{"id":3844,"date":"2024-03-24T20:49:11","date_gmt":"2024-03-24T20:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.youngreenhub.eu\/?post_type=docs&p=3844"},"modified":"2024-03-24T20:49:11","modified_gmt":"2024-03-24T20:49:11","password":"","slug":"emma-taubenfeld-what-is-upcycling-and-how-its-good-for-the-earth","status":"publish","type":"docs","link":"https:\/\/www.youngreenhub.eu\/sl\/docs\/emma-taubenfeld-what-is-upcycling-and-how-its-good-for-the-earth\/","title":{"rendered":"Emma Taubenfeld: What Is Upcycling, and How It\u2019s Good for the Earth"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: https:\/\/www.rd.com\/article\/upcycling\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Upcycling is more popular (and more important) now than ever. Sustainability experts break down what this means and how you can get involved.<\/em><\/p>\n

When it comes to sustainable living, we all have a long way to go, and if you are feeling a sense of\u00a0climate anxiety<\/a>\u00a0when it comes to the health of our planet, you\u2019re not alone. As we are in the midst of a climate crisis, decreasing our carbon footprint is more important now than ever, which stems beyond just knowing\u00a0how to recycle<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Upcycling has become increasingly popular in the world of sustainability, and for good reason. You may have heard the word thrown around at craft fair booths where\u00a0clothes are upcycled<\/a>, or seen it appear on your screen while reading about upcycling heroes fighting climate change\u2014but what exactly is upcycling, and how can we use upcycling to reduce our overall consumption? We spoke to Elizabeth Teo, an environmental educator and founder of Zero Waste Cutie, and Stephanie Moram, CEO of Good Girl Gone Green and host of the Green Junkie podcast.<\/p>\n

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of upcycling, it\u2019s important to note that everyone has the ability to make small changes. \u201cWhen I first started my zero-waste journey, I thought I had to buy my way into this lifestyle,\u201d explains Teo. \u201cI read blogs with long lists of zero-waste products to buy, thinking, I\u2019m going to be broke if I practice a more sustainable lifestyle! I felt guilty for owning any plastic at all, even if it were for reuse. I started my blog to show people that there are many ways to be sustainable, and you don\u2019t have to spend money right away to be sustainable. You can use what you already have first and save your money.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is upcycling?<\/h2>\n

\u201cUpcycling is taking a product and creating a new use for it, which can be of higher quality or value than the original,\u201d explains Moram. Also known as creative reuse, the process of upcycling gives old objects a second life. It\u2019s all about materials being repurposed into something of greater value. For example, this man was able to upcycle old jeans into cool denim glasses.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that people are becoming more aware of how their everyday actions can affect the environment,\u201d explains Moram. \u201cPeople are looking to lower the amount of waste they are creating, they want to save money, and it\u2019s fun to take an object and bring new life to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to note that upcycling means using materials that you already have rather than going out to buy new materials to repurpose, but more on this later.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuying new has been overemphasized in the community, even though it\u2019s not the main point of being zero waste,\u201d says Teo. \u201cThe main point is to use what you have first! Then you can buy to replace them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Upcycling vs. recycling vs. downcycling: What\u2019s the difference?<\/h2>\n

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There are so many buzzwords when it comes to sustainability, but there are key differences in a few commonly heard terms\u2014and the impact they have on the environment.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the most common term we hear thrown around is \u201crecycling.\u201d Recycling is the process of collecting waste products and transforming them into new usable objects. Recyclables such as bottles, plastic, and cardboard are sent to recovery facilities that sort, clean, and process them into new materials that can be bought and sold. Things like plastic bottles can be melted down and reused to create new plastic items.<\/p>\n

So we know upcycling is all about repurposing pre-loved objects, and recycling is about reusing the materials, but what about downcycling? The process of downcycling actually plays a role in the recycling process. Downcycling is when recycled materials aren\u2019t as operationally strong as they once were, so they are turned into a product with a slightly lower value. For example, when plastic isn\u2019t strong enough to be made into another bottle, it might be downcycled into something like carpet fiber.<\/p>\n

What are the benefits of upcycling?<\/h2>\n

The most obvious benefit to upcycling is having less material make its way to landfills. The most crucial concern when it comes to landfills is the emission of methane, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases. It absorbs more of the sun\u2019s heat than carbon dioxide, making it a leading contributor to climate change. Fewer materials ending up in landfills will contribute to the long-term health of our planet.<\/p>\n

Another huge benefit of upcycling is using fewer natural resources. By using what we already have, we don\u2019t have to take away\u00a0any more<\/a>\u00a0raw materials from our environment than truly necessary.<\/p>\n

This even applies to small businesses and larger corporations. If you have your own business and are looking to upcycle for your company, upcycling can actually help you minimize the cost of production in addition to decreasing your use of natural materials. By repurposing existing materials, you will ultimately be spending less and creating a larger profit margin.<\/p>\n

What can be upcycled?<\/h2>\n

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\u201cAlmost everything can be upcycled,\u201d says Moram. You can turn any sort of trash into treasure if you think creatively\u2014and it\u2019s a lot easier than you may think.<\/p>\n

Before you head to the\u00a0recycling bin<\/a>, Moram suggests using old glass jars for food storage,\u00a0milk carton tops on mason jars<\/a>, egg cartons to start off seeds for your garden, and old T-shirts as dishcloths.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you eat yogurt, you can wash and keep the plastic tubs and use them to store items,\u201d recommends Teo. \u201cIf you have a worn-out plastic toothbrush you can use it to clean hard-to-reach areas or even your shoes. For the holidays you can use newspaper instead of plastic wrapping paper for your gifts. The idea is that you find creative ways to repurpose items you already have around your house so you can save money and have something functional or fun! By buying less you can help reduce how much clutter you bring into your home.\u201d<\/p>\n

On a larger scale, here are some common materials and\u00a0reusable household items<\/a>\u00a0you can upcycle:<\/p>\n