Houlihan's has launched a cork-recycling program this week with new partner Recork. The Leawood-based restaurant chain has started collecting wine corks for recycling at 13 of its restaurants nationwide. J. GIlbert's and the two Bristol locations in the Kansas City area are participating in the program.
"It makes sense and can make a big difference," says Jen Gulvik, Houlihan's vice president of marketing.
Recork -- sponsored by cork producer Amorim -- is working with footwear company Sole to turn recycled cork into footwear. These first 13 restaurants will serve as recycling drop-offs in Recork's network, collecting wine corks from the public and the restaurant.
When a location has gathered 3,000 corks (about 30 pounds' worth), the organization picks them up. Gulvik estimates that each of the 13 restaurants uncorks 25,000 bottles of wine a year -- putting the first pickup in about six weeks.
"It's a simple, easy thing to do," she says. "Yet, I think most people don't even think about recycling corks."
In an effort to get people to think about recycling their corks, both Bristol locations are offering a free dessert to diners who bring wine corks from home. There's no minimum number of corks needed for the offer. I
"Bristol and Gilbert's are a test," Gulvik says. "We may eventually roll it out in all of our Houlihan's locations as well."
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