In our planet every day that passes more waste is generated and, in fact, with all the waste generated throughout the world every year more than 800,000 Olympic swimming pools could be filled. That is why the need to direct our lifestyle towards one is urgently based on responsible consumption, in which what is needed and reused those waste that may have a second life, that is, another utility.
Upcycling was born with that purpose, and has become a process that is increasingly having more recognition. Do you want to learn more about him? In this ecology article, it will be explained What is Upcycling and Ideas To put it into practice such as, for example, UPCyCling ideas for old clothing or you no longer use, plastic, etc.
UPCyCling: What is – definition
The term of UPCyCling Born in 1994, when he was appointed in an article by Thorton Kay from Salvo by Reiner Piltz. This term refers to Recyclable waste reusewith the aim of modifying them and turning them into other products of greater value, so that they remain useful before having to be recycled in recycling plants.
Difference between UPCyCling and Recycling
We explain the two concepts in a simple way to understand its difference:
- The recycling concept It refers to recycling through an industrial process in which a residue transforms into a new material, and in the end new objects and products that will later be consumed. Recycling is within the environmental actions with the environment, avoiding the extraction of new raw materials. Even so, within all, it is the last one we must do, since they must before be found such as rejecting, repairing, reducing or reusing, which not only prevent the extraction of new natural resources, but also help reduce consumption.
- UPCyClingalso known as Suprreciclale or Superrecicojeis based on reuse. This process aims to take advantage of waste, to transform them into new objects through imagination and creativity, to reduce the need to consume new products or objects, as well as the reduction of the acquisition of new raw materials.
In short, the Difference between UPCyCling and Recycling or Suprarechiclage and Recyclingis that the first is based on reuse with creativity of waste and the second in recycling in the industrial process to use the raw material again. We encourage you to learn more about the 3R of ecology: reduce, reuse and recycle and discover the 7r: redesign, reduce, reuse, repair, renew, recover and recycle.
How to do UpcyCling – Ideas
UPCyCling really has no limits, everything depends on The imagination and of the person who is creating. There are many UPCyCling ideas They are currently emerging using different waste. Here are some ideas:
UPCyCling of clothing
- Playa of the beach: How many times has we broken the umbrella case that we lead to the beach? With some jeans that we do not use, either because they are very spoiled or because they do not look good, we can make a case to put the umbrella we use for the beach. In addition, the cowboy fabric is usually very resistant and will surely last us more than any plastic case.
- Turn an old sweater into a cushion or a bed for dogs: with an old sweater that we no longer use we can make a fantastic cushion to leave it on our bed or sofa or even use it as a bed for our dog or cat. You only need filling, which can be more fabrics that you no longer use or fill in a somewhat ajado cushion, and sew the necessary points to close it.
Plastic or glass upcycling
- Garden chairs with plastic bottles: instead of recycling plastic bottles we could make chairs. To do this we will need the frame of the chair, which we will then put plastic bottles, which will be fixed with ropes or with glue, for the seat and backrest. These chairs are long -lasting and perfect for outdoor areas.
- Decoration objects with glass bottles: we can make our own collection of vessels with glass bottles. For this we need the following materials: scissors, wool or thread, alcohol, cold water and a sandpaper. We take the bottle and the height we want, we will surround it with wool. Two or three laps should be given. This wool must be wet in alcohol before placing it in the bottle and we must fix it as straight as possible. Once this we turn on the wool with a long match or a lighter (better use a long kitchen) and let it burn for about 40 seconds. After this time we immerse the bottle in cold water and by the change of temperature the bottle will be split through the area we have heated. That is why it is very important to surround the bottle with the wool leaving it as straight as possible, because it will break through that area. Once the bottle starts, we must sand it well to avoid cutting and, so, we will get our glass. Another very frequent use of glass bottles is to use them as flourmen decorated to our liking.
UPCyCling in Technology
- Vintage bed for pets made with an old television: with an old television we could create a bed for our pet, for this we would have to empty the TV leaving only the housing. Once we have emptied it, we can line it with a tapestry paper, the one that we like the most, and inside put some cushions so that the space is comfortable.
- Shelf with a vintage radio: we can take an ancient radio that cannot be fixed, empty it and just stay with what the support is. We can use it to decorate our house, and in the hole that is empty, books can be placed, a small plant like a small cactus or what we like the most.
UPCyCling in fashion or UPCyCling Fashion
There are many fashion designers and clothing brands that bet on UPCyCling, using materials of all kinds, such as plastics, metals, wood, textiles or threads of different materials. Fashion is reinvented, did you know that you can make a beautiful top or a practical bag with jeans? It is true that for some transformations you have to have some skill with sewing, but we can also create without sewing, for example, you can make a beautiful bag with a shirt only bending it and making knots in it so that the space of the bag and the handle is created.
There are countless materials and ideas to make UPCyCling and reuse to the fullest. We leave you here some more ideas and, if you dare, in the comments you can leave your ideas for UPCyCling:
- How to make recycled pots.
- Ideas to recycle clothes.
- Ideas to recycle an old bicycle.
If you want to read more articles similar to UPCyCling: What is and ideaswe recommend that you enter our recycling and waste management category.