Upcycling is a hip term for taking waste materials and turning
them into new, useful, quality items. Items that most of us would have never
considered as worthwhile to keep around can actually be turned to new products.
Websites like pinterest have been inspiring Internet users since 2009. Before
you throw away that fruit punch carton, that old map or your T.V. get in touch
with your crafty side and come up with a way to reuse that item or if you need
help there is always the world wide web at your fingertips loaded with
inspiration. Websites like Esty is filled with users that upcycle items and
even make a profit because people, green at heart or not, find these items inventive
and sentimental. Upcycled items are keeping trash from the municipal waste
stream, so less waste means less energy used for waste pick up and less waste
going to incinerators and landfills where overall less toxins are emitted into the
environment.
Personally, as a crafty person I find even the term “Upcycling”
clever, not only is it witty and consistent with the times but the actual
process of upcycling is ingenious in itself. I think that everyone before they
go throw away a chip bag or soda can they should think how they can reuse and reinvent
that “trash” into something new that can have a life all its on, even better
not a life leaching chemicals into the water stream.
All this talking about creating and inventing got me pondering
what are the most interesting upcycled things that have been dreamed up and
came to life and then found their way on the internet. With a handy Google
search the 45 unique upcycled items came up, containing anything from upcycled
shipwreck watches to gymnastic equipment furniture. http://www.trendhunter.com/slideshow/45-upcycled-items
Upcycling is relevant to our class because one aspect that we have been learning is the ways to: reduce, reuse and recycle. We have primarily been focused on the recycling strategies but recycling is only a small part in the three party system. Reducing and reusing are two of the most important steps that need to be taken for a better and healthier environment. Upcycling directly identifies with reducing our consumerism because we are not buying new products, rather we are reusing the old.
Upcycling is relevant to our class because one aspect that we have been learning is the ways to: reduce, reuse and recycle. We have primarily been focused on the recycling strategies but recycling is only a small part in the three party system. Reducing and reusing are two of the most important steps that need to be taken for a better and healthier environment. Upcycling directly identifies with reducing our consumerism because we are not buying new products, rather we are reusing the old.
Direct click to go to:
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com
Esty: http://www.etsy.com
One of the things that I learned from class too it was the idea of upcycling. The motto we need to take in consideration is all three of the following: reduce, reuse, recycle as you mentioned. Sometimes, we think that by recycling that is enough and we forget about the other two first. We need to learn how to habituate to reduce our consumption (so that natural resources are not used up that quickly), and reuse the stuff to avoid unnecessary accumulation of things. In the long run, there could be established an idealistic system in which the prime postulate can be waste equals food, and that would be the way to achieve a cyclic system of "matter" or stuff in our planet.
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