Glass with a Storied Past | Upping the Up-cycling Game

Posted by Amy Pyles on 5th Jun 2019

Etsy shop turned burgeoning business is granting new life to incinerator-bound bottles in the form of laser etched, period inspired decanters, and in the process saving natural resources, energy, and a whole lotta green!

It all began in 2012 when the lean and mean, eco-conscious team, Timothy Daw, future wife Tanessa, and fellow spirit-sipper Ethan Terry created a large format decanter prototype for a holiday gathering. It was then that they realized their shared interest in revitalizing an icon of the past, and helping our planet in the process. Expertise in fine art and industrial design, along with a background in business, empowered the group to go pro. And Tim and Ethan’s Bay Area relationships in the recyclable- laden culinary scene enabled them to get their hands on more than enough bottles to maintain a viable inventory.

After an unexpectedly successful holiday of sales, their original product, the Variance decanter, had completely sold out. The following year, thanks to a Kickstarter campaign and the purchase of their first laser etching machine, Reclamation Etchworks was on their way to stylizing home bars everywhere.

Cocktail-centric bars and restaurants recycle an estimated 40-50 liquor bottles per week, and even more in heavily populated cities. Multiply that by the number of Bay Area establishments with liquor licenses, (currently over 800), and that’s a world of glass! Yes, California is a stickler for recycling, but it still uses a LOT of energy to get the job done — a toasty 2700oF to break the material down and even more energy to re-blow it into new objects. In 2018 alone, RE reclaimed over 2000 bottles saving enough energy to prevent 2.3 tons of CO2 from being released back into our atmosphere.

We’ll drink to that.

Planet saving aside, RE’s decanters just look really cool. They make distinctive gifts for Father’s Day, graduates, groomsmen, bridesmaids, newlyweds, employers, and even Nana who has never missed her 5 o'clock Scotch. Collect them for yourself as you personalize a home bar that could impress even the most spirited Mad Men fan. No one will know whether you’re stocking budget booze or the swankiest sauce, as RE decanters store them stylishly and conspicuously.

After seven years in business, RE has built an eclectic client list including brides, startups, and even international spirit brands. But their original intention still remains: to create timeless keepsakes from recycled materials while reducing waste at the local level. Tim and Tanessa continue to create home-bar accessories from their home-based workshop while raising a family and maintaining a sustainable business.