When you open a jar of  Fearne & Rosie jam, you get more than just fruit on toast. This is jam made with families in mind: packed with 70% fruit, with 40% less sugar than standard jams, and with no concentrates or hidden additives. It’s a recipe built to be healthier without losing the joy of a proper spoonful. Switching to Fearne & Rosie could even save a family of four over 800 sugar cubes a year – a small swap that makes a big difference.

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The Glass Champions campaign shines a spotlight on the brands, retailers, and independent groups that choose glass as their primary packaging. Discover other brands setting container standards high in food, drink, cosmetics, and beyond. Read more.

Recycling Week is here, and this year’s theme is “Rescue Me! Recycle” – and it’s all about giving overlooked glass items a second life.

While most of us know wine bottles and jam jars can go in the recycling, there are plenty of other glass products hiding in our homes that people don’t realise can be rescued too.

Here are 9 surprising glass items you can recycle, along with quick tips on how to prepare them properly:

 

Medicine bottles

Those little brown or clear glass medicine bottles (non-prescription or empty ones) are recyclable, provided they haven’t held anything hazardous or toxic, e.g. a bottle of cough syrup.

How to prepare: Just give them a good rinse – no need to remove labels and baby, you can leave your cap on! That’s right, caps and droppers are all removed during the recycling process.

 

 

Perfume bottles

That beautiful glass perfume or aftershave bottle doesn’t have to end up in the bin.

How to prepare: If you can easily twist off or pull out the spray pump/nozzle, great, but it’s not a necessity. Just give the bottle a light rinse, then pop it into the recycle bin.

 

 

Candle jars

Once the flame is gone, the jar can live on.

How to prepare: Freeze the jar to harden wax, scrape out the remainder, then wash with warm water before recycling.

 

 

Cosmetic containers

Face cream and moisturiser jars are often glass under the lid.

How to prepare: Scoop out any leftover product, rinse, and recycle. Remove plastic or metal lids.

 

 

Premium soap bottles

Luxury liquid soap and lotion often come in sturdy glass bottles.

How to prepare: Simply remove the pump dispenser, rinse the bottle, and recycle the glass.

 

 

 

Vinegar bottles

That empty balsamic or malt vinegar bottle belongs in the recycling bin.

How to prepare: Remove the cap and rinse thoroughly.

 

 

Dessert jars

Small but mighty – dessert pots like mousses or posh yoghurts are fully recyclable.

How to prepare: Rinse, peel off foil lids, and recycle.

 

 

Baby food jars

Don’t bin them – baby food jars are 100% recyclable.

How to prepare: Wash, remove the lid, and recycle both the glass and metal lid separately.

 

 

Olive oil bottles

Glass bottles for olive oil or speciality oils can be recycled once emptied.

How to prepare: Let the bottle drain completely, give it a rinse with hot water, and recycle.

 

 

Why it matters

Glass is infinitely recyclable – it can be melted down and remade into new bottles and jars again and again without losing quality. By rescuing these often-forgotten items, we stop them from going to landfill and give them a second life.

So next time you’re about to throw away a perfume bottle, candle jar, or even a baby food pot — remember: they’re calling out to be rescued!

 Rescue Me! Recycle.

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The Glass Champions campaign shines a spotlight on the brands, retailers, and independent groups that choose glass as their primary packaging. Discover other brands setting container standards high in food, drink, cosmetics, and beyond. Read more.

Let’s be real. Going completely zero waste overnight isn’t just unrealistic, it’s unnecessary. The zero waste movement isn’t about perfection. It’s about intention, progress, and reducing the rubbish we send to landfill, one step at a time.

If you’ve ever looked at someone’s mason jar of yearly trash and thought “That could never be me,” don’t stress. This guide isn’t about guilt or extremes. It’s about making smart, low-effort changes that actually fit into real life.

Here are 6 straightforward (and actually doable) steps to help you launch your zero waste home journey with confidence.

 

1. Start with a rubbish audit (yes, your own rubbish)

Before you ditch anything, get curious about what you’re throwing away. For a week, take a peek in your bin and write down what shows up most often. Is it food packaging? Takeout containers? Paper towels?

