Did you know glass is endlessly recyclable? How does that glass bottle you just recycled turn into a new glass products? Check out this great video from PBS sharing just how companies turn our recycled glass into reusable materials.
Fun fact: did you know the energy from recycling one glass bottle could power a television for one whole hour? One more reason to recycle!
Video: How Glass Is Recycled Read More »
One of the questions we frequently get is why we don’t have our glass water bottles made in the United States. Here’s the short answer: we made every effort to find a glass company that could meet our green standards, our capactiy needs, and our quality demands. After a search of 2 years they weren’t to be found in the U.S. – it was frustrating for us, but also a reflection of current challenges in manufacturing here in the States. From that point, we expanded our search to our closest neighbors. After additional review and considerations, we partnered with Pavisa in Mexico City, a company known for their conservation and green efforts along with incredibly skilled glass artisans. We also liked that they are a major glass company with their own curbside recycling program, further reducing the carbon footprint of our glass water bottles.
The glass artisans, blowers, and employees at Pavisa are committed to sustainable and green efforts along with creating beautiful, functional glass products.
In addition to their green efforts, the artisans at Pavisa make beautiful glass. You can see their work with our reusable glass water bottles, but they also manufacture glass for other companies. Another beautiful example? The beautifuul hand-crafted bottles for Patrón Tequila bottles.
We’re proud to partner with Pavisa – a company committed to beauty and the environment – just like us.
Pavisa Glass, Our Partner in Beauty and Sustainable, Green Practices Read More »
We’ve shared the history of glass and the reasons why glass ‘sparkles’, but one of the other common questions we get is how glass gets its color. When Laurel creates a stained glass
window or you buy a beautiful purple glass vase, the glass gets its color from simple chemistry. By adding in certain minerals, pigments (which are mineral salts) or chemicals to the base of silica (SiO2) we can create the color, add to its intensity or combine it for unusual results. When working with glass, not only do you need to be an artist, but you also need some basic chemistry knowledge. So for every 5th grader wondering if they’ll ever ‘need that stuff’, here’s proof that science can create beauty:
Color You Want Chemical You Add
White Antimony Oxides or Tin Compounds
Black Manganese, Cobalt and Iron
Brown Iron Oxides
Deep Blue Cobalt Oxide
Light Blue Copper Compounds
Green Iron Oxides
Yellow Green Uranium Oxides (this one glows!)
Yellow Lead with Antimony
Ruby Red Gold Chloride
Red Selenium Compounds
Amber Manganese Oxides
If you’ve got questions on how we get to a certain color, feel free to email us info(at)bottlesupglass(dot)com or come on by the studios on Bluffton. We’d love to meet you.
How Glass Gets Its Color Read More »
Glass artist Laurel Herter, the founder of BottlesUp, will be making appearances at the 2011
International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. She’ll be at our booth (S3971) in the Discover Design section to share the story of creating the first-ever art-inspired and environmentally-responsible reusable glass water bottle. Laurel will be sharing this passionate and personal story on:
– Sunday, March 6 9am, 1pm, 4pm
– Monday, March 7 10am, 2pm, 4pm
– Tuesday, March 8 9am, 1pm
If you’re heading to the show and want to meet Laurel and hear her incredible story, stop on by!
Glass Artist at 2011 Housewares Show Read More »
Today we announced our big news – we’re launching our company and our first product, a reusable glass water bottle made from all natural, recycled materials, at the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago.
This Sunday, March 6 we will see the fruits of our labor over the last two years. From initial designs, drafts, to building molds, to hand-blowing the prototypes, to sourcing our products with a commitment to be green – all of it, all of it, has been worth it.
We’re very excited to bring you a reusable glass water bottle that is truly a blend of art, function and environmental-responsibility. We’re 100% sourced in North America: the glass is made from a minimum of 75% recycled glass sourced on site; the silicone grippers and cap are made in Maine. Our product and our packaging contain zero plastic, making it naturally BPA-free and PVC-free. We’re one company making a difference and we hope you’ll join us on this journey to improve our health and this big blue marble we call home.
Thank you!
