We’ve all heard of recycling but what exactly is upcycling? Upcycling is the process of converting waste material, by-products, and unwanted products into new, useful items that serve a different purpose. The purpose is to reduce waste and improve the efficiency of resource use. Think of it as creative reuse.
Essentially, upcycling is what we do at PALM LIFE. We take leaf litter i.e. naturally fallen palm leaves and use steam sterilization to convert them into practical, biodegradable dinnerware for our benefit -as well as the planets'!
Upcycling is a crucial practice to start incorporating into our daily lives because it reduces the need for production of new or raw materials which in turn means a reduction in pollution. In addition, upcycling minimizes the amount of waste material being sent to landfills each year which again reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that arise from the anaerobic degradation of waste in landfills.
The best part is that it is so easy to get stuck into upcycling projects with the simplest things around the house. What can you do with used tins for example? One great trick we love is to buy small sized rope from an arts and crafts store and cover old tins to convert them into cool, rustic stationery holders, plant pots the possibilities are endless!
Now it’s up to you guys- what can you do with an old pair of jeans or empty glass jars? Leave your ideas in the comments!
As the old saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
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