11 Different Ways to Repurpose Mason Jars
The mason jars we used as candleholders during our wedding. Added eucalyptus and flowers, and then we placed around some plants from our house.
A common trait I’ve seen among many people, no matter how far they are into their sustainability journey, is hoarding mason jars. Even if they aren’t aware of it, they are living more consciously by attempting to reuse them. As with anything, of course, the most sustainable approach is to avoid using something in the first place (rethink and refuse, the first two Rs of Sustainability), but if we do use something, reusing and repurposing it is a very significant way of reducing our impact. Almost any object can have a new life instead of being discarded, we just need to get creative.
Personally, I have dozens of mason jars at home for which I always find a use. They come from different places and times, most from jams and tomato sauces. This variety also means a diversity in shapes, sizes, and designs. I particularly love mason jars that have drawings, measurement units, or a unique shape or lid (my favorite one has a lid with flower drawings on it). In case you are in the same situation as I am, but you don’t really know what to do with all those mason jars, I’m here to give you a few ideas on how you can make the most out of them, instead of sending them to the recycling bin.
Repurpose your mason jar by using it as a drinking glass
Have you ever been to a restaurant or cafeteria where they served drinks in mason jars? They probably bought them at the supermarket and spent a lot of money. Nonetheless, you can have the same cute glasses without increasing demand for new goods or emptying your wallet. Reusing is so much better–you will have a set of unique and sustainable glasses to serve any drinks, although I love them especially for smoothies, but would also be perfect for iced-coffee. Bottom’s up!
2. Use them to store your make up brushes
If you have smaller mason jars, the possibilities start to broaden. These are perfect for storage, my favorite use being storing make-up brushes. This way, I can place them vertically, which allows me to see what I have (if I just throw them in the drawer, I can’t see what I have). Besides, it helps me keep my bathroom organized. As an extra perk, it will look pretty with a see-through jar, unless you prefer to custom your mason jar with paint or scraps of fabric, and adapt them to your personal taste.
3. ReUse a mason jar as a candle holder
This is probably my favorite use for a mason jar, no wonder why I used it for my own wedding. My husband and I saved a lot of mason jars for a few months before our wedding. We removed the labels and cleaned them. Afterwards, we put little secondhand candles my friend gave me, added Gypsophilas and eucalyptus, and embellished the altar. We got married at the beach during sunset, and this sustainable decoration made the ceremony even more beautiful.
However, you don’t have to get married to reuse your mason jars in this way! As you can see in the picture, I also use this tip to decorate my bookshelves. Another occasion in which you could use them is if you get together with friends or family. You can place some mason jars with candles at the table and have dinner under the candlelight, a more romantic approach than your regular lights. Also, they can be used outdoors if you are having a picnic, even though in this case I would opt for flameless candles.
4. USE YOUR MASON JARS TO store food
With this use, you can be eco-friendly by reusing your mason jars, but also by making sure you store your food properly. Food waste is an environmental problem that needs to be tackled, and what better place to start than from our own kitchen. If we store food properly, it will last longer. For instance, I use long mason jars to store my green onions. I put a bit of water and put the white part of the onion in the water and save it in the fridge.
Additionally, you can store dry food like flour or legumes in a mason jar, and close it with the lid for optimum sustainable storage! I reuse mason jars to store maca, moringa, and seeds. What I like about this idea is that I can see what is inside the jar, which is great for organization but also for aesthetics. Besides, it’s the same as with clothes in a wardrobe, if you can’t see them, you probably won’t use it, so it also enables me to consume everything I have and not let anything go to waste.
5. REPURPOSE YOUR MASON JAR as A Decorative item
Did I already mention how cute mason jars are? I’lI run out of breath saying it, but mason jars look so pretty! The same way we did for our wedding day, placing Gypsophilas together with candles, you can do it to reuse your mason jars as a decorative object. For example, you can put dried flowers inside, or get artistic and paint something beautiful on it (self-taught glass painting sessions, maybe?). Any way you choose to do it, mason jars will make your shelves and tables stand up sustainably.
