Briefly upcycling is “revamping the unloved and mundane into something much more useful or beautiful and creative“.

Upcycling is a relatively new word that has existed since the late ’90s. The Cambridge Dictionary recognised the increasing popularity of upcycling by voting it as the word of the year in 2019.

Upcycling is a process of transforming waste materials or unwanted products into new and higher-value items. It’s different from recycling, which breaks down materials into their raw components.

It’s a great way to reduce waste and promote sustainability by reducing waste in landfills and minimising our ecological impact. Upcycling requires less energy than recycling.

Common things to upcycle are: 1. Furniture 2. Old clothing & fabrics 3. Pallets and scrap wood 4. Glass jars and bottles 5. Tin cans and plastic  6. Paper & cardboard products  7. Electronic devices

Upcycled furniture tends to be one-off. It is a brilliant way to make your stamp in your home by creating something unique that reflects your taste and personality.

Far too much clothing ends up in a landfill. It could be repurposed and upcycled into something more useful. "It is estimated that £140 million clothing goes into landfills yearly. “

Amazingly, you can upcycle an old tin can and plastic cartons into planters.   Most planters in my home and garden are upcycled tin cans, whether decoupaged, painted or covered in fabric.

One side effect of online shopping is the amount of cardboard packaging we acquire. Instead of putting all of it into the recycling bin, I keep some aside for crafts and upcycling

Visit the site to see lots of wonderful upcycling ideas big and small. Covering all materials for paper, fabric, wood, tin and plastics.  All with step by step tutorials.