Why it matters: Knowing your habits gives you a realistic starting point. You don’t need to change everything – just the biggest waste culprits.

 

2. Swap the “big 5” disposables

Some of the easiest wins are also the most impactful. Focus on replacing the five most common single-use items:

• Plastic water bottles → reusable bottle
• Disposable coffee cups → travel mug
• Plastic bags → cloth tote
• Paper towels → washable cloths
• Plastic wrap → beeswax wraps or silicone lids

Bonus tip: Don’t toss what you already own. Use it up, then swap it out when it needs replacing.

3. Rethink how you shop for food

Zero waste doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite snacks. But food packaging is a major waste source, so start where it’s easy:

• Shop from bulk bins when possible
• Choose loose produce over plastic-wrapped
• Bring your own containers to the butcher or bakery
• Skip the bagged lettuce (buy whole heads instead)

Bonus tip: Freeze or compost food scraps to avoid sending them to landfill.

 

 

4. Create a “use first” box in the fridge

One of the sneakiest sources of waste? Forgotten leftovers. A simple “use first” bin in your fridge for wilting veggies or opened containers can save food – and money.

You’ll love: This helps cut down on unnecessary grocery runs, too.

 

5. Find your local refill or zero waste store

These are popping up in more cities every year. Refill stores let you bring your own containers to restock pantry staples, soap, detergent, and even toothpaste.

No store near you? Look for farmers’ markets, local co-ops, or buy in bulk online from low-waste brands.

 

6. Shift your mindset: Buy less, choose well

Zero waste isn’t just about what you throw away. It’s about what you buy in the first place. Ask yourself:

• Do I need this, or do I just want it?
• Is there a reusable version of this item?
• Will I still want this in a year?

Mindful consumerism is the quiet superpower of zero waste living.

 

Final thought: It’s a journey, not a test

Zero waste isn’t a label you earn. It’s a direction you move toward. Start small, be consistent, and don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

Even one habit shift can keep hundreds of items out of the landfill every year. So whether you’re swapping plastic wrap for beeswax or composting your veggie peels, you’re making an impact.

Small steps, big impact. You’ve got this.

 

When you think of the milk round, you probably picture the familiar rattle of glass bottles on a doorstep…

The Modern Milkman has taken that nostalgic ritual and reinvented it for today’s world, combining an easy-to-use app with a packaging system built on genuine reuse. At its heart lies the simplest, most circular container of all: the glass bottle.

A modern take on a classic idea

The Modern Milkman delivers fresh milk in returnable glass bottles, alongside a wider range of groceries chosen for their low-waste or plastic-free packaging. Customers place their order via the app, enjoy their fresh delivery, then rinse and leave their empties out for collection on the next round. Those bottles are commercially washed, refilled, and sent out again.

It’s a closed loop system that fits neatly into everyday life. The Modern Milkman estimates that a single glass bottle can be washed and reused 25 – 30 times before it finally reaches the end of its life, at which point it is recycled into new glass without losing quality.

 

Proof that reuse works

Since launching, The Modern Milkman has tracked its impact in a way customers can see and celebrate. The company has passed milestones of over 50 million plastic bottles avoided, a number that resonates because it is both tangible and relatable. Every doorstep return adds up.

Independent life cycle analysis backs up the environmental case. Research with Utrecht University showed that as return rates increase, glass bottles become less carbon-intensive than single-use plastic and cartons, with a clear breakeven point and improving performance across multiple trips. In other words, the more customers return, the better the outcome.

 

Why glass is the right material for the job

Not every packaging format is suited to reuse, but glass has unique advantages that make it ideal for the milk round model:

• Durability: Designed to survive dozens of trips without losing integrity.
• Food safety: Glass is inert and doesn’t affect taste, making it trusted for staples like milk.
• Endless recyclability: When reuse eventually ends, glass can be recycled forever without loss of quality.
• Customer familiarity: The sight of glass milk bottles on the doorstep already feels natural, which lowers the barrier to behaviour change.

