From 7th October, Waitrose will trial cork recycling in seven stores across the UK, becoming the first major UK supermarket to do so. Individual collection points will be set up in Waitrose Salisbury, followed by Saltash, Lymington, Bath, Godalming, Truro and Maidenhead once it relaunches in November. Customers will be encouraged to deposit their used natural corks for recycling via Amorim, the largest cork processing group in the world.
Barry Dick, MW and Beer Wine and Spirits Global Bulk Wine Sourcing Manager comments: “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.”
Recycled natural cork can be repurposed into countless new applications such as mulch – great for healthy soil – as well as household items such as placemats, coasters, flooring or even shoes.
Customers can tell the difference between natural and synthetic cork simply by the touch – 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.
The move highlights the Partnership’s focus on providing a brilliant retail experience for customers, as well as forming an important part of our overall circular economy strategy.
Run by over 45,000 passionate Partners, Waitrose has been serving customers for 120 years and offers extraordinary products in our 314 shops and on Waitrose.com. In 2024, Waitrose was granted the Royal Warrant of Appointment to be Grocers and Wine & Spirits Merchant to His Majesty King Charles III.
