Upcycling

If you are not already familiar with it, let me introduce you to a new word for your lexicon of sustainable language.

Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

This is not the same as our chairman recovering a computer desk from a skip in Ashust Drive while out delivering our newsletter, because he knew his secretary was in need of one - It is being used for exactly the purpose it was made. It is akin to recovering wooden fencing or pallets from a skip and using it to make a compost bin.

You’ve all, no doubt, encountered those pyschological exercises where you are asked to think of as many uses you can for e.g. a house brick. Back in the days when smoking was allowed in pubs, the Dickens Inn used Flettons [left] as ash trays. But even that does not fully describe the creativity and innovation required for true upcycling. So here’s an example, with suitable drumroll, to tingle your creative juices for the festive season ahead. It’s from Hannah B down in Sarf East London and has been made by her Mister.

Of course you don’t have to use the storage space for books. It could be used for beer, or even re-usable nappies and all the other paraphernalia that comes with babies. Yes, Hannah’s bump is now showing and we wish all 3 of them a Nappy New Year.