Wine Cork Recycling Initiative Teams with WTN Services and Winetasting Network

January 30, 2014

2 Min Read
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WTN Services® and the Winetasting Network® announced today they would participate in ReCORK America's recycling program to reclaim natural cork wine stoppers sold into the world market. There are approximately 13 billion natural cork wine stoppers sold into the world market annually, with the majority of them ending up in landfill instead of in reuse applications.

This initiative provides a consumer drop off at the WTN Services® Napa warehouse and will include encouraging wine-club consumers and winery partners to save their corks and return them to WTN Services® for consolidation. WTN staff will then forward the corks to ReCORK America for recycling. WTN Services® has a convenient collection receptacle situated in the main office in their Napa, California, warehouse for any consumers or partner winery wanting to return their corks for recycling.

Chris Edwards, Vice President and General Manager of WTN Services® said, "Customers and clients are encouraged to add wine corks to their list of recyclable packaging to further the benefits of green fulfillment services within the wine industry. We are thrilled to partner with ReCORK America as part of our ongoing green sustainability initiatives."

Roger Archey, program manager for ReCORK, couldn't be more pleased with expanding the program to include WTN Services'® premium winery fulfillment and services center into the recycling partnership.

"It's great that WTN Services is taking the initiative to promote environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices within the fulfillment industry," says Archey. "WTN enables us to extend our reach by helping more people understand the benefits of recycling natural cork, thus extending the useful life of corks for years to come."

Unlike plastic or metal screw-cap closures, recycled cork can be turned into flooring tile, building insulation, shoe soles, fishing rod handles, bulletin boards, and even soil conditioner, among other uses. Natural cork is biodegradable, sustainable and a valuable source for carbon retention.

"It takes approximately 100,000 sparkling wine corks or nearly 300,000 wine corks to yield a ton of cork," explained Edwards. "Because of natural cork's ability to retain carbon dioxide from its inception as a wine cork through its reuse as a recycled cork product, it is a perfect example of sustainable packaging and is consistent with WTN Services® mission of setting a green example for the fulfillment industry," Edwards concluded.

Source: ReCORK America

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