What is Upcycling?

The term upcycling might sound really similar to the popular term recycling, and while both promote sustainable living they are distinct from one another. Upcycling refers to the process of giving new life to old products. Our consumer experience has been developed in a way to establish the belief that all products are easily replaceable and new products possess more value than older ones. 

This paradigm shift in the producers’ objectives from longevity to profit maximisation has given birth to a toxic culture of cheap unreliable products. The concept of upcycling aims to counter this movement of increasing consumer waste by promoting the practice of investing in existing products to reduce the amount of solid waste.

Repurposing, refurbishing and repairing are all processes that can be used to upcycle an old item. Upcycling is also an outlet for creativity and expression in addition to keeping solid waste out of landfills. While recycling is a complex process that is used to break down products into usable raw materials, upcycling is an easier process that is used to preserve a product to give it new life rather than breaking it down to its base ingredients.

Upcycling does not require any technical knowledge but just a thing of creativity and some old things from around the house.

With the rise of conscious consumerism, people have become more aware of the impact of their choices on their environment. Upcycling has become another method that conscious consumers can now turn to reduce their negative impact on the environment. With upcycling, you can create your own one of a kind customized items that reflect your personality and with the added bonus of preserving the environment.

Source and References:

https://youmatter.world/en/definition/upcycling/

https://www.treehugger.com/what-is-upcycling-5116081

https://www.habitat.org/stories/what-is-upcycling