Recycled Ideas for Packaged Food Containers

We live in a world where food is conveniently packaged into a range of containers for both liquid, and solid matter.  Our food is presented to us in packets, boxes, jars, tins, cellophane, plastic and paper.  Our packaged food can be frozen, heated, microwaved, shaken, squeezed, baked, sprinkled, poured, and finally, consumed.

"In some developing countries up to 50% of the food is wasted through poor packaging and distribution methods." SOURCE: Packaging What a Waste? KESAB.

A few ideas for ways to recycle our prepared food containers.

Recycled Corona Beer Bottle Glass Tumblers

c/o $30 c/o BootleHood

Empty Tin Can Kitchen Utensil Holder

Idea and Image c/o HGTV


Cereal box re-purposed into magazine storage

Idea and image c/o Sew Many Ways

Recycled Drink Bottle Vases (for a Wedding)

Image c/o ruffledblog.com

Upcycled Chip Packet Purse

$15 c/o RecycledFashion

Recycled Lanterns

Portable lighting devices used to illuminate broad areas, lanterns are the perfect addition to any room, indoor or outdoor.

Here is a collection of handcrafted lanterns re-purposed from existing materials

Recycled Glass Lantern

Image c/o Nkuku

Wine Bottle Lantern

Image c/o Jamie Oliver

Tin Can Lantern

Image c/o 1800recycling

Mason Jar Lantern

Image c/o Chez Beeper Bebe

Recycle your jars

What to do with all your empty mason jars? A few ideas...

Stars jars via splattered glow paint inside mason jars

image c/o weheartit

 Snowglobe/pincushions. 

Image c/o pepperstitches

Tea in a jar
Image c/o PFE Photography

Pie in a jar
Image c/o a cup of Joe


 Booze in a jar
Image c/o That Kind of Woman 



 

Bunny/Dinosaur jar terrariums (great for kids!)
Image c/o West Coast Crafty

Recycled Glass

According to Planet Green Recycling Centre, glass is not particularly friendly to our planet:


 Glass

• It takes approximately 1 million years for a glass bottle to break down in a landfill.
• In the U.S. today, 34% of all glass containers are recycled.
• Most bottles and jars contain at least 25% recycled glass.
• Glass never wears out - it can be recycled forever.
• Recycling glass saves 25-32% of the energy used to make glass.
• Glass containers save 9 gallons of fuel (oil) for every ton of glass recycled.

1 MILLION YEARS?  That's a really long time.  Lets have a look at some creative ways to reuse glass:

 

Jar etching for decorative feature

 Image and words c/o recyclart

"Glass etching can be incredibly beautiful, but often it is done with a caustic chemical, which is bad for the user and the environment. This recycled jar was etched with a dremel tool, and results in a organic yet beautiful finish. This jar shows an etching of the Hokusai’s Wave."

Square Plates made from reclaimed window glass

Made by Recycled Glassworks; handmade glassware upcycled from discarded window glass in the San Francisco/Bay Area.

Sea Glass Necklace

Image c/o The Grizzly Squirrel

Beautiful necklaces handmade using sea glass* handpicked from beaches in West Wales, NE England, Cornwall and Devon.  Environmentally friendly, eco-conscious design.



*Sea glass is glass found on beaches along oceans, bays, rivers or large lakes that has been tumbled and smoothed by the waves, water and sand, creating smooth, frosted shards of glass * wikipedia

Baby Food Jar Snow Globes

Image c/o Frog Goose and Bear

Turn your finished baby food jars into snow globes!

Why buy new, when you can buy recycled?  Coming soon ... www.recycled-market.com

Happy Valentines Day

Lovely stained glass stripey hearts, each one different. and made using the copper foil (Tiffany technique) and recycled glass. Made by AmyOrangeJuice