A new practice in the world of ecology, upcycling is a practice that enhances used products by giving them a second life.
Some clarifications on the term "Upcycling"
Literally , the term " upcycling " means "overcycling" in French. It is a kind of recycling 2.0, which consists of giving old products a second life, adding added value and superior quality to the Upcycled product.
When we upcycle, we don't recycle, we reuse. This is a fundamental difference from the recycling we're all familiar with. Indeed, the main idea is, above all, to find a new use for the product we're upcycling!
Origin of the upcycling movement
It seems that the first echoes of this new practice appeared in the mid-1990s. An interior designer, Reiner Pilz, criticized traditional recycling, which he considered to be "downcycling that destroys everything."
He then proposed a new solution with upcycling, which promises to increase the value of objects instead of making them lose it. This practice is said to have originated in poor or developing countries, where access to consumer goods is difficult.
The inhabitants of these countries are often very adept at finding numerous applications for products that are originally intended for a specific purpose. They know how to repurpose many objects that we would at first glance consider unusable.
A movement that benefits multiple issues
The upcycling phenomenon is enjoying great success in the United States, and its strong growth worldwide is proven. Every day, new people are being won over because this action:
- Allows you to consume less raw materials
- Is financially advantageous
- Drastically reduces waste
- Reduces waste production
- Reduces the amount of energy needed for the production of new products
- Reduces air pollution
- Reduces water pollution
- Reduces greenhouse emissions
- Create quality products that last a long time
Also read: which combination should you choose for an H-shaped body?
Upcycling in fashion
We know that the textile industry is one of the most polluting in the world. The lifespan of a garment is getting shorter and shorter, the fabrics used are polluting and very expensive in terms of water (285 showers to produce a single pair of jeans).
It is estimated that each year, a French person buys the equivalent of around ten kilos of clothing which will subsequently not be properly recycled or upcycled.
There are several options available to you for upcycling your used clothing. The simplest and quickest solution is to send your clothes to an upcycling company.
At LUDIS, we offer you the option of sending us your used clothing, with the aim of using our expertise to create unique and responsible playsuits.
Otherwise, you can opt for DIY (Do It Yourself) which consists of recreating a new item of clothing by yourself: here are 33 creative ways to upcycle your clothes!
In reality, all kinds of products are upcycled , such as scraps of automotive fabrics which are transformed into bags, luggage and accessories by the company Entre 2 Rétros , surplus wood transformed into custom-made furniture with Les Ateliers Extramuros or the company TerraCycle which offers multiple solutions for your waste!
We hope this article has helped you learn about upcycling and inspired you to reuse items you no longer need in your home. In cases where upcycling isn't possible, remember that you can always recycle products, especially your clothes .
