The environmental benefits of upcycling are enormous. It doesn’t just help curb the shocking volume of discarded materials and waste finding its way into landfills each year, it also reduces the demand for the use of new or raw materials in production. A lower demand for these materials means a reduction in air pollution, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, helping us conserve our precious global resources.
There are a range of upcycling benefits, few of which include personal, social and environmental impact.
Lets break down these three benefits and what upcycling brings to the table!
Personal Benefits
When you upcycle, you have the personal benefit of knowing that you are taking steps to promote a healthier environment. However, Upcycling is also a very creative process. You will have the knowledge that you can quite literally turn trash into treasure with a bit of creativity and an idea.
Working with your hands and learning how to Upcycle can also help you gain a larger skill set to repair other items.
As for you home, choosing to buy upcycled, pre-loved furniture or indeed choosing to upcycle some items of your own will allow you to have exactly the home of which you have always dreamed!
The Environmental Impact of Upcycling
Upcycling has a largely positive effect on the environment. Our atmosphere has the most CO2 levels in history, and our oceans have large whirlpools of trash and plastic.
Upcycling can help bring these numbers down by preventing the amount of waste that we discard.
By upcycling we remove the need to produce new or raw materials. By reducing this need, we can cut down on air pollution, water pollution, landfill use, and even greenhouse gas emissions.
Preventing the manufacture of another new piece of furniture. The manufacture of a new piece of furniture could come with a high cost to the environment – a cost which is often completely unknown to the buyers.
Reducing distribution miles by choosing a local, sustainable option.
Keeping carbon trapped in wooden furniture rather than being released into the atmosphere through burning. The carbon thus released would contribute to global warming.
Stopping an old piece of furniture from going to landfill. In a sustainable world, landfill sites should become a thing of the past. We should all try to give as close to a 'zero waste' life as possible
By upcycling you are actually taking positive steps to impacting the environment for the better.
The Social Impact of Upcycling
We currently live in a time where folks want to spend less money on generic, mass-produced items, and spend more time respecting the value of what they have.
Do It Yourself culture prides itself on creating content that allows for self-expression. When you upcycle, you are engaging with a community of individuals who want to create some level of uniqueness with recycled items.
When you buy upcycled products you are usually supporting artisans, local industry, and rural industry.
There are many people who are engaged with upcycling. At many farmer’s markets, flea markets, town markets, or open art shows you can find products that were made from upcycling. Buying these products are an easy way you can support your local community and even get involved in upcycling on your own.
Upcycling Is A Creative Way to Recycle
Upcycling is a creative way to recycle old materials you may have – into a full-fledged product.
You participate in helping the environment when you upcycle, and you can contribute to local markets when you purchase items that are upcycled.
Follow us & tag us on instagram so we can see & share your upcycling projects! @upcyclehongkong
xo