A circular economy grows from the ground up, starting with the recognition that materials used in the manufacture of products can be recovered, reused, resold and recycled to reduce the cost of sourcing raw materials. Mike Baker saw an opportunity to recycle cork and use it in his company’s custom insoles and footwear. onlywas produced and released. ReCORK collection network More than 15 years ago. Since ReCORK was founded in 2008 as the second business of custom orthopedic orthotics company SOLE, we have recycled an astonishing 132 million wine corks and planted over 8,000 cork trees. These milestones are part of SOLE’s broader mission to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainable practices. ReCORK recently contributed to Earth911’s article “Recycling Cork as an Alternative to Petroleum-Based Polymers and Foams” about its program.
We often hear that one side of the equation, the manufacturer or the consumer, is solely responsible for recycling. This partnership will not be successful unless the first step of putting materials back into the recycling system takes place in the home or office. ReCORK has found a way to make that first step more accessible to consumers and businesses by installing collection boxes at bars, liquor stores, and consumers. Mike explains the need for careful material management after collection, including designing it to be easily broken down for processing into reusable raw materials for subsequent products. And it’s essential that the story of a cork, PC or aluminum can’s journey is transparently shared with the public so that people learn to recycle with confidence. It takes time and is always in short supply. It is therefore important to let all participants in the circular economy know that their efforts are worthwhile. Learn more about ReCORK here. https://record.com/To check out SOLE, please visit: https://yoursole.com/
Next, take the time to learn more about sustainable fashion and footwear.
Editor’s note: This episode originally aired on July 1, 2024.
