upcycl i ng
Recycling, but better.
what is upcycling?
Up cycling is a n e ven g re e ne r wa y of re c ycling – y o u f ind a ne w pur po s e f o r you r u nwa nt e d it e m s b efore y o u c huc k the m a wa y. Upc y c li n g i s the pro c e s s o f c o nver t ing o ld o r d i sca rde d m a t e r ia ls i n to som e t hing us e f u l a nd of t e n be a ut if ul. Up cycling ha s s ho w n si g ni fic a nt g ro wt h a c ro ss t he Unit e d Sta te s . F o r e xa mpl e , the num be r
o f p ro d u c t s o n E t s y t a g g e d w i t h t h e w o rd “ u p c y c l e d ” i n c re a s e d f ro m a b o u t 7 ,9 0 0 i n J a n u a ry 2 0 1 0 t o n e a rl y 3 0 ,0 0 0 a y e a r l a t e r— a n i n c re a s e o f 2 7 5 % .A s o f A p ri l 2013, that number s t o o d a t 2 6 3 ,6 8 5 , a n a d d i t i o n a l i n c re a s e o f 879%.
‘Upcycling makes a positive impact on the environment. When you upcycle, you remove items from the global garbage stream.’
and what else... with a higher value Many indus t r ia l f ro m w a s t e o r p roce s s e s , like p l a sti c a nd e le c t ro n i c b y p ro d u c t s t re a m s . fab ri ca t io n, re ly o n Upcycling is the the c o ns um pt io n process by which o f fi n it e re s o urc e s . F urth e r mo re t he components of waste m a y ha v e a n previously used items e nvi ro nme nt a l impac t are redesigned in a nd ca n a ffe c t hum a n he a l th . Wit hin t his more treasured and c o nte xt , upc y c ling refined ways. d escri be s t he us e o f availa ble a nd fu ture t e c hno lo g ie s to re duc e wa s t e a n d re sou rc e c o ns um pt i o n b y c re a t ing a pro du c t
‘This process is something that adds character and meaning to a design, the design becomes something else changing the face value of it, there is a stronger story behind the product because it has been something else.’
Ewan North.
but how? ‘t h i n g s ’ t h a t c a n T he re is ma ny wa y s b e u s e d a ro u n d t h e to up cy c le , it c a n b e house. c re a te d f o r m a lm o s t a ny ob je c t t ha t is unwant e d a nd a bo u t to b e t hro wn a wa y, o nc e a ne w o bje c t h a s b ee n ma de it c a n b e used f o r de c o r a t iv e p u rp o s e s o r f o r a fu nc ti ona l pur po s e .
furniture
traffic sign
T he ne xt fe w pa g e s g i ve e xa m ple s o f o b j e c t s t ha t ha v e the n be e n ma de from si mp l e o bje c t s fo r
Chair
garden
plant pots
Bricks
Cans
Wall display
Plant pots
lights
lights
cardboard box
Lights
‘Because the box can then become a useful accessory in the home, it garners a larger attachment from the user.’ Ewan North
egg box
Lights
soap
bean bag
jar
soap container
rug
bean bag
case studies (inspiration)
freitag bags F REITA G g iv e s us e d ma te ri a ls o ff t he s t re e t a ne w lif e a s unique b ag s. Ba c k in 1993 , g rap h ic de s ig ne r b roth e r s M a r k us a n d Dani el F re it a g we re o n the lo o ko ut f o r a me s s e ng e r ba g . Zuri c h c it iz e ns wo r t h y o f th e na m e t r a v e l b y b i c y c le - ‘ v e lo , ’ the y ca ll it . Whe n it rai n s, t he y g e t we t . T he F RE ITA G bro t he rs wante d a he a v y -du t y, fu nc ti ona l a nd wa t e rre p el l e nt ba g
t o c a rry t h e i r d e s i g n s. I n s p i re d b y t h e c h e e rf u l l y c o l o u re d l o rri e s ru m b l i n g a l o n g t h e c ro s s - Z u ri c h h i g h w a y j u s t i n f ro n t of their flat, they cut a messenger bag out of a n o l d t ru c k t a rp a u l i n. A s t h e c a rry b e l t , t h e y u s e d s e c o n d - h a n d c ar seat-belt webbing, while an old bicycle i n n e r t u b e p ro v i d e d the edging.
process
Joolz Chi l d re n t he wo r ld o ver ca n g e t v e r y i n vent iv e wit h s o me o f th e ba s ic s a t t he i r d i sp o s a l a nd wha t b ette r t ha n a la rg e c a rd b o a rd bo x? Jo o l z ha v e g o ne o ne st e p f ur t he r a n d ha ve de c ide d t o g iv e the i r pa c ka g ing a ne w l e a s e o f lif e by i n c o rp o r a t ing t he p otent ia l f o r a ne w p u rp o s e in e v e r y bo x . Di re c t io ns fo r c ut t in g a nd b uilding a re p ri n te d o n t he e xt eri o r
so that you can have some fun assembling and using your box as a c h a i r, a l a m p s h a d e , a p i c t u re f ra m e , o r e v e n a b i rd h o u s e ! J u s t w h e n y o u t h o u g ht you had finished with s e l f a s s e m b l y p ro j e c t s i n y o u r n u rs e ry along comes another c h a l l e n g e . S t o re t h e packaging until they a re o l d e n o u g h a n d you and your child will h a v e t h e p e rf e c t ra i n y a f t e r n o o n p ro j e c t t o get stuck into.
100% recycled paper