| When a person thinks of cork, they may think of a | | | | granulated and turned into products such as pin boards, |
| variety of things. Some people may think of the | | | | tile, engine gaskets, hockey balls, safety mats, and boat |
| material used for bulletin boards, while some may think | | | | decks. Recently, wine cork has even been used in |
| of material used for coasters. Others, thoroughly | | | | rocket technology. |
| confused, may simply think of cork as the other white | | | | |
| meat. Chances are, however, when most people think | | | | Because wine cork is one of the easier materials to |
| of cork, they think of wine. Part of each others' lives, | | | | recycle, there seems little reason to not recycle it. |
| the two are nearly inseparable, especially without a | | | | However, the US does not routinely engage in wine |
| wine opener. | | | | cork recycling, leaving some environmentalists to |
| | | | wonder why. |
| What is Cork? | | | | |
| It would be easy to define a cork with a simple, | | | | This wonderment, not limited to individuals, has been |
| unrefined answer. We could say that cork is a | | | | adopted by a few US based companies. One of |
| lightweight, inert substance providing blockage of liquids | | | | these companies, Yemm and Hart, a firm specializing in |
| and leave it at that. But, because cork is an elemental | | | | the recycling of products, is conducting an experiment |
| part of wine, it is bestowed with certain elegance and | | | | asking for wine corks that they can recycle. Theorizing |
| sophistication. For this reason, wine cork deserves a | | | | that cork is a valuable resource that should not go to |
| more grandiose introduction: Cork hails from the bark | | | | waste, Yemm and Hart plan to begin manufacturing |
| of the Cork Oak tree, Quercus Suber. Produced | | | | tack boards, coasters, plaques, and floor tiles all made |
| extensively in Portugal, cork enjoys being fire resistant, | | | | from wine cork. |
| providing insulation, and the company of fine alcohol. | | | | |
| | | | What Are Creative Ways to Recycle Wine Cork? |
| Since cork is very elastic and impermeable, it makes | | | | If the concept of wine cork recycling catches on, |
| a great bottle stopper; for cork, just like for many of | | | | recycling wine cork in the US may someday be as |
| us, wine was destiny. Its adaptability, additionally, makes | | | | simple as recycling newspapers or soda cans. In the |
| it an easy material to compress without change to the | | | | meantime, however, those who live in America can |
| original shape. It was these qualities that intrigued Dom | | | | recycle their wine corks through a few creative |
| Perignon, a French Benedictine monk, to use cork in a | | | | means. |
| bottle of champagne, thus influencing the world of wine | | | | |
| from that moment on. | | | | While some people have donated wine corks to |
| | | | children's museums, for use in displays and dioramas, |
| How Do Wine Corks Affect the Environment? | | | | others have made wreaths and decorative pieces out |
| Wine corks are environmentally friendly, like a material | | | | of old wine corks. Some people wire together wine |
| that is always willing to lend a helping hand or an | | | | corks and make hot pads while others suggest gluing |
| encouraging word to the ecosystem. This makes wine | | | | sliced wine corks to the bottom of vases and |
| corks stand out from other forms of packaging, forms | | | | knickknacks, as a means to keep these items from |
| that often hinder their surroundings rather than help | | | | scratching tables and shelves. People have even |
| them. | | | | found old wine corks useful as door stops, knife |
| | | | scrubbers, and pin cushions. |
| Wine corks are biodegradable, natural, and renewable. | | | | |
| They also don't go to waste, with each aspect of a | | | | Just as wine should never go to waste, neither should |
| wine cork having the potential to become something | | | | wine corks. A highly useable material, there are several |
| else. Even cork dust can be used for fuel and cork | | | | ways wine corks can be recycled, even if it's not |
| residue can be used to make other cork products. | | | | routinely done on a national level. With all the kinds of |
| | | | packaging that can destroy the Earth, cork is an |
| Cork forests, where cork oak trees reside, are | | | | exception. A special material, cork is able to protect |
| important to the balance of the ecosystems with | | | | wine and the world by putting a stop to |
| several species, including endangered species, calling | | | | wastefulness.Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor at |
| these forests home. | | | | With a vast knowledge of wine etiquette, she writes |
| | | | articles on everything from how to hold a glass of |
| What is Wine Cork Recycling? | | | | wine to how to hold your hair back after too many |
| | | | glasses. Ultimately, she writes her articles with the |
| Many places, such as Europe and Australia, have | | | | intention that readers will remember wine is fun and |
| programs set up for wine cork recycling. Dropping | | | | each glass of anything fun should always be savored. |
| wine corks off in designated areas, the wine corks are | | | | |