Happy Mothering

The Environmental Impact of Synthetic Corks and Screw Top Wines

A couple weeks ago, I stumbled across a website that is protesting the use of synthetic corks and screw tops in wines because they are not environmentally friendly. Surprisingly, this is something I haven’t thought about before.

I try to make environmentally friendly choices with my purchases, and my “adult beverage” of choice is wine, so this website made me stop and think. Before reading their argument, I had thought that screw tops and synthetic corks may be a great idea for keeping wine fresh longer, but now I’m not so sure if that’s a valid reason…

Some interesting facts from the 100% Cork website:

1. Artificial plastic stoppers and screw caps consume fossil fuels, and use at least five times more energy per ton to produce, before millions of them end up in our landfills and oceans.
2. A new year-long study finds that CO2 emissions—a key factor in global warming—are 24 times higher for screwcaps and 10 times higher for plastic stoppers than natural cork.
3. Contrary to popular belief, cork oak trees are not harmed or cut down to produce corks. Rather, the bark of the tree is sustainably harvested every 9 years in a centuries-old practice.
4. Cork Oak forests are the second largest bio-gem in the world (after the Amazon Rainforest). As part of the Mediterranean ecosystem, it protects rich biodiversity, including 15 to 25 thousand species.
5. The Portuguese Montado, with 730,000 hectares that sequesters CO2 and naturally absorbs carbon (the greenhouse gas responsible for climate change), provides a defense against desertification.
6. Cork stoppers are biodegradable and recyclable. Recycled cork has many uses, such as for the manufacture of memo boards, placemats, coasters and floor tiles.
7. Wine and cork are ancient companions. An amphora from the 1st century BC found in Ephesus was not only was sealed with a cork stopper but also still contained wine.

You can visit the 100% Cork website and join the 100% cork movement by signing their petition to major wine manufacturers and retailers. The petition states:

“It may seem like a little thing, but I pledge to buy only wine preserved with natural cork, and to encourage my family, friends, and local retailers to do the same. I recognize that artificial plastic stoppers and aluminum screw caps consume fossil fuels, and use at least five times more energy per ton to produce, before millions of them end up in our oceans and landfills. Cork is not only a better closure for wine; it is the only organic, biodegradable and renewable choice. It’s time for wine to get back to its roots.”

Do you purchase wines with screw tops and synthetic corks?

Our Ever-Changing Co-Sleeping Arrangements

Before Kaylee was born, I wrote about my thoughts and feelings on co-sleeping, and how I wondered what it would be like to co-sleep with two little ones. Then I gave an update on our co-sleeping arrangements after Kaylee was born.

It has been a while since I talked about co-sleeping (Kaylee is already 6 months old!), so I thought I would share how things have changed in our household—and they have changed.

Zoë has decided that she no longer wants to sleep with us. I was a little surprised by that change. However, she doesn’t want to sleep in her room (we’ve tried both a twin bed and a Tinkerbell toddler bed with no luck)… she wants to sleep on the couch.

At first, I felt like a bad parent for allowing her to sleep on the couch. However, after thinking more about it and letting myself get used to the idea, I decided that if that’s where she’s comfortable, then I should just let her be.

When it’s a problem is in the middle of the night when she wakes up wanting Mommy. She refuses to come into our bed, so I have to lay on the couch with her—not my idea of a good night’s rest. Especially when Kaylee wakes up because I’m not next to her anymore.

Kaylee and Zoë have definitely traded roles in that respect. While we were living in Uruguay, Kaylee was sleeping happily in her own bassinet where she could spread out. When we got back to the US 2 months ago, she started sleeping with us since she didn’t have a crib yet.

Well, she got used to sleeping with us and having easy access to mama’s milk at night. So, even though she was sleeping through the night, that’s a thing of the past. She wakes up anywhere from 1 to 6 times every night to nurse. I guess she has decided that I’m her pacifier.

So, we installed bed rail on my side of the bed to make things safer for her to sleep with us. Because even though Zoë doesn’t want to sleep with us, there are some nights where I have to bring her into our bed because both her and Kaylee want Mommy at the same time and I can’t have them lying next to each other or they keep each other up.

Zoë likes to kiss Kaylee and rub her chubby little arms. Kaylee likes to giggle and pull Zoë’s hair. While it’s sweet that they love each other so much, I need a little sleep ☺

So, while at 27 months Zoë has already decided that she is done co-sleeping, at least I still get snuggles from Kaylee every night.