Ways To Repurpose Old Wine Corks

By Kim Robson:
Cork comes from the bark tissue of the Quercus suber (Cork Oak) tree, which is native to southwest Europe and northwest Africa. Because cork is impermeable, buoyant, elastic and fire retardant, it is used for a variety of commercial purposes, including flooring, acoustic and thermal insulation, fishing floats, and fire retardant. Its most well-known use, of course, is as wine stoppers.
Only 2,200,000 hectares of commercial cork forest exist in the world: 34% are in Portugal and 27%, in Spain. Annual production is limited to only 200,000 tons. The trees must mature to about 25 years old before the cork is stripped from the trunk. Stripping takes places only every nine years, with the first two harvests generally producing lower quality cork. The trees live for about 300 years.
The cork industry is generally considered to be environmentally friendly because the cork tree is not cut down to obtain the cork; only the bark is stripped, so the tree continues to live and grow. Cork production is sustainable, but its limited output means we shouldn’t simply throw old wine corks into the trash. There are lots of creative ways to repurpose those corks.
Cork Bulletin Board
Got a basket full of wine corks? Take an old picture frame, remove the glass, and place a thin sheet of wood in the frame. Slice corks lengthwise, taking care to preserve any interesting logos or designs in the cork, and hot-glue in rows to the wood. You can line them up in rows, or alternating blocks, in a zig-zag pattern, or use medallions sliced crosswise. Hang and use as a family bulletin board that doubles as a striking conversation piece.
Picture Nail Stabilizer
In the bathroom, I have a thin cabinet wall with a pair of pictures hanging from it. Problem: the wall is too thin to support a nail or pushpin without drooping. Solution: slice a coin of cork and push it into the back of the protruding nail, stabilizing it against the wall.
Pin Cushions