Creative Ways to Reuse Your Empty Honey Jars for National Upcycling day

Jun 24
5 min read

Happy National Upcycling Day! At Fingerlakes Honey Company, we know how much joy a jar of raw honey or honey jam can bring to your table. But once the last drop is drizzled over your toast, whisked into your tea, or spooned into your yogurt and used up to the very last drop, that beautiful little jar still has a lot of life left in it.

We believe in making the most of what we have and that includes our packaging. Reusing or upcycling our glass honey and honey jam jars is a small, simple way to reduce waste and bring a little extra charm to your home. Here are some fun and functional ways to give those jars a second life.

Before you toss it in the recycling bin (or worse, the trash), let's talk about the buzz around the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

♻️ The Golden Rule of Green Living

Reduce what you buy or use to begin with—less waste, less clutter.
Reuse/Upcycle what you already have—get creative and give things a second life.
Recycle what can’t be reused—glass jars, for example, are highly recyclable, but reuse is even better!

Before your reuse or return our glass jars do the following:

Put glass jars in a large pot on the stove.
Fill pot with water to entirely cover the jars
Sprinkle baking soda over jars.
Cover pot with lid and place on high.
Boil jars for 10-15 minutes. Make sure it doesn't boil over or evaporate to burn.
Turn off stove and let sit until water is totally cool.
Use a scrub to remove any remaining label or label adhesive
Wash with soap and water or dishwasher to clean.
Remove any lid labels by hand (or razor blade) and wash to clean. Jam lids may rust so do not soak those.
For stubborn labels or adhesive, repeat steps above or use a paste of oil and baking soda to scrub. Be careful not to scratch the glass.
😭EMPTY HONEY AND HONEY JAM JARS😭

Now that you have clean jars and in the spirit of saving the planet and getting a little artsy, here are...

🌼 Creative Ways to Upcycle Your Empty Honey Jars

1. Herb Garden Starter Pots

Fill them with soil and plant basil, mint, or thyme. They're the perfect size for a windowsill herb garden. Label each jar with a cute chalkboard sticker or a bit of twine and cardstock.

2. DIY Beeswax Candles and Candle Holders

Melt down some beeswax (bonus points if it’s leftover from your beekeeping hobby!), add a wick, and you’ve got a cozy, honey-scented glow. Or transform jars into cozy candle holders. Add sand or small pebbles to the bottom and nestle in a tea light for warm, flickering ambiance.

3. Homemade Gift Containers

Use clean jars to hold layered cookie mixes, spiced nuts, single serving soup, cocoa mix, or dried teas. Tie on a ribbon and tag for a gift that's as sweet as your honey.

4. Zero-Waste Pantry Storage

Store small pantry staples like spices, nuts, seeds, or baking soda in your empty jars. It’s a Pinterest-worthy way to keep your kitchen organized and sustainable. Or clean and relabel your jars to use as charming spice containers. A dab of chalk paint or a cute sticker label adds rustic flair to your pantry. The clear glass lets you see exactly what you’ve got, and the twist-top lid keeps everything fresh.

5. Flower Vases

Glass jar + cut flowers = instant charm. Group them on your table or windowsill for a rustic centerpiece. Decorate them to match your decor.

6. DIY Body Scrubs

Mix sugar, coconut oil, and a drizzle of honey to make your own exfoliating scrub. Store it in your honey jar and pamper yourself the natural way. Add a label and you’ve got the perfect gift, too.

7. Craft Supply or Garage Organizer

Keep buttons, pins, glitter, beads, screws, or washi tape organized by stashing them in your jars. Bonus: the clear glass lets you see what you’ve got at a glance!

8. Portable Snack Cups

Fill jars with trail mix, yogurt parfaits, or cut veggies for a grab-and-go snack without single-use plastic.

9. Tiny Terrariums

Add pebbles, moss, and a tiny air plant to create a magical little world. A great weekend craft for all ages!

10. Succulent Planter

Add pebbles, dirt, and a succulent plant to create a great gift. Easy and Bee-utiful!

11. Emergency Candle or Match Storage

Keep waterproof matches or a tea light candle in a jar for emergency kits, camping trips, or power outages.

Coin or Tip Jar

Need a place to toss your loose change? A honey jar makes a charming coin catcher—or use it as a family “fun fund.”

Homemade Dressing Shaker
Mix, shake, and store salad dressings right in your jar. It’s leakproof, easy to clean, and just the right size for a small batch.
Homemade Dressing Shaker

14. Desk Organizer

Reuse our glass jars to organize pens, pencils, paper clips and more. Decorate them to match your theme.
Desk Organizer

15. Bathroom Organizer

Cotton swabs, cotton balls, hair ties and much for stay neatly in our glass jars on your countertop, in a drawer, or a cupboard. No more searching for missing items.

🐝 Don't Toss It—Transform It

Every jar reused is one less item in the landfill. Every creative project is a small act of care for the Earth, your home, and your hive. When you choose to reuse or upcycle, you’re making a difference that goes beyond the kitchen shelf.

So next time you reach the bottom of that Fingerlakes Honey jar, remember: the sweetness doesn’t have to end. One jar, so many possibilities.

✨We hope this blog gave you lots of great ideas. Got a jar project idea of your own? Share it with us down below or on social media using #HoneyJarReboot and tag @FingerlakesHoneyCompany!

Until Next Time- Stay Sweet!

Tom and Stacie

Tom and Stacie, are co-owners of Fingerlakes Honey Company located in the bee-utiful Fingerlakes region of New York State. When they are not tending to all things bees, they enjoy spending time with their grown children, their dog, and lots of chickens on their homestead. They love learning more about the bees they foster and helping others to learn more about them as well.