During a recent trip to Singapore, some of the Hanscomb Glass team—Neil, Gisela, and Yanna—had the pleasure of meeting glass artist B. Jane Cowie in her studio and headquarters of Art Glass Solutions and Refind SG.
Originally from Australia, Jane moved to Singapore to teach in an art school, and subsequently set up her company there. She has dedicated her career to designing, creating, and installing glass artworks that harmonize with their surroundings. Trained as a glassblower, she began in the craft market before transitioning to large-scale public installations that are visually striking, and reflect the identity of those who commission them. Her installations can be seen in many iconic locations in Singapore as well as in Australia.
Sharing my love of this amazing material is an important part of my practice as an artist and glassmaker - Jane Cowie
Beyond her artistic practice of large glass installations, Jane’s aim is to reshape how Singapore manages glass waste through her project; Refind. Guided by the principles of Recycle, Renew, and Refind, the initiative transforms discarded glass bottles into valuable resources, preventing single-use containers from becoming waste. Refind as a collective, offers education, upcycling experiences, bottle cleaning, and reusing services—ensuring that packaging glass is seen not as disposable, but as an asset. By redefining the worth of glass and creating economic opportunities through sustainability, Jane and her team are shifting perspectives on waste management and inspiring meaningful change. It was this forward-thinking approach that first drew our attention to Jane’s work, leading us to visit her at her studio.
Singapore, as an island city-state with a population of approximately 5.3 million, relies heavily on imports due to limited space for agriculture and manufacturing. Consequently, a significant amount of glass packaging, from bottles to jars, accumulates, necessitating effective waste management solutions. Jane's commitment to sustainability is evident in her efforts to repurpose this glass locally, reducing the need for energy-intensive production of new materials. She emphasizes the inherent potential of glass to be continually reinvented, advocating for innovative reuse and recycling practices especially in locations such as Singapore.
The reality is that glass recycling isn’t as widespread as you might think. Many people don’t realize just how reusable it is—but instead of being properly recycled, much of it still ends up in landfills. Why? Because glass recycling comes with its own set of challenges. It’s heavier and more fragile than plastic, and the process of collecting, sorting, and melting it down requires significant energy. But when done right, glass has a far lower environmental impact than single-use plastics, making it a material worth rethinking.
At Hanscomb Glass, we’ve always believed in the power of reinvention—transforming discarded glass into something new, meaningful, and enduring. Our visit to Jane's studio was both inspiring and enlightening. Seeing Jane’s work in Singapore reaffirmed our own commitment to sustainable glass practices and the creative potential of repurposed materials.
We’re excited about the possibilities ahead—exploring new ways to incorporate recycled glass into our projects and collaborating with like-minded creatives like Jane to shape a more sustainable future.
To find out more about Jane and her work check out Refind!