Waitrose is trialling a recycling scheme for natural cork in hopes of keeping its annual consumption of 25 million corks out of landfill – instead repurposing it into mulch, homeware, and more.
From today (7th October), consumers are encouraged to return their used natural corks to individual collection points at seven Waitrose stores across the UK. These will then be recycled by cork processing group Amorim.
Reportedly, natural cork can be turned into household items like placemats, coasters, flooring, or shoes, as well as repurposed into applications such as mulch.
Waitrose explains that natural and synthetic cork can be differentiated by touch; natural cork is lighter, spongier, and slightly less smooth. As such, consumers can ensure they are handling the correct material before they recycle it.
The retailer also believes itself to be the first major UK supermarket to implement cork recycling.
Any learnings from the trial will be used to inform the wider rollout of the recycling scheme. Waitrose hopes to innovate new applications for recycled cork in future versions of the system.
“Waitrose customers get through a corking nearly 25 million natural corks a year,” says Barry Dick, MW and Beer Wine and Spirits Global Bulk Wine sourcing manager at Waitrose. “Currently this valuable material does not have its own waste stream which means it ends up in landfill.
“Cork is a durable material and has the potential to be repurposed into a variety of products after it has been used as a wine cork.
“This trial is a fantastic way for us to reduce waste and play a part in improving our sustainability as a category. Once we’ve gauged our customer’s appetite to return their natural corks, we’re hoping to roll the trial out to further stores from next year.”
Marija Rompani, director of Ethics and Sustainability at John Lewis Partnership, added: “I’m excited to kick off this trial and learn about how we can help reduce unnecessary waste of such a great material.
“We’re always looking for ways to reduce waste and keep materials in circulation as a crucial element of our Ethics & Sustainability commitments, and this trial will add another layer to the work we have across the Partnership.”
The trial will begin at the Waitrose store in Salisbury and then extend to Saltash, Lymington, Bath, Godalming, Truro, and Maidenhead upon relaunch in November.
Another push to improve the retailer’s sustainable packaging credentials came to light last year, when Waitrose removed plastic and foil sleeves from the necks of its own-brand wine bottles. By the end of 2023, it was anticipated that the move would save half a tonne of unnecessary packaging every year.
Redsmith Distillery also revealed a new bottle design for its gin products; this included a natural cork stopper with a wooden top. Overall, the bottle was said to be 20% lighter than previous bottles.
More recently, Costa Coffee and Podback have announced the launch of an in-store recycling trial for coffee pods. Consumers will be provided with recycling bags to return their pods to one of 142 Costa Coffee stores in the UK.
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