Wine Corks vs. Screwtops: Which Are Better for the Planet?

How a wine is closed is a major part of wine production, and there is much debate regarding which type is better. Natural corks, which have been used for centuries, are associated with tradition, romance (that “pop”), and long-term wine aging. Screwtops, which are made out of aluminum or plastic, are often seen as easier to open and reseal, more reliable, and less likely to taint the wine.

But which is more environmentally friendly? This is a significant concern these days.  Many people are under the impression that screwtops are better for the planet.  

Are they really? Not necessarily, according to Patrick Spencer, Executive Director of the Natural Cork Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating people about cork. The Council was one of the sponsors of the 2026 Wine Writers’ Symposium, the premier wine writers' conference, which I was honored to attend as one of this year’s 24 Fellows.  

“There are a lot of misconceptions about cork,” he said, addressing the issue at the Symposium.

Let’s bust some myths about whether wine corks or screwtops are better for the planet.

1.      Myth: Cork Production Destroys the Forest

Many people believe that cork trees are cut down in order to harvest the cork, which is the tree’s outer bark.  

That’s not true. Cork oak trees, which proliferate in forests around the Mediterranean Basin and are most prevalent in Portugal, are one of only two types of trees where the bark can be removed without killing the tree, according to Spencer (the other kind is an oak tree in China).

Ninety percent of cork forests are owned by families that have owned them for generations. It takes three to five years for an apprentice to learn how to cut the bark correctly. The bark removal does not hurt the tree. The bark is only harvested once every nine years to enable the bark to regenerate. Most cork oak trees live about 200 years; it’s illegal to cut down a cork tree unless it’s diseased or at the end of its life, said Spencer.

There’s another environmentally friendly aspect to the forests compared to screwtops: the forests sustain biodiversity and the plant and animal ecosystems they’re part of. Cork is all about forest conservation, not destruction.

2.      Myth: Screwtops are More Recyclable

It can be argued that screwtops are more recyclable. Aluminum and plastic are popular recyclable materials, and recycling bins for them are common. Natural corks, while biodegradable, can be harder to recycle because it’s less convenient to do so, although there are programs that will pick them up and recycle them into other products, like flooring.  

The problem is whether people actually recycle those screwtops. You can’t recycle them on their own because they’re too small, so you need to put them in a larger container or accumulate enough of them so that they are accepted at recycling centers. That’s assuming that people remember to recycle.

3.      Myth: Cork Has a Larger Carbon Footprint

The cork forest, like other natural resources, such as oceans, is a “carbon sink” absorbing and storing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases, thus reducing greenhouse gases. In contrast, screwtop production generates carbon dioxide and increases greenhouse gases.

Also, while cork production uses energy and water, cork generates no waste when it’s produced, which is something to keep in mind. Once the corks are punched out of the bark, the remaining membrane is ground up and used for other products, such as Champagne corks. Any leftover dust is made into biomass. About 60 percent of the energy used by cork factories is created from this biomass, said Spencer.

Aluminum screwtops are the result of open bauxite mining and are created using coal. Plastic ones are made from petroleum, which is non-renewable. Both are energy-intensive and contribute to pollution.

“If you want healthy grapes, you need a healthy planet,” Spencer pointed out.

Both natural cork and screwtops have a valid place in the wine world.

But don’t fall for the canard that screwtops are more environmentally friendly. That appears to be misinformation.

We hope this information about whether wine corks or screwtops are better for the planet helps dispel some myths that have been circulating. Don’t be fooled!

What other misconceptions about wine bother you the most?  Please let us know! We’re at info@winewithourfamily.com.

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