6. REUSE YOUR GLASS JARS TO BUY IN BULK
Another conscious way to reuse your mason jars (to make it even more sustainable!) is to use them to buy food in bulk at your local store. Stores that sell in bulk usually have a system in which you can weight your jar or bag, so you can later reduce it from the total weight, once you fill them with the product you are buying. Those things we talked about that can be stored in mason jars, like legumes or rice, or even cleaning products, and which are also easily found to buy in bulk, can be placed in the jar from the moment you buy it. This way, you don’t have to take the products out of the bags and put them in the mason jars. You skip a step.
Buying in bulk is a great way to be more sustainable and avoid unnecessary packaging that usually comes with food. Depending on where you live, you can find a farmer’s market or a local sustainable store to buy your food in big quantities, plastic-free, and probably cheaper than at the supermarket.
7. Organizing toiletries
Similar to reusing your mason jars for organizing makeup brushes, you can use them to organize other things in your bathroom. For instance, I use them to store facial cloths, plastic-free lip balms, and hair ties. Once again, the glass will allow you to see what’s inside without having to remove everything from the jar, and it will also help you stay organize. Picture your drawer full of stuff in contrast to a drawer with a few mason jars that have your things inside. It looks better, doesn’t it? An organized bathroom means an organized mind!
8. Repurpose mason jars into pencil holders
This is an idea I have yet to implement myself, since I have some pens and pencils that are just sitting in my bookshelf. Placing them vertically in a mason jar allows you to see the different pens and pencils better, and also putting them back easily after you are no longer using them. It will make your desk look prettier and more organized, as well.
9. USE YOUR MASON JARS TO Store small items
Reusing mason jars as storage is apparently very popular in this blog post. Nevertheless, even though the concept is the same, the variety of ways in which it can be done is what I want to cover, so you understand all of the possibilities there are. You might even end up having other ideas!
This time, I suggest storing small items like nails or buttons in mason jars. The perks are the same as with food: you will get to see everything you have perfectly (no more browsing boxes to try to find something specific), organizing your place, and also making sure these tiny things that are usually lost or stored in separated places are all stored together. When the time comes in which you need to use a button or a nail, you know where to go to!
10. TURN YOUR GLASS JAR INTO A GIFT
To continue with the whole “mason jars are beautiful” statement, why not spread the joy by giving them to someone else? Reusing a mason jar that might have ended up in the landfill to create something beautiful or to show someone some love, is what dreams are made of.
Here are a few ideas. The first one is to do the popular ‘cookie mix in a jar’, in which you put all dry ingredients you need for a cookie in layers (so it looks cuter), put a tag with a message or the recipient’s name, and then the instructions with how the cookies should be prepared. To make it really sustainable, make it a plant-based recipe! They would just have to add the wet ingredients and bake them, and voila! Another idea is to do a DIY, for instance a homemade body scrub with sugar and an essential oil. Another recommended sustainable gift with reused mason jars would be to put a few eco-friendly items inside that might come in handy for whoever is receiving the gift, like sustainable hair ties, plastic-free lip balms, reusable facial cloths, a shampoo bar, a zero-waste deodorant, or anything that might fit and your loved one will use.
11. reUSE YOUR glass JARS TO prepare chia pudding or overnight oats
Mason jars are great for preparing individual chia puddings or overnight oats. You can probably prepare a few with the jars you have at home, and take one each day to the office or the park. To do chia pudding I put a generous amount of chia seeds in the jar, add plant-based milk, mix it for a few minutes, and let it sit in the fridge. The gel that chia seeds release start mixing with the vegan milk and it creates a pudding! You can also add agave, maple syrup or dates to sweeten it, and some toppings like fruit or nuts to add more flavor. Another option would be to prepare overnight oats, with oats and plant-based milk, and do the same. This way, you have a nutritious vegan snack in a takeaway recipient!
Do you reuse your glass jars in any of these ways? Which repurposing idea are you most excited to try?
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Hi, I’m Melina,
I’m the creator of Sustainable Rookie, and my goal is to share what I learn throughout my sustainability journey, so that I can help other people live a more conscious life.
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