“IT'S ONLY WASTE IF WE WASTE ITS POTENTIAL”

“By re-imagining something that otherwise may have ‘had its day’ – upcycling opens up a world of new possibilities, designs, business opportunities and waste solutions. It’s pretty exciting! And that’s why I set up The Upcycle Movement in 2012,” says Wexford woman, Lynn Haughton.

“The first time I really grasped what upcycling means was in December 2005 when my brother gave me a Christmas present. It was a bag – but no ordinary bag.

“In 2004, the devastating tsunami hit Asia, leaving so many dead and others homeless. My bag was made by widows who had lost everything at that time. It was made from the canvas tsunami rescue tents they sheltered in.”

“And that’s when I got it. That’s when I got what upcycling means.

“These incredible women saw value and opportunity in something they no longer needed. Something that could easily have been deemed as waste. But instead, they transformed it, keeping it out of landfill, while also making money to help their community move along.

“What inspiring women. And what a powerful concept.

“Since then I started to look at things differently and realise that with just a bit of creativity and imagination, almost everything around us can be a resource for something new.

“I see a world of potential in a world of wasted opportunities.

“To landfill, incinerate, dispose, export and even recycle – all cost money and resources to do. They also impact our environment in the process. As does the extraction and processing of raw materials.

“And I can't help but think about the age-old advice to 'make the most of what you have'. Upcycling does just that.

“We have enough.

“More than a decade on, I still use that bag. It’s so well made, hardy and super quality.

“What I love most about upcycling can be summed up in that bag: the resourcefulness, the imagination, the value added and created, the innovation, the opportunity identified and the story it holds.

“Since my eyes have been opened to the creative world of upcycling, I’ve come across so many innovative, upcycled and sustainable products by environmentally conscious designers who have also hugely inspired me. I'm always looking out for them, and so I really wanted to share my discoveries with you here.

“I've realised how much untapped possibilities there are for business opportunity and product design if we look at waste as a resource. And I felt that a platform for the designers and makers who are challenging how we think about waste was needed – to promote what they do and how they think.

“I believe 'It's only waste if we waste its potential'. And that now, more than ever, we need to support these innovative, design and business ideas that are offering waste solutions and those which will help to implement a more sustainable, circular economy. There are so many amazing things happening.

“They need more support.

“Together we can make the world a more sustainable place. We are so incredibly lucky to have such a beautiful planet to call home. Let's keep it that way.”

– Lynn Haughton https://theupcyclemovement.com

“We are looking to grow and expand on what we do here at The Upcycle Movement and so we are on the hunt for a new space... We are looking for a work studio /community hub in or around the Gorey/Enniscorthy area. If you know of somewhere or any leads please email lynn@theupcyclemovement.com n