Every year, millions of tons of plastic are sent to our landfills, with only a small percentage being recycled. Many of them leak into our oceans, causing pollution and destroying our marine life.

In 2016, a study predicted that in 2050, plastics will outweigh the fish in our ocean if we continue producing and disposing plastic.¹ This and other health concerns such as harmful chemicals from plastic packaging leaching into our food and care products pushed Oway to adopt amber glass as its primary source of packaging.

Unlike plastic, amber glass is 100% recyclable and can be repurposed in several ways. Here are crafty ideas on how you can upcycle Oway’s amber glass bottles and jars:

Reed Diffuser

Give your salon a relaxing ambiance by creating your own reed diffusers. Oway retail and backbar bottles make perfect diffusers due to their narrow opening. The smaller the neck of the bottle, the slower the essential oil evaporates.

HOW? Combine Oway NOTA essential oil with a base oil (almond or safflower oil are great options) or water and vodka mixture. Then pour it in a clean amber glass bottle and place the reeds into the solution. Let them soak for a few minutes, then take them out and place the other ends into the receptacle. Make sure to swap the ends every week to keep the aroma wafting.

You can also try pasting custom labels or inspiring quotes to add personality to your reed diffusers.

Candle Holder

If you want to give your salon a warm and cozy atmosphere, adding candles might just do the trick. They instantly set the mood and soothe the senses, allowing your clients to just sit back and relax. Since Oway packaging is made of amber glass, it makes an excellent candle holder.

HOW? Melt wax in a pan and mix with a few drops of essential oil once melted to create a pleasing aroma. Put the wick in your empty Oway Shabby Mud container, then pour the wax, while securing the wick in place. Let it cool for a few hours and you’re good to go. Looking for a larger size candle? Try one of Oway’s Backbar Masks (500ml)!

Storage

Don’t you just hate it when you keep losing your hair clips and bobbie pins? By repurposing your Oway Boho Pomade and Oway Shaping Putty containers into little storage pots, you’re never going to lose them again.

HOW? Simply clean the pots and remove the label (if you prefer). You can add your own custom labels like your salon name, quotes, or drawings for some added fun.

Plant Holder

As hairstylists, we are exposed to various chemicals that can harm our health. Having plants in our salon not only make beautiful decorations, they also help eliminate air pollutants. Oway amber glass jars are big enough to fit small succulents like plush plants and aloe vera, which helps remove formaldehyde and benzene from the air.

HOW? Here’s a quick tutorial on how to make a plant holder out of your Oway Rebuilding Serum jar.

Soap Dispenser

The beauty of glass packaging is it’s infinitely recyclable. You can use it for refills or for a totally different purpose. Oway shampoos and conditioners have pumps that allow you to dispense liquid products with ease. This makes it an excellent container for hand soap, dishwashing detergent, and even lotion.

HOW? Wash bottles by soaking them in a saline solution overnight. This will help the label come off easily. Then, run them through the dishwasher the next day, but make sure to remove the pumps before doing so. Once they’re dry, you can pour soap into the container and add cute decals to label the bottles.

Why recycle when you can upcycle? By doing so, you are not only putting your creativity to good use, but you are also doing the planet and the future generations a huge favor.

Source:

¹ World Economic Forum. (2016). The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the Future of Plastics. Available: http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_New_Plastics_Economy.pdf