Known as ‘depression glass’, this mass-produced machine-made glassware was extremely democratic. A family of low-cost tableware was available, from teacups to plates and pitchers, in a range of contemporary colours and patterns. The products were also unique in the way that they could be bought, they were not only available in stores but were also given away at movie theaters, gas stations and in cereal boxes as premiums. In the age of sustainability, there are some curious lessons from the past to use as benchmarks.