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50 Times People Showed How They Remade Things Instead Of Throwing Them Away And The Internet Applauded Them
If you've never heard the buzzword ‘upcycle,’ you’ve probably been off to the moon. The trend of creative reuse is all about transforming products that would otherwise end up in the trash.
Why? Because it’s is a great way to reuse materials and reduce our footprint. Plus, it’s fun and if you're still not convinced, below we have plenty of evidence of people using their skills and ingenuity to give old stuff a new life.
From a handcrafted tote bag made from a bunch of plastic bags to an old grill transformed into a cute herb garden, nothing seems impossible for these handy people. Scroll down, upvote your fave remade objects, and be sure to share your own upcycling ideas in the comments below!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
This Kind Man Is Recycling Old Camp Coolers To Make Warm Kitty Shelters For Winter! How Cool Is This?!
#2
The School Security Guard Decided To Save The Discarded Benches And Gave Them A Second Life
#3
I Take Plastic Shipping /Bale Straps From Hardware Store Waste, And Make Sturdy, Functional & Fashionable Baskets! (My Cats Also Love Them At Every Stage)
Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago
Wow, how do some people come up with these ideas. Great way to recycle those plastic strips.
Every year we dump a massive 2.12 billion tons of waste. If all this waste was put on trucks, they would go around the world 24 times. This stunning amount of waste is partly because 99 percent of the stuff we buy is trashed within 6 months.
Luckily, more and more people are now becoming aware of the damage of the waste they produce and the footprint they leave on their planet by consuming stuff on a daily basis. Sustainable consumption is a way to do more and better with less, meaning that we give old products a whole new life.
To find out more about the now-trending practice of upcycling, we talked to Lina Survila, an editor-in-chief of Abstract Stylist magazine. “Upcycling is a re-use of no longer desirable items. It can be something that has lost its function or simply doesn't spark joy anymore,” Lina explained this buzzword.
#4
Pulled Out Of A Trash Heap. It Was One Part Of A Military File Cabinet. Thorough Cleaning, Paint And A Little Shining Up Followed By Wrapping It In Wood From My Scrap Pile. Added Some Legs And Bingo Bango!
#5
This Rug Used To Be A Bunch Of Ugly T-Shirts
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
Rug braiding is sooooo easy too! The hardest part is just the monotony of cutting enough strips of material. The braiding then stitching together is a breeze.
#6
I Convinced My Friend To Not Throw Away His Old Fencing And Let Me Build Him Garden Boxes. How Do You Think They Came Out?
SentimentAndBadJokes 3 years ago
I think that your friend would've regretted otherwise. What wood ya know?
“Creative upcycling is becoming more and more popular as people are looking for new ways to express their creativity and stay original,” she said and added that “the sustainability aspect is a strong motivator to give items a second life.”
When asked whether people are becoming more aware about producing less waste in their daily lives, Lina assured us that this is definitely the case. “People are definitely talking more about conscious lifestyle choices than they used to.”
But it’s not all up to them. If we talk about the greatest impact in producing waste, we need to realize that “big changes, especially in the fashion industry, should come from big brands making their supply chain more clean and transparent.” So the companies that produce huge amounts of stuff, like the famous fast fashion brands, are really the ones to blame.
#7
Earrings Who Lost Their Mates Turned Into A Charm Bracelet
#8
I Turned An Old Microwave Cart Into A Rolling LEGO Stand For My Daughters For Christmas
#9
Upcycled 3 Old T-Shirts Into 1 New One
“The more we upcycle, the more we choose not to buy something new. It's like making dinner from scraps—you use something most people would throw away, and you save money,” Lina said. She’s also a believer in a conscious lifestyle that’s something to be affordable for all and not reserved for the people with higher incomes.
You can upcycle virtually anything, from clothes and accessories to household objects. “I upcycle paper boxes and bags, glass bottles, and old textiles. For example, you can upcycle your old bed linen to small kitchen napkins or towels. Also, use boxes as containers for storage, build compartments in your closet from them,” the editor concluded.
#10
Turned An Old Fan With A Bad Motor Into A Lamp
Marcellus the Third 3 years ago
Bad for the cable connection though, being spun around in one direction; so you'd have to have some smart contraption.
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Sam Sampson 3 years ago
Bizarrely, there are lamps being sold by UK company B&Q, that look a lot like this! https://www.diy.com/departments/rotor-matt-black-floor-light/5014838911310_BQ.prd
Barbara Vandewalle 3 years ago
My folks had one of these when i was growing up. The big danger is if someone, child, sticks their fingers past the grill. The light fixture is great.
