Upcycling and Recycling: What is the difference?
Upcycling and Recycling: What is the difference?
12/01/2022
12/01/2022
Have you ever thought about the amount of waste you produce? In the UK, the average household produces 392 kilograms of waste each year! To make matters worse, only 43.8% of our waste was recycled in 2020. Recycling is a key component of reducing our waste, but what else can you do alongside recycling your milk cartons, cardboard and plastic to contribute to a circular economy? One answer is upcycling.
Have you ever thought about the amount of waste you produce? In the UK, the average household produces 392 kilograms of waste each year! To make matters worse, only 43.8% of our waste was recycled in 2020.
Recycling is a key component of reducing our waste, but what else can you do alongside recycling your milk cartons, cardboard and plastic to contribute to a circular economy? One answer is Upcycling.
So what's the difference?
So what's the difference?
Many of us are familiar with the term recycling, but not upcycling. The two terms may sound the same, but they have a key difference. Both have the end goal of reusing waste material to form a new product, but it is the process by which they reuse the material which differs. When recycling material, the waste must be broken down in order for it to be repurposed, which usually requires a more industrial process. On the other hand, upcycling uses discarded material – whether that be old clothes, couches or pallets – to create a product that is more valuable. It’s so versatile it can be done in your very own home, so long as you have the creative mind to do it!
Where can I find sustainable and upcycled products?
Where can I find sustainable and upcycled products?
We all want to be more conscious of our ecological footprint when we shop, but we can’t always be sure our product choices are truly environmentally friendly. If you do find yourself in need of a new purchase and upcycling simply isn’t possible this time, buying from ethical companies that utilize sustainable business practices is a great option. And if you need a little help weeding out the green-washers from the genuine do-gooders, sustainability-enthusiasts GoEco provide a range of thoroughly scrutinized brand recommendations, for everything from cars to coffee machines, to chocolate!
They are also an excellent source of helpful information on sustainable living if you are looking for further tips, so be sure to visit their site here! There are also a few brands that use upcycling as a part of their business model! One such brand is a fashion band called Fanfare, who are an advocate for slow fashion and use embroidery from offcuts to create distinctive new clothing items. Another brand based in the US called Hipcycle, who upcycle discarded goods to create beautiful home decor and jewellery items.
We all want to be more conscious of our ecological footprint when we shop, but we can’t always be sure our product choices are truly environmentally friendly. If you do find yourself in need of a new purchase and upcycling simply isn’t possible this time, buying from ethical companies that utilize sustainable business practises is a great option. And if you need a little help weeding out the green-washers from the genuine do-gooders, sustainability-enthusiasts GoEco provide a range of thoroughly scrutinized brand recommendations, for everything from cars to coffee machines, to chocolate!
They are also an excellent source of helpful information on sustainable living if you are looking for further tips, so be sure to visit their site here! There are also a few brands that use upcycling as a part of their business model! One such brand is a fashion band called Fanfare, who are an advocate for slow fashion and use embroidery from offcuts to create distinctive new clothing items. Another brand based in the US called Hipcycle, who upcycle discarded goods to create beautiful home decor and jewellery items.
Why is upcycling important?
Why is upcycling important?
Upcycling is just as important as recycling because it helps to close the loop on waste and reduce the extraction of new resources around the world. By upcycling, you not only reduce what goes into landfill, but also reduce the energy that would be required to recycle the same material. By upcycling, you turn something that was deemed useless after its initial function, into something unique and innovative.
Next time we will be introducing you to some inspiring upcycling ideas you can try with everyday household items. Let us know what you would like to be discussed in future blogs! Keep posted on our social media for our next blog!
The Exoponics Team.
Upcycling is just as important as recycling because it helps to close the loop on waste and reduce the extraction of new resources around the world. By upcycling, you not only reduce what goes into landfill, but also reduce the energy that would be required to recycle the same material. By upcycling, you turn something that was deemed useless after its initial function, into something unique and innovative.
Next time we will be introducing you to some inspiring upcycling ideas you can try with everyday household items. Let us know what you would like to be discussed in future blogs! Keep posted on our social media for our next blog!
The Exoponics Team.