Mammoet Budgetline Bostonshot Shot Glass 3,5 Cl - 6 Pieces
Mammoet Budgetline Jordaan Long Drink Glass 27 Cl - 12 Pieces
Mammoet Budgetline Fluitje Beer Glass 19 Cl - 12 Pieces
Mammoet Budgetline Amsterdam Beer Glass / Vase 34 Cl - 12 Pieces
How glass recycling works
Bottles and jars from the glass bin are sorted by color, stripped of caps and labels, broken into cullet, and melted down to make new bottles. Every ten percent of cullet in the furnace saves about three percent of energy, because cullet melts at a lower temperature than sand. In the Netherlands, more than eighty percent of packaging glass is collected, and a new bottle is made largely from old glass.
Drinking glasses aren't part of that recycling loop: different composition, different melting temperature. That's why they belong in the general waste, as we explain in our article about the glass bin or general waste. Glass factories do reuse their own production waste, though, so a new drinking glass often contains some recycled glass cullet too.
Drinking glasses made from recycled glass
There are drinking glasses made mostly from bottle glass, especially in Spain and Mexico. You can recognize them by their slight green or blue tint, bubbles, and somewhat heavier, less uniform glass. They are beautiful and sturdy, but not suitable if you want perfectly clear glass, and they are rarely tempered. Glasses made from cut bottles are also included in this category.
Clear crystal glass cannot be made from recycled glass; bottle glass is too impure in composition for that. So if you want to make a sustainable choice, look beyond the recycled label.
What really makes a difference
The greatest benefit lies in longevity. A glass that lasts ten years is more sustainable than a glass made from recycled glass that breaks after two years. So choose tempered glass from a range that will remain available, so you can buy a replacement for a broken glass instead of replacing the set, and wash it on a glassware cycle so it doesn't become cloudy. European factories also run on cleaner energy and have shorter transport routes than glass from far away.
Learn how glass is made in our article about glass production, and how to keep it looking good for longer in our article about glasses in the dishwasher. Browse the hospitality glasses.
Collections that last
The Arcoroc Islande tumbler and the Onis Summit stackable tumbler are tempered, made in Europe, and have been available for years: you can replace a broken glass. Find more in the hospitality glasses collection.
Arcoroc Islande Tumbler 20 cl (6 pieces)
Onis Summit Stackable Tumbler 23 cl (12 pieces)
Good to know
Is glass more sustainable than plastic?
Glass is heavier to transport, but infinitely recyclable and doesn't leach anything into drinks. For long-term use, glass wins; for single use, both are bad.
Do you sell glasses made from recycled glass?
A few collections have a green tint, and otherwise we offer glasses that last a long time. Ask us via business ordering if you have a specific requirement.
Can I have old glasses recycled?
Not in the glass bin. Secondhand shops accept intact glasses; broken glass goes in general waste and is incinerated or landfilled.
Frequently asked questions
Is recycled glass sustainable?
Yes, glass is infinitely recyclable, and cullet saves energy in the furnace. But drinking glasses usually contain little recycled glass; the real benefit comes from using them for a long time. View our hospitality glasses.
How can you recognize drinking glasses made from recycled glass?
By the light green or blue tint, bubbles, and somewhat heavier, less uniform glass.
Why is there so little recycled glass in drinking glasses?
Because bottle glass has a different composition, and clear crystal glass requires a purer raw material.
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