WTN Services and the Winetasting Network, a division of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., will participate in ReCORK America's recycling program to regain the natural cork wine stoppers sold in the market. This initiative offers a consumer drop off at WTN Services Napa warehouse and will incorporate wine club consumers and the winery partners to save their corks and return them to WTN Services for combining. WTN staff will then forward these corks to the ReCORK America for recycling.
There are about 13 billion natural cork wine stoppers sold in the world market every year, with most of them ending up in landfill instead of in recycle applications. Cork is ideal for recycling as it is biodegradable, renewable, energy efficient, sustainable and 100% natural.
WTN Services has a convenient collection receptacle situated in 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 the expanding of program to incorporate WTN Services’ premium winery fulfillment and services center into 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.”
The recycled cork can be turned into a flooring tile, building insulation, shoe soles, fishing rod handles, bulletin boards, and even soil conditioner, among other uses. Natural cork is a biodegradable, sustainable and a valuable source for the 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.