 

Challenges and opportunities

Of course, the system only works if bottles come back. High return rates are essential to achieving the environmental gains proven in the life cycle analysis. That means easy logistics, good communication, and customer habits that keep the loop flowing.

Scaling reuse also means tackling the operational side: efficient washing facilities, smart routing, and minimising transport emissions. These are challenges The Modern Milkman is actively addressing as it grows both in the UK and overseas.

 

Lessons for reuse beyond milk

The Modern Milkman shows that reuse works best when it’s built into everyday routines. Doorstep delivery and collection remove the hassle, while the returnable glass bottle is a visible reminder that reuse is happening – making the benefits easy for customers to understand and believe in. For brands and policymakers exploring reuse systems, the lesson is clear: design for convenience, measure what matters, and pick materials – like glass – that are built for the long haul.

Glass is one of the most sustainable packaging materials we have – it’s strong, endlessly recyclable, and made from natural ingredients. But when people talk about making glass ‘circular’, they often mix up the language.

Terms like reuse, repurpose, refill, and recycling get thrown around as if they mean the same thing. In reality, they describe very different journeys a glass container can take after its first use.

Here’s what each term really means, and why it matters.

 

Reuse: Same purpose, same shape

What it is: Putting a glass item back into use without changing its form or function. Think of returning a bottle to be washed and used again as… a bottle.

In action: A brewery collecting used beer bottles, washing them, and refilling them with the same product for resale. Or a milk round where glass bottles are picked up and reused repeatedly.

Why it matters: Reuse is one of the most efficient ways to reduce waste – it keeps the original glass container in use for longer, avoiding the energy and resources needed to make a new one each time. But it requires infrastructure: collection, cleaning, and redistribution. Reuse works best when glass packaging is standardised and used locally, making it easier to collect, wash and refill containers without transporting them long distances.

Repurpose: New use, same item

What it is: Giving a glass item a new function without changing its physical form.

In action: Using an old jar to store screws in the shed. Turning a wine bottle into a candle holder. Filling a finished pickle jar with overnight oats.

Why it matters: Repurposing keeps glass out of the waste stream and stretches its life, even if it doesn’t return to the commercial system. It’s low-effort and creative – but not scalable or trackable.

Don’t forget to pop it in the recycle bin – once it reaches the end of its repurposed life!

 

Refill: Same container, same contents (ish)

What it is: Replacing the contents of a container while keeping the original packaging intact – often done by the consumer or at a designated refill point.

In action: Buying shower gel in a glass bottle and refilling it from a bulk dispenser. Refilling your perfume bottle at home. Picking up vinegar at a zero-waste shop using your own glass container. Subscribing to a cleaning brand like Purdy & Figg and receiving refills for your glass bottle container.

Why it matters: Refill bridges the gap between reuse and convenience because it delivers waste reduction without requiring the full infrastructure or logistics of a reuse system – giving consumers a lower-effort way to reduce single-use packaging.

 

Recycle: Back to basics, then reborn

What it is: Breaking glass down into raw material (cullet) so it can be melted and reformed into new glass products.

In action: Tossing an empty sauce jar into your kerbside recycling. It’s crushed, cleaned, and melted to make new bottles, jars, or even insulation.

Why it matters: Glass is infinitely recyclable with no loss of quality – unlike many other materials. But it does take energy to transport, sort, and melt it. Closed-loop recycling (bottle to bottle) is the most efficient route, but only if it’s collected properly and not contaminated with other materials.

 

Why the distinction matters

If we want to build a truly circular economy for glass, we need to be clear about which path we’re taking – and what’s realistic.

• Reuse and refill are top-tier solutions but require system change: consistent packaging, collection logistics, and engaged consumers.
• Repurposing is a great personal habit, but it doesn’t scale or reduce the demand for new glass.
• Recycling remains the foundation of glass circularity – glass that isn’t reused or refilled must be recycled properly to stay in the loop.

Each option has its place. The challenge is choosing the right mix – not just what sounds good on a label, but what works in practice.

