Plastic Swap--Wine Corks

Many vineyards have switched from using cork stoppers to plastic ones. Supposedly, thousands of years of tradition is now considered "unsanitary." I disagree!! Cork is more sustainable, no question.

When you're buying wine, it's tough to know what kind of cork is hiding under the foil cap. I can never remember, so I try to keep a list of labels that used cork and buy those again the next time.

What can you do with the corks when the wine is finished? They look lovely as a decoration in a clear glass vessel. Stroll Pinterest and Etsy for hundreds of ideas like making cork boards, decorative wreaths, coasters, or other art.

My father-in-law turned some into a trivet for me. The cork is very heat tolerant, and looks beautiful on your table. I have used this trivet daily for several years. Craft stores and even Amazon sell kits for making your own trivets, which would be a great gift.

What do you do when all of your friends and family have their own handmade trivets, artwork, cork boards and are starting to plan an intervention? Natural cork can be composted! Break it down into smaller pieces instead of dropping the whole cork into your bin. According to this site, you can even shred corks in a food processor and add them under the soil layer for improved drainage in your garden.

Cheers!