Creative, Active, Responsible Students in the Digital World 1 | Page 36

CO-FUNDED BY THE ERASMUS + PROGRAMME OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Chapter 4: Creative recycling workshops
Creative recycling is a true recycling or
even better an upcycling where waste materials or
useless products are turned into new materials or
products of better quality or a higher
environmental value.
Upcycling, also known as creative reuse,
is the process of transforming by-products, waste
materials, useless, or unwanted products into new
materials or products of better quality or for better
environmental value.
The environmental benefits of upcycling are a lot, aside from minimising the
volume of discarded materials and waste being sent to landfill each year, it also reduces the
need for production using new or raw materials which means a reduction in air pollution,
water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and often a conservation of global resources.
Naturally, we are huge fans of the upcycling phenomenon and want to encourage everyone
else to jump on board.
Upcycling helps reduce CO2 emissions by using old materials instead of new ones.
In fact, for every ton of discarded textiles used again, 20 tons of CO2 is prevented from
entering the atmosphere. Upcycling also saves you money, as it allows you to find new uses
for old clothes that no longer fit or the like. It also promotes sustainable innovation and
creativity and can provide fun crafting time. Finally, it helps preserve our precious resources.
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