) To that end, ReCork is a natural wine cork recycling program that focuses on collecting, processing, and repurposing used natural corks into sustainable products. The process begins with collection: individuals, businesses, and organizations can drop off their used natural corks at one of ReCork’s many drop-off locations across North America or mail them in directly. (Source) Once collected, the corks are sorted and ground down at processing facilities, ensuring that only 100% natural cork (not synthetic or plastic alternatives) is recycled. This recycled cork material is then used in the production of eco-friendly goods, most notably in the footwear industry through ReCork’s parent company, SOLE. The cork is transformed into products such as shoe soles, yoga blocks, and other cork-based products.

Story

Founder, Mike Baker, created SOLE after struggling with back pain and realizing the impact that what’s underfoot can have on the body. Baker started getting interested in cork as a material when walking through a friend’s house that had cork flooring and was blown away by the versatility and sustainability of the material. Baker initiated the ReCORK program in 2008 to address the environmental issue of discarded natural wine corks and recognizing cork’s value as a resource that could be used as part of the soles in his own company SOLE. Since founding in 2008, ReCORK has recycled 132 million wine corks and planted over 8,000 cork trees. (Source)

Pic credit: ReCork (right and top)