This is my first of many conversations on topics related to my interest in our environment and sustainable living practices. We are all familiar with the term recycling in which we re-purpose our daily waste into materials of lesser quality hopefully for reuse. An example of this our the plastic water bottles we recycle and which than turns into lower grade plastics. I prefer to talk, read and write about the innovative ideas of Upcycling.
Upcycling is a component of sustainability in which waste materials are used to create new products. In this process discarded items or materials are used to make new, more valuable and useful products. Upcycling is designed to allow people to think of new and innovative ways to re-use not only waste or discards but still functional items or materials in a new way and thus eliminate the need to make something from new or virgin materials.
Upcycling not only benefits our environment but is also a process for the reduction of waste and our carbon footprint. Several examples can be found at http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/09/six-creative-upcycling-projects/ many others can be found throughout the web by simply searching the phrase upcycle or upcycling.
Upcycling is not new to our culture or society. In fact it is one of the cornerstones our country was built upon. Every generation before us practiced the art of upcycling as part of their values and in order to survive. Great examples of this was candle making from rendered animal fat, quilts from old clothes and dolls from rags.
Like all great ideas, I see that a time has come where we need to innovate and re-explore the idea of Upcycling to meet the needs of the time we live in. I believe it is time for upcycling to re-enter our lexicon of our daily lives.
I welcome your comments and looking forward to going on this voyage together.
References for this article: Posted by Scenic City Recycling on May 29, 2009 at 3:32pm in Recycling
Upcycling is a component of sustainability in which waste materials are used to create new products. In this process discarded items or materials are used to make new, more valuable and useful products. Upcycling is designed to allow people to think of new and innovative ways to re-use not only waste or discards but still functional items or materials in a new way and thus eliminate the need to make something from new or virgin materials.
Upcycling not only benefits our environment but is also a process for the reduction of waste and our carbon footprint. Several examples can be found at http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/09/six-creative-upcycling-projects/ many others can be found throughout the web by simply searching the phrase upcycle or upcycling.
Upcycling is not new to our culture or society. In fact it is one of the cornerstones our country was built upon. Every generation before us practiced the art of upcycling as part of their values and in order to survive. Great examples of this was candle making from rendered animal fat, quilts from old clothes and dolls from rags.
Like all great ideas, I see that a time has come where we need to innovate and re-explore the idea of Upcycling to meet the needs of the time we live in. I believe it is time for upcycling to re-enter our lexicon of our daily lives.
I welcome your comments and looking forward to going on this voyage together.
References for this article: Posted by Scenic City Recycling on May 29, 2009 at 3:32pm in Recycling
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