One of my favorite resources, Wikipedia, tell us that Upcycling is the use of waste materials to provide useful products. (recycled or upcycled canvas hats and bags from PAZ Apparel) Ideally, it is a reinvestment in the environment and embodiment of the notion that while using resources one is also contributing to them and their value.
This is antithesis of the consume and waste concept in society. "Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value." The term upcycling was coined by William McDonough and Michael Braungart, authors of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.
So while the rest of the world is just catching on to the fact that recycling is critical to improving the welfare of the planet you and I can begin to think of ways we can upcycle more of the things we use in our lives.
In fact I've already turned a spent can of tomato soup into an urban pen holder complete with cork insert to blunt the tin sound as pens are deposited into their new digs.
Not sure what I'll do when I have another can of soup except maybe not have another can and instead make soup from scratch when my tomato plants mature. We shall see. At least this is one can that won't make it to the land fill anytime soon.
See what you can make with something you would ordinarily toss into the earth!
Hello! I am so happy to catch up with your BLOG! So much amazing information, and written with such a clear purpose. It
has been a real pleasure to spend the last 40 minutes navigating through all the posts and links. THANK YOU! Keron
Posted by: Keron Psillas | May 10, 2008 at 01:24 PM