Cork ReHarvest

March 18, 2009 · 6 comments ·

I was strolling through a local Whole Foods Market a couple of days ago and saw a big carboard box with Cork ReHarvest on the side. “Hmm,” I thought, “what’s this?”

Well, it seems that Willamette Valley Vineyards is collecting corks from wine bottles to recycle into molded fiber wine shippers. They’ve managed to become the first winery in the world to receive FSC Certification. They also want you to recycle their wine bottles, and give a ten-cent credit for each bottle you take back to the winery.

Why should you care? Lots of reasons, most of which I didn’t know until I stumbled across that box. For example, there are 6.6 million acres of cork oak forests that support forest biodiversity second only to the Amazon Rainforest. And cork is harvested by stripping bark from cork oaks every 9-12 years; the trees live up to 300 years!

Some vintners are opting to use screw caps and plastic stoppers, but those aren’t sustainable options, like cork. Besides, cork allows wine to age naturally in the bottle and is best for wine quality.

Just thought you should know.

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  • http://HandsOfGold.com Jennifer

    I am really glad to hear this (I haven’t been to Whole Foods lately). I’ve been saving a big jar of corks for years; I just couldn’t bear the thought of throwing them away. I’m thrilled to know I can recycle them and will happily part with them for such an ecologically good cause. Hooray for Willamette Vineyards! I do wish they were closer, or provided some easier solution, so I could give them all the wine bottles I use. I’m going to tell my clients about saving the corks–I may even serve as a collection site myself to further the cause! It would be so easy to do.

  • http://recycleraccoon.wordpress.com Recycle Raccoon

    What a wonderful resource! Thanks for the tip. Recently I posted about cork recycling and there are a few other options available at http://recycleraccoon.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/recycle-wine-corks/ — I’ll be sure to update the post with this information.

  • http://recycleraccoon.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/recycle-wine-corks/ Recycle Wine Corks « Recycle Raccoon’s Easy Going Green

    [...] Cork ReHarvest for Willamette Valley Vineyards via Whole Foods.  Learn more at stumptown savoury [...]

  • http://recycle.linkablez.info/2009/03/18/cork-reharvest/ Topics about Recycle » Cork ReHarvest

    [...] glmark created an interesting post today on Cork ReHarvestHere’s a short outlineI was strolling through a local Whole Foods Market a couple of days ago and saw a big carboard box with Cork ReHarvest on the side. “Hmm,” I thought, “what’s this?” Well, it seems that Willamette Valley Vineyards is collecting corks from wine bottles to recycle into molded fiber wine shippers. They’ … [...]

  • http://recycle.linkablez.info/2009/03/18/cork-reharvest-%c2%ab-stumptown-savoury/ Topics about Recycle » Cork ReHarvest « stumptown savoury

    [...] glmark placed an observative post today on Cork ReHarvest « stumptown savouryHere’s a quick excerptThey also want you to recycle their wine bottles, and give a ten-cent credit for each bottle you take back to the winery. Why should you care? Lots of reasons, most of which I didn’t know until I stumbled across that box. … [...]

  • http://soonwww.blogmeeverywhere.com Suzan

    We have a new Whole Foods here in Santa Cruz. I will check to see if they are collecting corks for any of the local wine producers (there are some really good wines coming out of here). I save corks, but could never figure out what to do with them.
    Maybe I will suggest the idea to one of our good natural food stores.