Can cork be recycled?
The answer is Yes, cork can be recycled, cork is cork a recyclable material, they’re actually a surprisingly sustainable material from an unlikely source with plenty of possibilities for creative reuse.
Cork of different ages is used to create different products. In other words, no cork is ever wasted. Young cork is good for flooring, insulation, and sustainable fashion while old cork works best for wine stoppers. Even after its first usage, cork can be grind into pieces to create new items.
Where can I recycle corks?
As a natural material, cork is 100% recyclable. And yet, this small object very often ends up in the dustbin. So how can cork be given a new lease of life? Quite simply by depositing cork in the right places. This is not only environmentally-friendly, it also allows new products to be created.
Because cork is such a durable material, you can recycle corks into anything from craft supplies to flooring. Cork can be used to make DIY lamp shades, bath mats, flip-flops and even recycled home appliances.
What happens to the cork leftovers?
Cork leftovers can be used. The manufacture of cork is quite environmentally friendly, and any waste products can be re-purposed. Any waste cork is ground up for use in agglomerated cork, and any cork powder can be used as fuel in the factory. Chemical by products such as tannins, hard wax, resins and phonic acid all have uses in the tanning, paint and cosmetics/toiletries industries.
Even when you have a final transformed product, you can still grind it. After undergoing a multiple-stage process including a grinding phase, it can be used as a raw material for many other uses, such as:
- Producing cork granules designed for insulating buildings ;
- Producing floor tiles ;
- Creating cork pin boards ;
- Making shoe soles ;
- Building thermal insulators used in the aviation and aerospace industries ;
- Creating decorative items.
- Recycling cork is therefore simple to achieve and environmentally sustainable.
The possibilities are endless, and the recycling process never stops. In a modern world of synthetic materials, cork continues to lead the way. This amazing and natural material has a wide range of applications far beyond the oft thought of wine bottle stopper. With new ways to use it being thought of all the time, it is sure to continue to be an environmentally friendly favorite of manufactures and designers for many years to come.