Upcycled Bunny by Tom Deininger

Upcycling is term that was coined by German chemist Michael Braungart and American architect William McDonough in their book, Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.

The main theme of the book is about restructuring human industry and its affects on the environment by creating things through ecologically intelligent design.

Since the book came out in 2002, the term upcycling has spread through the global green movement. All over the world people have begun to upcycle instead of just recycling and in many ways the term is synonymous with “repurpose”. Though upcycle just rolls off the tongue better.

Upcycling is all about taking what you have and making it into something else. No need to do traditional recycling or go shopping for new stuff when you can get creative and upcycle at home. You can take your old jeans and turn them into a bag or decorate with old CD’s, even making things from plarn is a way to upcycle.

The only limit that exists to upcycling is decay and your imagination. Obviously, it wouldn’t be a good idea to make a bowl out of fresh salad or banana peels because they will decay but you can make a bowl out of old coffee cans, finished cardboard and even your old cereal boxes.

One eco minded designer has even created upcycled popcorn bowls out of old rolls of movie tickets. You can find the Admit One Movie Ticket Bowls online through Elsewheres.

Need more ideas on how and what you can upcycle? Check out the following links:
Upcylce Canada

Upcycle Old Board Games at Planet Green

Upcycled Jewelry

Upcycled Umbrella Raincoats at Inhabitat

Upcycled Cigarette Butt Artwork at GreenUpgrader

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