What is upcycling?

Listed as a definition from the Oxford English Dictionary:

up·cy·cle

/ˈəpˌsīkəl/

verb

gerund or present participle: upcycling

1. reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.”the opportunity to upcycle trash, or turn it into new products, was vast”

I always say the most sustainable thing is the one you already own!  There are a lot of cool eco-products out there, but we need to get back to the basics of sustainability. By reusing what we already have! Upcycling is the perfect way to accomplish this. By modifying something that is ‘old’, by giving it a second life to become something ‘new’.  While already using all the resources you have available to you. By doing this you’re helping by not creating any new resources and ultimately saving you money (a win-win in my book!) You’ll be keeping items out of the landfill too! Thus reducing carbon emissions, because you’re extending the lifetime of the material. Which ultimately means less energy is used for the creation of new materials.

Look all around you, even something as simple as a toothbrush, empty toilet paper roll or even a produce sticker can be upcycled. Once you really get into it, you’ll see value in just about everything!  While one might see a pile of ‘trash’ I see endless useful projects that can allow me to express my creativity.

So next time you are about to ‘throw out’ something that is no longer serving your needs, think creatively about how you can continue the items’ life by upcycling it.  

I want this blog to inspire you, just like I have been inspired by others. Let’s all strive to be better for us and the environment.