WHAT IS UPCYCLING?
The world is talking about upcycling in a big way. Currently, we are using 60% more resources than the Earth can provide (Source: World Economic Forum). Fuelled by conscious consumption and growing awareness about the circular economy, upcycling has become popular in more ways than one.
But, what exactly is the meaning of upcycling?
WHAT UPCYCLING MEANS?
Products we upcycle
FASHION
From stoles to sarees - you name it we have it! Weโve infused our R(e)creativity in our apparel line and accessory collection. Materials and fabrics such as Mangalagiri cotton and linen are upcycled to create tops and kurtas for women. Leftover silk and cotton yarns are delicately handcrafted into warm stoles and beautiful sarees. For bags and accessories, we make the best use of waste denim and the inner tubing of rubber tyres. We have laptop backpacks to luggage bags that are not only stylish but also very practical.
Home Dรฉcor and Furnishings
Our upcycled furnishings and home dรฉcor items use materials like denim, wood, cotton sarees, wool, etc.
Denim is used for bed covers and bedsheets, while cotton and wool make gorgeous home accents such as throws and rugs.
Wood is creatively repurposed for wooden stools and ottomans, while cotton is woven into durries for cushion covers.
Recycling vs Upcycling
Before upcycling as a term became widespread, the term โrecyclingโ often got thrown around.
So, what is recycling?
It is the process of collecting waste, breaking them down and converting them into new products. Plastic, paper, etc. are some of the most common recyclables that are collected, sent to facilities to sort, clean, and processed into new materials or products. For example, plastic bottles are melted down and reused to create plastic items.
However, this process is different from upcycling. Below are the differences:
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UPCYCLING
- Collecting products/ waste to repurpose or reuse by adding more value.
- No breakdown is required, as materials are used in their existing state.
- This process maintains the original characteristics of the material/ product.
- No such decrease in the strength and durability of the material/ product.
- Materials like rubber and denim can be easily upcycled.
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RECYCLING
- Collecting products/waste to break them down and transform them into new products.
- A breakdown process is required.
- This process can completely change the original characteristics of the product/ material.
- Every round of recycling lessens the strength of the material.
- Only certain materials can be recycled. Rubber is difficult to recycle.
Upcycling vs Remanufacturing
Methods and Techniques used in Upcycling
Subtraction
This involves reducing some part of the material/ product by cutting, slashing or laser cutting. For example, cut off the sleeves of a T-shirt to turn it into a dress.
Refunction
This means to using one or more products and transforming them into another product with a different purpose. Example โ We upcycle denim bottoms into a laptop bag. Furthermore, cutting, colouring, folding, adding, patching and joining, and weaving are the techniques in use for repurposing fabrics. Our accessories line includes an array of bags with attractive patchwork designs.
Addition
It involves adding or attaching any enhancing details. This can be further classified into embellishment addition, surface design and textile manipulation.
โข Embellishment addition: Adding beads, embroidery, fringe or patchwork. Example โ We add
โข intrinsic hand embroidery on our denim bedcovers.
โข Surface Design: Painting, stamp-printing or screen printing. Example โ Weโve had artists hand paint Gond tribal artwork on the pallus of cotton sarees.
โข Textile Manipulation: Pleats, smocking, pin-tucks, etc. Example โ Durries are woven from strips derived from old cotton sarees. These are used as upholstery as well as combined with rubber to create bags.
Deconstruction
This method changes the shape of the material/ product by dividing or reassembling it.
Example โ Old or excess wood parts are used to create the legs of a stool.
How is Upcycling Eco-friendly
Hereโs how:
Lesser Pollution
Production and manufacturing of goods require a substantial amount of land, water, non-renewable energy sources, chemicals, labour and other resources. During production processes, these industrial units cause pollution that remains untreated for a very long time, which directly or indirectly causes health issues. Upcycling means lesser generation of air pollution, water pollution and CO2 emissions, thereby decreasing the harm we cause to our planet.
Need for fewer new resources
When we upcycle, we already have the material in hand, thereby reducing the need for new raw materials. This in turn reduces the use of fossil fuels, water, and other natural resources used to process raw materials into a finished product.
Less landfill waste
The key benefit of upcycling is having less material make its way to landfills. When more and more waste is dumped in landfills, methane is emitted. This is of major concern because methane is one of the most powerful greenhouse gases since it absorbs more of the sunโs heat than carbon dioxide, thereby, making it a leading contributor to climate change. Thus, fewer materials ending up in landfills will greatly contribute towards our planetโs long-term health.
How can one help in upcycling as an individual?
It may seem like a drop in the ocean, but small, sustainably focused decisions can go a long way towards the health of our planet. Like rethinking our attitude towards a linear โuse and throwโ mantra. Like supporting the many budding entrepreneurial ventures that truly focus on building useful, R(e)imagined repurposed products created using sustainable and eco-friendly processes.
The best way is to R(e)think before discarding old and buying new items. For old items, ask โHow can I reuse this?โ and before buying something new, ask โDo I REALLY need this?โ It is all about taking that extra step forward, towards making more such progressive and eco-conscious choices for your family, yourself and thereby, our planet.