From sand, soda, and lime to molten glass, every 2BGlass piece begins with simple elements shaped through time-honored craft and a zero-waste process. Discover how each ingredient plays its part in the making of heirloom glass.
Sand is the backbone of glass. When heated to over 2,200°F, this fine, natural material transforms into a molten state that can be shaped by hand. It's what gives glass its structure, clarity, and strength.
Soda ash is what makes sand behave. On its own, sand would need temperatures close to 3,000°F to melt, but soda ash lowers the melting point, allowing glassblowers to shape it. Think of it like adding salt to ice—it changes how the material responds to heat.
Lime (CaO), which comes from limestone, gives glass its lasting strength. Without it, glass would be too fragile and even water-soluble over time. Lime binds the ingredients together, making every piece durable for generations to come.
This is where the alchemy feels like a recipe. We mix in pinches of natural metals and minerals—cobalt for deep blue, copper for turquoise, manganese for purples, selenium and sulfur for reds and oranges, and even a touch of gold for soft pinks. At 2,200°F, these ingredients melt and bond into the glass itself, so the color isn’t just on it—it is the glass.
Glass’s not-so-secret ingredient is heat. Imagine baking a cake at 350°F; now imagine shaping glass at over 2,200°F. This extreme heat, fueled by the combustion of gas (Carbon [C] and Hydrogen [H]) mixed with Oxygen [O], keeps the glass in its molten, lava-like state—ready to be gathered, forced, and manipulated into its ideal shape.
In order to keep over 1,000 pounds of glass hot, gas—a mix of Carbon (C) and Hydrogen (H)—is combined with a steady flow of Oxygen (O) in a precise balance, creating a clean, powerful flame that keeps glass at a workable temperature.
We leave nothing on the table—or in the ground.
Every year, over 6,000 pounds of glass scrap created in our studio is sorted by color and melted back into new work—turning what would have ended up in a landfill into cherished, heirloom-quality pieces.
Even the small “bits and bobs” cut off during ornament production are annealed and transformed into more than 3,000 one-of-a-kind magnets each year.
For us, sustainability goes hand in hand with precision and efficiency—and most of all, with respect for the material, the craft, and the world we share. By reusing everything, we honor the process and keep our studio a true zero-waste facility.
Packaging
We believe what our work arrives in should be as simple, timeless, and as toxin-free as our glass. That’s why 98% of our packaging is recyclable and plastic-free, using only kraft paper, kraft crinkle, paper tape, and kraft boxes. We skip bubble wrap, plastic wrap, plastic tape, packing peanuts, and Styrofoam entirely.
Why does this matter?
Because glass itself is simple, chemical-free, and endlessly recyclable—and that’s one big reason why we love it. We want every part of your experience with 2BGlass to mirror the material we work with: nothing toxic, nothing extra, nothing over the top—always recyclable.
You might wonder: How can you ship glass in just paper?
The answer is experience. We ship thousands of pieces each year, and breakage is extremely rare. Every product we make has been crash-tested to ensure our methods hold up under pressure. Our team is trained to pack each item with precision—kraft paper is molded snugly around the glass, leaving the right amount of cushioning air space. Each order is then double-boxed, with its retail box secured inside a sturdy shipping box.
This process has been tested at scale and proven to deliver glass safely—while remaining eco-conscious, recyclable, and thoughtfully designed.
