Vases and glasses from recycled beer bottles

With a background in graphic design and a passionate eco sensibility, Pete Dobson has launched his own label of recycled glassware. He collects wine and beer bottles from bars and restaurants in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and hand cuts and polishes them to produce glasses, tumblers, carafes, and vases.

The eco-friendly aspect of his business is important to Pete, who can be found on a weekend scouring local bars, restaurants and cafes in Coogee for bottles. “I think there are more than adequate amounts of new products on the market,” he explains. “I love the idea of owning something with a story – reusing something that has already had one lifetime.”

Randwick Council has a well-documented commitment to environmental sustainability, and Pete has made contact regarding partnering them in their environmental solutions – a challenge he is excited about. The venture has come a long way from “crafternoons” in his kitchen, where Pete taught himself to work with glass. “I am completely self taught; it’s been a trial and error process with thankfully more trial than error,” he says.

Having worked in website and application design, Pete is enjoying the change from digital design to something more tactile. He has been experimenting with custom design jobs, in particular glass etching.

His favourites are the large brown tumblers, which his girlfriend refers to as ‘man glasses’ and adds: “I get a real kick out of seeing my glasses, vases, tumblers and candle holders back in the restaurants that I originally collected the bottle from.” 

Buy online at www.petesglasses.com