Upcycling – A “Green” Cottage Industry

A new industry has sprung up making custom replacement parts for items that are no longer supported by the manufacturer.  This new class of tinkerers may do it full time, selling their wares at trade shows and online, or just bartering their repair skills for things they need or want.

Upcycling is extremely popular with clever people who take parts from old vehicles and create new, efficient machines. This is being done globally with diesel vehicles capable of running on a variety of alternative fuels that are cheaper and environment-friendly.

Interestingly, the more creative the transformation of a an upcycled object, the more sale-able it typically is.  This can be something as simple as using something other than canvas for paintings, turning old cans into decorative candle objects, and taking packing peanuts and using them to stuff homemade toys sewn from cast off fabrics.. 

Particularly useful transformations are also in demand.  One example might be turning metal or plastic waste barrels into water conservation devices… rain barrels for irrigating lawns and gardens. 

Another useful upcycling product might be finding a new home for something that is a waste product from a local industry.  This could be as simple as taking the leftover waste from a brewery and using it in the garden.

Upcycling is often just doing simple repairs to durable objects, making them useful again for a new generation… or a nostalgic older generation. It’s also a very inexpensive way to break into a growing cottage industry.