M O'Connell 3 years ago
Pro-tip: Fans of this vintage require regular maintenance, and were not constructed as throw-away items like modern fans are. A little pad of felt and some light machine oil likely would have returned it to functional condition.
jknbt jknbt 3 years ago
that motor is still available by special order, it could have been resurrected as an art deco fan
#11
Made Some Shorts, A Bucket Hat And A Bag All From One Old Jacket
#12
A Rose For My Partner On Our Anniversary, Made From Recycled Cutlery
#13
My Vintage TV Barn Find Turned Into My New Bar Cart
#14
Turned An Old Office Credenza Into A New TV Stand
#15
The Drink Tray I Got From A Cafe Is A Reused Milk Carton
#16
Made A Fairy Succulent Garden Patio Area With A Broken Pot
#17
I Repurpoused My Old Grill Into A Small Herb Garden! I Hope All The Seeds Grow Soon
#18
Handpainted Them. Love How These Turned Out!
#19
Picked Up A Used Cardigan That Turned Out To Look Much Better In The Picture Than In Person, So I Turned It Back To Yarn And Crocheted The Yarn Into A Cat Bed (I Didn't Use A Pattern)
#20
IKEA Backpack
Oskar vanZandt 3 years ago
Those blue bags (the material) are almost indestructible... that backpack will last as long as the seams etc. do.
#21
A Neighbor Was Giving Away This Kid Size Chest Of Drawers For Free, So I Snagged It And Made It Into A Quarantine Bar
#22
Swater Not Won Since 1996 And A Zipper From An Old Bag = Wool Overall For My Kid
#23
Turned A Thrifted Blanket Into These Ridiculous Sweats
#24
Unused Bags, It's Time To Do Some Handicraft
#25
I Read That A Lot Of Donated Clothes End Up In Landfills Anyway, So Started Saving Our Old Fabrics/Textiles That Didn’t Seem Nice Enough For Resale. Finally Used Them To Make This Pet Bed!
#26
A Raincoat For My Dog Made Out Of A Broken Promotional Umbrella (She’s Not Impress)
#27
Teacup Birdfeeders Made By Me
#28
Made A Bag For My Mom's Yarn From Old Window Screen
#29
Repurposed An Old Cable Spool Into A Table For My Zero Waste Store
#30
My Old Favourite Jeans Turned Into A Pen Roll
#31
Denim Friends From Old Jeans
#32
Got This Pillowcase At A Local Thrift Store For 50 Cents! Flipped It Into A Cute Purse!
Nannychachi 3 years ago
Twice a year our local furniture store gives me their fabric upholstery swatches. Some are leather and I make purses with them. I used a lot of the fabric ones to make stuffed bunnies for kids at Easter.
#33
A Knit A Sweater Made Entirely Of Old /Scrap Yarns I Had Lying Around
#34
Repurposed A Diaper Box + Some Contact Paper Into A Little Bookcase For My Son
#35
My Mom Made This Pig Planter
#36
Ultimate Upcycling! Abandoned Car To Airbnb!
#37
Bought A Men's Shirt For $3 And Turned It Into A Twin Set!
#38
I Turned An Old Dresser Into A Microwave Stand!
#39
Update! TV With Cats (And You Can See The Chandelier I Made From An Old Vase)
#40
Turned An Old Mannequin Hand And Gold Metal Tray Into A Light! (Not My Idea Originally, I Saw Some Similar Online)
#41
From Ruined Jeans To An Area Rug
#42
Upcycled An Old Candle Lid
#43
IKEA Bags Into Windbreaker
#44
Old Handmade Writing Desk Turned Into A Changing Table For The New Nursery
#45
Upcycled Bicycle Wheel
#46
Something I Made From Old Bicycle Parts And Christmas Lights
#47
I Turned Old Perfume Bottles Into Room Diffusers
#48
I Turned My Friend's Old Dress Shirt Into A Crop Top With A Matching Mask And Scrunchie!
#49
Took Two Old Shirts And Made Two New Ones!
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Vicky Z 3 years ago
It's amazing but it also makes me feel useless... how can people have so many skills?
Load More Replies...
Brian Bennett 3 years ago
Most of these projects take a bit of talent. I have wonderful Ideas when I get done it looks like a group of kindergarten destroyers were let loose. I must be wonderful to have talent - I congratulate all of them!
Memere 3 years ago (edited)
It takes practice, these are people who started out the same way & just focused on one thing, then practiced over & over til they improved. It's just like learning to play a musical instrument, or a sport - not one single person is perfect at anything when they are starting out. Pick one thing, keep working at it, and don't give up!
Load More Replies...
