Best Recycled Glass Drinking Glasses
If you’re in the market for a new set of drinking glasses, consider a recycled set. Recycled glass is just as durable and there’s no loss of quality. Plus, it lowers emissions, saves energy, and prevents having to extract raw materials. Read on for our favorite recycled glass drinking glasses.
- Schoolhouse Recycled Stacking Glassware Set
- Novic Handblown Recycled Glass Tumblers
- West Elm Recycled Mexican Drinking Glasses
- Amici Home Italian Recycled Green Regina Highball Glass
- Wind & Weather Handcrafted Recycled Confetti Glass
- Hawkins New York Recycled Glass Tumbler
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Why Choose Recycled Glassware?
There are many benefits to using recycled glassware. For one, it reduces the need for raw materials for glass manufacturing. Conserving the natural resources and energy required to produce glassware is a great, sustainable choice!. Additionally, by purchasing recycled glassware, it increases the demand for production of recycled glass materials, reducing the amount of waste going into landfills.
Unlike other materials, such as paper, glass is endlessly recyclable with no loss of quality. New glass is made from sand, soda ash, limestone, and other additives, which have to be quarried. By recycling glassware, we eliminate that step of acquiring raw materials.
Our Favorite Recycled Glass Drinking Glasses
Schoolhouse Recycled Stacking Glassware Set
These stackable glasses come in a set of four and are made from 100% recycled soda bottles. Available in two sizes, these are handmade in small batches in Bolivia. While they are clear, they have a slight blue-green tinge to them, which makes them look more unique.
While they appear delicate, the reviewers describe the glasses as sturdy and great for daily use.
Pros:
- Stackable
- Handmade in small batches
- Matching carafe available
- Dishwasher safe
- Microwave safe
Cons:
- Only available in sets of four
Specs:
- Made in: Bolivia
- Dimensions: 2.5″ H x 3″ W for 8 oz.
- Price per Glass: $10.50
Novic Handblown Recycled Glass Tumblers
This set of six tumblers are clear with a cobalt blue rim. The size and durability of these glasses make them great for regular use.
They are handmade, with slight variations that make these tumblers unique. Novica is B-Corp certified and offers fair trade products which empowers local artisans making handmade products through traditional techniques.
Pros:
- Novica is a certified B-Corp company
- Top rack dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Only available in sets of six
- Not microwave safe
Specs:
- Made in: Mexico
- Dimensions: 3.9″ H x 3.2” W for 10 oz.
- Price per Glass: $8.33
West Elm Recycled Mexican Drinking Glasses
These glasses from West Elm are made from mouth blown recycled glass in Mexico. The handmade technique means each glass may be slightly different, giving your set a unique look. I like that there are additional color options for this set, as well as the option for different types of glassware depending on the colorway.
Pros:
- Available in multiple colors and sizes
Cons:
- Only available in sets of four
- Hand wash only
Specs:
- Made in: Mexico
- Dimensions: 4” H x 3” W for 12 oz.
- Price per Glass: $10 for 12 oz.
Amici Home Italian Recycled Green Regina Highball Glass
This glassware seems like the perfect style for kicking back with a summer beverage due to the bee design. They are a pale green color made of 100% recycled soda lime glass. I also loved these ones with the allover bee design, but they recently went out of stock. These ones are the shorter version that are currently in stock and I could see making a great gift.
Pros:
- Dishwasher safe
- Raised design gives the glass a more secure grip in your hand
Cons:
- Only available in sets of six
Specs:
- Made in: Italy
- Dimensions: 5.75″ H x 3.5″ W
- Price per Glass: $8.33 for 16 oz.
Wind & Weather Handcrafted Recycled Confetti Glass
These glasses are so festive with their explosion of colors. They are made from 100% recycled soda bottles using artisanal handcrafted techniques. The handmade nature means that no two pieces are exactly alike.
Pros:
- Raised design gives the glass a more secure grip in your hand
Cons:
- Only available in sets of four
- Wash information unavailable; follow manufacturer’s care instructions on packaging if purchased
Specs:
- Made in: N/A
- Dimensions: N/A
- Price per Glass: $9.99
Hawkins New York Recycled Glass Tumbler
These glasses from Hawkins are a modern take on recycled glass. They are mouth blown and have a pale green tint with a slightly bubbled pattern. The handmade nature means that no two pieces are exactly alike. The company itself is New York based and partners with producers, family-owned manufacturers, and collectives all over the world.
Pros:
- Available in any quantity
- Matching carafe available
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- N/A
Specs:
- Made in: Morocco
- Dimensions: 2.5” H x 2.5” W for Medium (6-7 oz.)
- Price per Glass: $8 for Medium (6-7 oz.)
Sustainable Alternatives to Recycled Glassware
Repurpose What You Have
You don’t need to purchase a new set of glassware.. After all, the most sustainable option is to repurpose.
Perhaps you have a set of mason jars you don’t use as much as you’d like to for their intended purpose. They make great drinking glasses! You can even pair mason jaws with reusable straws by using specialized straw lids. (Side note: If you go the reusable straw-route, here’s how to clean a straw).
Another idea is to remove the labels from jars you get from the store and upcycle them into drinking glasses. Personally, I’m big on upcycling pasta sauce and jam jars to store dry goods such as lentils, nuts, and dried fruit, though I haven’t used these for drinking glasses.
Buy Second Hand
Instead of buying new recycled glass drinking glasses, purchase second hand glassware. Hit up your local thrift store or scour your local online swap page for glassware that someone in your community is ready to part with. Estate sales can be a great opportunity to find some glassware.
Invest in Skilled Artisans
Another option is to invest in glassware directly from skilled artisans that create glassware. For example, you may explore what your local community has to offer. Or, perhaps you look on Etsy.
Another idea: If you are on an international trip, consider purchasing glassware directly from artisans in the communities you visit. Bonus if you can source local, artisanal glassware made from recycled glass.
FAQs
Yes. If the glassware you are using is meant for drinking out of, it will be food safe and free of lead and other material that’s not safe.
You have a few options. You can upcycle the glassware into something else in your home. Repurpose old glasses for homemade candles, office supply organizers, windowsill herb gardens, or DIY mini cake stands.
Alternatively, you can give it away in a local swap or thrift store so someone else may get use out of them.
The last and more complicated option is recycling. Drinking glasses can’t always be recycled in the same way pasta sauce jars can be, because they are made of different materials. This can make them more difficult to recycle. Check with your local recycling center to find out if drinking glasses can be recycled.
Yes and no. The technology itself is relatively simple. However, in the US, about 33% of glass gets recycled. This is because there are some factors that make glass difficult to recycle. For example, glass can become contaminated by other materials during municipal single stream recycling collection. Plus, glass is heavy and costly to transport as well as hazardous because it can break, and more.
What does this mean? First, always aim to reduce what you purchase, reuse or repurpose what you already have, and last, recycle when you can. Additionally, when needing to buy a new-to-you set, purchase a secondhand or recycled set.