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The Glass Champions campaign shines a spotlight on the brands, retailers, and independent groups that choose glass as their primary packaging. Discover other brands setting container standards high in food, drink, cosmetics, and beyond. Read more.

York Gin isn’t just crafting great spirits, it’s setting a new standard for sustainable packaging in the drinks industry.

While many brands are still weighing up how to reduce their footprint, York Gin has gone all in, becoming the first UK gin brand to bottle in 100% recycled glass made right here in Yorkshire.

The move is more than a packaging upgrade, it’s a commitment to circular thinking. The bottle is made from post-consumer recycled glass, including everything from used bottles to old windscreens, remelted and reshaped just 27 miles from the distillery. That short supply chain reduces transport emissions and supports local industry, without compromising on quality or shelf appeal.

In fact, sustainability runs through everything York Gin does:

• Electric delivery vans

• Green energy powering the distillery

• Refill stations and zero landfill waste

• Labels, caps and packaging sourced from local suppliers

And while the packaging is pure glass, the contents have earned their own reputation, York Gin was named Best Gin of 2023 by Good Housekeeping, and continues to win praise for flavour, ethics and transparency.

This is what being a Glass Champion looks like: choosing glass not just for its aesthetics, but for its longevity, circularity, and quality. York Gin is proof that when you combine bold choices with local know-how, you can build a business that’s as sustainable as it is successful.

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The Glass Champions campaign shines a spotlight on the brands, retailers, and independent groups that choose glass as their primary packaging. Discover other brands setting container standards high in food, drink, cosmetics, and beyond. Read more.

Most toothpaste tubes end up in landfill. They’re typically made from a mix of plastic and foil, which can’t be easily recycled at home. Life Supplies set out to change that. Their toothpaste comes in a refillable glass jar, designed to be used again and again – cutting out single-use packaging and helping reduce waste at home.

It’s more than just a swap in materials. This is the world’s first zero-waste toothpaste – combining a clean, effective formula with packaging that stays in circulation. The glass jar protects the product inside, doesn’t leach chemicals, and can be recycled endlessly if needed.

Once the jar is empty, you can simply refill it with a concentrated toothpaste refill designed to fit perfectly. This approach drastically reduces the amount of packaging you need to buy and throw away, and because the refills are smaller and lighter, they also help cut down on transport emissions – making the whole process more sustainable from start to finish.

Why glass makes sense

Glass is one of the only packaging materials that can be reused or recycled without loss of quality. It keeps products fresh, is free from microplastics, and fits naturally into refill systems – making it the obvious choice for a product you use every day.

For Life Supplies, toothpaste is just the start – but it’s proof that small changes in packaging can make a big difference.

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The Glass Champions campaign shines a spotlight on the brands, retailers, and independent groups that choose glass as their primary packaging. Discover other brands setting container standards high in food, drink, cosmetics, and beyond. Read more.

Purdy & Figg started with a simple idea: home cleaning products shouldn’t come at a cost to your health or the environment.

Founded by a nurse and a horticulturalist, the company uses essential oils and plant-based ingredients – but it’s not just what’s inside that matters.

From day one, Purdy & Figg chose glass as their primary packaging. Not just for how it looks (though their refillable apothecary-style bottles are hard to miss), but because it fits with the way they think business should be done: less waste, more reuse.

How does it work?

Customers buy a starter bottle once, then top it up using concentrated refills – cutting plastic, cutting carbon, and cutting clutter. By posting small glass refill vials through the letterbox, they’ve made low-waste living easy and attractive. One tiny vial mixed with water makes a full bottle of cleaning spray – and saves another single-use plastic bottle from going in the bin.

It’s a simple model, but it works, and with tens of thousands of customers already on board, it shows that reuse doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs the right system – and a bit of determination to do things differently.

By sticking with glass, Purdy & Figg are proving that circular systems aren’t just possible – they’re popular. That’s why they’re a Glass Champion.

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The Glass Champions campaign shines a spotlight on the brands, retailers, and independent groups that choose glass as their primary packaging. Discover other brands setting container standards high in food, drink, cosmetics, and beyond. Read more.