Sasy 3 years ago
I liked these a lot, was super jealous of some, and do wish that things like the bag made of strapping had a step by step how to attached. The idea that these people spent some time on something that made them happy is enough for me to be also happy. Whether not your taste or style, that you do not see value in the item or not, see value in the initiative and time spent and how good they felt.
John Topper 3 years ago
A bunch of these are fun ideas, but the labeling is deceptive. "I got this for $3" leaves out the considerable amount of skill and 6 hours of your time that went into it.
Lyone Fein 3 years ago
This was a great article. All of these ideas are terrific. But one thing I don't understand is what is going on with all the negative comments. Didn't people ever learn about "if you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything"? There is so much nastiness in the comments I was shocked.
Crazy Meerkat Lady 3 years ago
Can someone reccomend a YouTube channel where I can learn to stitch? For example making a top from a blanket or the person who made a child overall from the unused jumper. There are too many channels regarding that and I would prefer someone's recommendation.
katboxjanitor 3 years ago
My only issue is a pretty big one. The motivation to execute the project once the supplies are in hand.
Thomas 3 years ago
Very crude compared to the other projects above, but this thing I made has proven to be darn useful since I don't have an AC.
Broken table fan found in the trash + old PC fan + a spare 12V connector + a bit of duct tape to seal the side gaps = a powerful, low-consumption and ultra-quiet table fan with LED light! eb3bc7741f...284495.jpg 
e291b42e44...64da78.jpg 
Marcus James Heslop 3 years ago
This post should be called Turning Old Tat into Different Old Tat
Neil Bidle 3 years ago
I really dislike the term "upcycling" because it's a stupid millennial buzz-word to describe the idea of fixing something or repurposing it instead of putting it in landfill. This is an idea is common sense and should be used by everyone, but the phrase is so often used for painting some old junk to make new junk. Saving all the old school benches? Fab. Putting a painted bicycle on the wall to use as a clothes rail? What??
John Baker 3 years ago
Speaking of stupid millennial buzzwords ... "repurposing."
Load More Replies... Vicky Z 3 years ago
It's amazing but it also makes me feel useless... how can people have so many skills?
Load More Replies... Brian Bennett 3 years ago
Most of these projects take a bit of talent. I have wonderful Ideas when I get done it looks like a group of kindergarten destroyers were let loose. I must be wonderful to have talent - I congratulate all of them!
Memere 3 years ago (edited)
It takes practice, these are people who started out the same way & just focused on one thing, then practiced over & over til they improved. It's just like learning to play a musical instrument, or a sport - not one single person is perfect at anything when they are starting out. Pick one thing, keep working at it, and don't give up!
Load More Replies... Sasy 3 years ago
I liked these a lot, was super jealous of some, and do wish that things like the bag made of strapping had a step by step how to attached. The idea that these people spent some time on something that made them happy is enough for me to be also happy. Whether not your taste or style, that you do not see value in the item or not, see value in the initiative and time spent and how good they felt.
John Topper 3 years ago
A bunch of these are fun ideas, but the labeling is deceptive. "I got this for $3" leaves out the considerable amount of skill and 6 hours of your time that went into it.
Lyone Fein 3 years ago
This was a great article. All of these ideas are terrific. But one thing I don't understand is what is going on with all the negative comments. Didn't people ever learn about "if you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything"? There is so much nastiness in the comments I was shocked.
Crazy Meerkat Lady 3 years ago
Can someone reccomend a YouTube channel where I can learn to stitch? For example making a top from a blanket or the person who made a child overall from the unused jumper. There are too many channels regarding that and I would prefer someone's recommendation.
katboxjanitor 3 years ago
My only issue is a pretty big one. The motivation to execute the project once the supplies are in hand.
Thomas 3 years ago
Very crude compared to the other projects above, but this thing I made has proven to be darn useful since I don't have an AC.
Broken table fan found in the trash + old PC fan + a spare 12V connector + a bit of duct tape to seal the side gaps = a powerful, low-consumption and ultra-quiet table fan with LED light! eb3bc7741f...284495.jpg e291b42e44...64da78.jpg
Marcus James Heslop 3 years ago
This post should be called Turning Old Tat into Different Old Tat
Neil Bidle 3 years ago
I really dislike the term "upcycling" because it's a stupid millennial buzz-word to describe the idea of fixing something or repurposing it instead of putting it in landfill. This is an idea is common sense and should be used by everyone, but the phrase is so often used for painting some old junk to make new junk. Saving all the old school benches? Fab. Putting a painted bicycle on the wall to use as a clothes rail? What??
John Baker 3 years ago
Speaking of stupid millennial buzzwords ... "repurposing."
Load More Replies...
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