Recycle vs Upcycle – What’s right for you?

Recycling and upcycling are two key terms related to the art of reinvention for the 21st century. Recycling involves changing waste into a product which is useful at the benefit of the environment as well as business, whilst upcycling is the art of improving an item that’s potentially destined for the rubbish heap into a useful, useable, and often prettier, item.

Recycling involves turning waste items such as paper, metals and glass into new products, be it through the pulping of old newspapers to create notebooks or magazine ready paper, or simply using a glass coffee jar to serve quirky cocktails in.

Upcycling, is a perfect opportunity to get creative. Some of the best upcycling examples include simply painting an old fashioned set of drawers or bookshelves which ultimately transform the look of a room, or cutting a man’s shirt into a smaller fit to make fun clothes for children.