Ah we are entering the generation of an upcycled world! Isn't it wonderful? What the heck is upcycling you ask? Technically, recycled means to use something again, but upcycled means to use something for a new and better purpose. While having become a rather trendy term lately, is a viable way to re-use raw materials and has been around for quite a while. The term was coined in the 1990's with the word "up" implying value is added to a product. Upcycling is a fabulous idea, and we think it's the future of most, if not all products!
Upcycling makes use of non-useful products, diverting them from landfills and giving them a new purpose. Since the Earth's environmental damage has been escalating grotesquely, people are realizing that upcycling opens the doors to creating brand new products out of already existing materials, which we have a bounty of; reducing the cost of manufacturing new base material. It's a win-win for both producer and consumer, and taking responsible actions for the environment gives value to a company.
Making consumer decisions that are the best for the environment can be tricky. Helping the planet thrive means reducing our carbon footprint, and there are countless ways to do so. Use a bicycle! Stop eating meat! Only eat organic! Wait, should you? What if organic food uses more resources?? Oh boy, there is a lot of information to wade through. As long as you are making an effort in the areas that you can, you're doing great.
Plastic is one of the top materials to upcycle. We all know we are living in the middle of a plastic crisis and desperately looking for ways to clean up this mess and break our plastic habits. Although plastic doesn't disintegrate easily and will not decompose for decades, fortunately it can be easily manipulated. We can melt it, mold it, shatter it into a million pieces, mash it back together, and basically make whatever we want out of it.
And people around the world have been doing just that. Check out some of these amazing projects happening around the world:
Consumers love to make eco-friendly choices about their products, as they should, because it takes a weight off their shoulders to know that they are not contributing to the mass downfall of society, which can throw us into existential despair when we lay in bed awake at night.
What can you do? In a nutshell, let's talk about the tried and true options for supporting Mother Earth:
-Stop buying so much stuff. Of course we all have necessities in our every lives, but please be responsible about where all these things end up over time. Buy quality products that last a lifetime if you can. Once you have all these things, then we can talk about recycling and re-using, but what if we got to the root of the problem first?
-Say no to plastic. This is a no-brainer; we hard facts about what plastic is doing to the environment.
-Stop eating meat. Some may think diet choice is personal, but this one is a fact, folks. Adopting a plant-based diet cuts your carbon footprint in half. Click here to read on.
-Be conscious of how you travel. Leave the car at home and take a walk or a bike ride. It's much better for your body to get the fresh air and movement anyway.
We've only scratched the surface. Want more? Check out the Guardian's awesome comprehensive list of ways to save the environment here.
Back to upcycling. Companies are catching on, because they are the ones who will make a large impact on the environment, (along with each one of you!) and it's imperative to progress in a sustainable manner.
How can individuals upcycle around our homes? A google search will give you a plethora of amazing ideas to get the most use out of all the materials under your roof - but here are some favorites to get you started.
Check this out! An incredible new machine melts down plastic trash into new, solid recycled plastic products - right here in our hometown of Chiang Mai, Thailand! The master minds of this project created this machine from old industrial parts to revolutionize how we use and re-use plastics.
So far they have made bowls, coasters, cutting boards, and other household items out of all kinds of plastic waste, right down to the plastic bags you find on the street. This contraption is the future! Read more about it here.