THE UK CORK HARVEST
THE UK CORK HARVEST
A cork recycling programme for London independent wine merchants
Meet the UK Cork Harvest
We’re making cork recycling easy. Drop your used corks at participating London wine shops and help give them a second life.
The UK Cork Harvest is a new London‑wide sustainability drive from the Portuguese Cork Association, that makes recycling your used corks simple. Independent wine merchants across the city are joining forces to host in‑store drop‑off points, giving Londoners an easy way to recycle cork and help turn waste into something valuable.
By taking part, you’re supporting local businesses, backing greener practices, and joining a collective movement that puts circularity at the heart of wine culture.
Our campaign will kick off mid-April. At that time, you will be able to find a list of participating retailers across London. Find your nearest shop, pop in with your used corks, and be part of the change.
Cork is a 100% natural, renewable, reusable, and recyclable material, harvested without harming the cork oak, which regenerates its bark naturally.
Cork's lightweight, elastic, and impermeable structure helps it remain durable long after a bottle is opened. On a global scale, cork production is far more environmentally and socially sustainable than most common alternatives, thanks to its renewable harvesting process, carbon‑absorbing forests, and low‑impact manufacturing. Because cork is harvested without cutting down trees, it supports rich Mediterranean ecosystems, remains both biodegradable and recyclable, and plays a central role in the social and economic life of the regions where it is produced.
Once collected, cork can be transformed into beautiful and practical new products: fashion and footwear, furniture, flooring, insulation, sports equipment, garden mulch and more. Recycling cork helps cut waste, reduce emissions and support a genuinely circular material.
We’re partnering with an exciting organisation to give your corks their next life. Stay tuned - we’ll share updates here as soon as our plans are announced.
Contact apcor@thisisphipps.com to get more information on the initiative.