WAITROSE is to trial a cork recycling scheme in a number of its stores across the UK in what it said is a UK supermarket first.
Customers will be encouraged to deposit their used natural corks for recycling via Amorim, the largest cork processing group in the world.
Waitrose explained that recycled natural cork can be repurposed into ‘countless’ new applications such as mulch and household items including placemats, coasters, flooring, or even shoes.
Customers can tell the difference between natural and synthetic cork simply by the touch, the supermarket added, explaining that natural cork tends to be lighter, spongier and slightly less smooth.
Waitrose will use learnings from the trial to determine how best to roll it out more widely – with hopes of exploring innovative applications of recycled cork in future propositions.
Barry Dick, MW and beer wine and spirits global bulk wine sourcing manager at Waitrose, commented, “Waitrose customers get through a corking nearly 25 million natural corks a year. 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 and sustainability commitments, and this trial will add another layer to the work we have across the partnership.”
