From Bottle to Beauty – A Sustainable Second Life for Bombay Sapphire Bottles

Australian gin lovers and sustainability advocates are finding creative ways to turn empty gin bottles into beautiful works of art – quite literally.

Peter Barclay, proprietor of Canberra’s King O’Malley’s pub, has teamed up with the acclaimed Canberra Glassworks on a unique project that transforms empty Bombay Sapphire bottles into striking handcrafted Sapphire Vases.

The initiative was inspired by a desire to repurpose glass waste in a meaningful and visually arresting way – and aligns closely with the Gin Guild’s own emphasis on sustainability in the industry.

Using a custom-designed mould, the talented team at Canberra Glassworks ‘upcycle’ the iconic blue bottles into elegant, textured vases. Each piece retains the distinctive glass hue and pays homage to the original design, offering a second life that’s both functional and artistic.

Importantly, all proceeds from the sale of these vases go directly to the glass artists and the Glassworks, supporting local makers and preserving the craft of glassblowing in Australia.

Peter shared his enthusiasm for the Gin Guild’s Sustainability Toolkit, and got in touch with the Guild to share how they are making use of used bottles.

With the potential to include other brands and bottle styles, the project offers a scalable and elegant model for reimagining what a discarded bottle can become.

You can view the vases or purchase one via the Canberra Glassworks website and see the making process in action in the video.

The Gin Guild applauds initiatives such as this – where creativity, craftsmanship and sustainability intersect – and encourages others in the industry to consider how empty bottles might become objects of lasting beauty and utility.