Upcycling: Benefits & Items to Repurpose

When it comes to environmentally friendly actions, recycling is a common topic. Recycling is the process of taking common household items, such as glass bottles and paper, and turning the materials into a new product. However, the resulting product may not always be of good quality and not all items are actually recyclable.

There is another option to consider: upcycling.

What is Upcycling?

Unlike recycling, upcycling is all about repurposing. It doesn’t require breaking down materials. You only need creativity to turn old items into useful ones.

Benefits

1. Save old and unwanted possessions from landfills

We are giving these items a new purpose instead of  throwing them into the garbage and wasting them. 

2. Less pollution from production

Upcycling also helps lower demand for new products and materials, which means less pollution and unnecessary waste production in the long term.

3. More eco-friendly than recycling

Upcycling can be a greener version of recycling because it doesn’t consume extra energy and resources like recycling does. It does not require extra machinery.

4. Promotes creativity with DIY projects

If you have children, you can introduce them to green living by letting them create new items out of old possessions. This DIY work encourages creativity. 

DIY Upcycling

Here are some fun DIY upcycling ideas:

• Gather old cans and turn them into pretty pots for flowers and other plants
• Transform an old window shutter to a paper organizer
• Make DIY jewelry using crystals from an old chandelier
• Turn paper rolls into an art piece for decoration or even a wall organizer
• Turn an old ladder into a pretty bookshelf

There are so many ways of creative repurposing but sometimes you will find it challenging to think of new ways. Do not pressure yourself to do so, you can always choose to recycle them instead. But try to include more upcycling whenever you can. 

Businesses That Upcycle: Brave Soles & Adidas

For lots of entrepreneurs, upcycling is a way of making their businesses green. Some people make living by upcycling items and selling them.

At GSGF, our favourite sustainable fashion brand is Brave Soles. They use upcycled tires to create trendy, handmade fashion footwear and also accessories for both men and women. They have already upcycled 1,738 tires and saved 285,565 hours of bulb energy. Isn’t it amazing? Brave Soles is perfect if you are looking to buy gifts for upcoming holidays or simply just need a new look.

Consumers are holding the brands they love to higher sustainability standards. Many fashion brands are introducing upcycled garments into their collections. For example, Adidas has produced 6 million pairs of shoes using upcycled ocean plastics and turned them into yards to make uppers for shoes.

Many other industries, such as furniture, art, and food are also practicing upcycling.

Conclusion

Sustainable businesses are paving the way for a better world. We encourage you to support them either by buying their items, doing your own upcycling at home, or creating a business with upcycled products. Join the green movement and help us create the next generation of responsible leaders for our planet.