Everything you need to know about upcycling
Make a lamp from a PVC pipe, repurpose a wicker trash can that you no longer use to make a lampshade, recycle copper pipes to make a lamp base, There are many possibilities for upcycling in the manufacture of lighting fixtures. Hoopzï , with its lighting cords malins, is the partner of all fans of upcycling, THE trend that allows you to make something new from something old yourself.
In this article, we explain everything you need to know to do upcycling. with Hoopzï cords !
What is upcycling? ?
Upcycling in a few words…
You think you're an expert in recycling, or at least on your way to becoming one. So it's time to move on to... upcycling. ! Excuse me, the… what? ?
Upcycling is the French translation of the English word Upcycling. This is the name given to this concept which allows you to divert an object into another object, for a different use, and by giving it a more qualitative dimension. A new technique? No, not really… you’ve probably already seen wooden pallets transformed into coffee tables, old giant cable reels converted into high tables, or old chairs turned into planters in their second life ? That's what upcycling is. !
A technique that is not so new…
The name upcycling or surcyclage only appeared around the 90s, but we can say that our grandparents were already fans of it, they who had different consumption habits from ours. They practiced it in cooking, in sewing, and sometimes with everyday items. It must be said that it was sometimes easier to make something new from something old, and to reuse an object rather than throwing it away. !
Upcycling has also been observed in countries where access to basic products was sometimes restricted. Far from giving up, people have shown ingenuity in order to still have their copy, and at a lower cost, of a product that was not found in their stores. African countries were relatively prolific, creating bags and fashion accessories from plastic waste gleaned from trash cans, or clothing from fabric scraps.
Even though there are now more and more initiatives to raise awareness about zero waste, anti-waste, the circular economy and any other idea of preserving the environment, upcycling, however, remains little known. It's definitely not nearly as popular as recycling, so get a head start and master the nuances between these two anti-waste techniques.
What is the difference between upcycling and recycling? ?
Although both concepts start from the same idea, namely reusing materials to avoid waste, there is a fundamental difference between these approaches.
Recycling involves destroying the original materials in order to make a recycled object. , so much so that we often no longer even see what the starting point was. We agree with you that for glass, recycling is " basic " and that we recognize the transformed materials : glass becomes glass again, after having been broken, crushed, transformed, and we remain more or less in the same categories of objects.But admit that if we don't tell you, you'll have a hard time guessing that your watering can was made from plastic shampoo bottles, and that your fleece clothes were made from recycled cardboard. !
Upcycling is distinguished from recycling by this absence of destruction, With this technique, we use the object as it is to make another piece, adding a search for added value. The original object sometimes remains visible, at least identifiable, and we are grateful to it for having succeeded in giving life to a new object, often useful and decorative. This original object that we have seen age, but that we did not want to throw away, continues to live with us, and we keep it with tenderness.
In creative circles, upcycling is sometimes second nature. : scraps of wood from craftsmen spontaneously become art trinkets, tires are reborn in the form of seats… The fashion industry is a specialist in this field : a garment that is too old, that has shrunk or whose colors have faded, can be reused to become another textile object, used for decoration for example, or to make doll clothes. And since fashion is creative by nature, some artisans or sewing manufacturers are now even committed to using scraps of fabric or threads that were once destined to be thrown away or destroyed to make new ready-to-wear pieces. Still others have fun, for example, creating belts from tires...
In any case, Hoopzï says bravo to all these ideas (and those to come) whose objective is to reduce the volume of waste to create from what already exists. It is not only in science that " nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed » !
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The benefits of upcycling ?
An approach that preserves the environment
With the upcycling technique, we reuse existing objects instead of throwing them away. We can also do it even on an individual level, without engaging in energy-consuming activities such as washing, destruction, remanufacturing on an industrial scale. An ideal concept therefore to combat waste, and thus contribute to the preservation of the environment and existing resources.
Upcycling avoids creating new waste. It turns out to be an ideal solution to reduce the ecological footprint because the piece you are going to create is made with an object that was normally destined to become waste.
The satisfaction of infinite creativity
Upcycling also brings you personal satisfaction. By imagining and making an object, you contribute to your personal development, which often fulfills your creative desires, for your own pleasure.
Another advantage of upcycling is that you will be making a unique piece, which by definition will be rare. In the case of an upcycled light fixture, the object you have thought of and created will also have a low cost, because it will come from an object you already had.
So, you upcycle an object into a light fixture when, for example, you revamp your jar with a Hoopzï cord to create a light fixture or you use a tin can to transform it into a lampshade hanging on a suspension light Hoopzï.
Hoopzï's mission is to be an eco-responsible lighting brand. The Hoopzï range of pendant lights guarantees quality manufacturing, with all Hoopzï lighting products having a certificate of conformity : using Hoopzï means upcycling in complete safety.
Upcycling in the world of Hoopzï
Upcycling for CHR – OFFICE – ERP lighting fixtures
More and more companies and establishments open to the public (ERP) wish to use upcycling techniques to reduce their carbon footprint. Hoopzï, a supplier of lighting for professionals, offers a range of lighting certified compliant by the largest independent testing laboratories. This allows professionals to create new pendant lights from objects that have lost their original usefulness using Hoopzï ready-to-plug lighting cords.
More and more architects are sensitive to the recycling of materials and objects that allow them to reduce their carbon footprint, and to concretely display their eco-responsible approach and their contribution to the circular economy. Using materials and processes with a low or even zero impact by resorting to the upcycling technique is the best solution to achieve this objective.
Hoopzï and upcycling
The lampshades Endowment And Cup Hoopzï's lampshades are made from oyster shell waste, transformed into biomaterials, then injected to become a lampshade. These Hoopzï lampshades are made from 100% waste. So, recycling or upcycling ? Hoopzï oyster-based lampshades are not upcycled lampshades but eco-designed lampshades made from biomaterials.
An upcycled lamp could come from driftwood diverted to become the support of a light suspension, like a floor lamp. The driftwood was not destroyed, it was used as is, and enhanced. The added value of the creator is limitless and depends on the inspiration of each person.
Hoopzï has a product strategy dictated by the reduction of its environmental impact. The packaging is eco-designed, the electrical products are guaranteed for 10 years because we offer sustainable products. Since 2022, electric wires have been made exclusively with natural fibers that do not require watering or phytosanitary products.
We are a brand that motivates its consumers to practice upcycling. Our product Cordon Ball is very suitable for this DIY activity which gives a second life to objects and plays a positive role in the environmental impact of all.
