What does 'upcycling' mean?When you recycle an item to make something new, the product is often lower quality than the original. A recycled can will not be made into a whole new can, and recycled newspapers are not printed into new newspapers, but into lower grade items that use aluminum or paper. Upcycling makes an old item into something of higher quality- like turning plastic shopping bags into purses, or old bits of paper into jewelry. In addition to reducing waste, upcycling can create unique home projects and provide an income for people, and especially women, in the developing world.
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Support upcycling effortsMaybe finding your own upcycling projects doesn’t appeal to you, or you don’t have the time or space that they require. Supporting these ventures is another way to contribute to upcycling:
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