More than 2 billion tons of garbage are produced in the world, with Brazil being one of the countries that most participates in this production. Of this total, just over 1% is recycled, especially by companies that take advantage of cheaper raw materials to increase their profit margins.
With the idea of curbing the negative impacts caused by the high production of waste and its respective disposal in nature, a new wave of reuse began to gain the world: upcycling.
Continue reading to find out what upcycle is!
What is upcycle?
Upcycling is a technique created with the purpose of reusing objects and contributing to the environment. The concept is not new, since many people have been doing this for years using everyday objects – especially in times of crisis, when any financial savings is welcome.
However, the new wave of upcycling arrives with an extra touch of modernity and sophistication, restoring objects using creativity and craftsman skills to transform an interesting item into a surprising and original artifact.
Some objects that can be used in upcycling are cans, pet bottles, fabrics, plastic and everything that is already commonly used in recycling. However, in the concept of upcycling, objects are even more diverse, and other utensils can be used, such as brass, bicycle parts, gardening equipment, sports balls and much more.
What is the difference between upcycling and recycling?
The reuse and transformation of one object into another are two characteristics present in both upcycling and recycling. However, the big difference is in the way objects that would be discarded are used.
In recycling, the material can be completely modified, as in the case of melting plastic to form a new product, for example. In upcycling, the technique aims to maintain most of the characteristics of the original product and just give the object a new use.
A soccer ball can become a flower pot; a bicycle can become the basis for a table; a drum drum can turn into a lamp; silverware can come together to form a beautiful chandelier for the room, and so on.
Benefits of upcycling
See the biggest advantages of upcycling with objects:
Flexibility
One of the biggest benefits of upcycling is the flexibility it brings. It is possible to reuse objects in different areas, such as fashion, decoration, furniture creation, making everyday objects and much more.
Even some companies are being created with a focus on manufacturing products with the upcycling technique. The objective of these companies is to help with environmental conservation, raise people's awareness and, at the same time, sell products made with solid waste.
waste reduction
Tons and tons of waste are discarded every day in the world, as people consume products made to have a limited lifespan – as is the case with light bulbs and clothes, for example.
So that this behavior does not affect the environment so negatively, upcycling can be put in vogue. If at least part of people and companies start to reuse objects, there will certainly be positive results for the environment.
Now that you know what upcycle is, continue on the Plantar Ideias website and learn about our upcycle projects. environmental architecture!
Check also: O que é prática sustentável | Design biofílico
