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Although it has gained extra recognition lately, repurposing will not be a brand new factor. In reality, individuals used to repurpose and reuse on a regular basis. Sometimes they’d accomplish that with a view to make their purchases final, different instances they’d merely need to be artistic and there have been those that simply couldn’t fathom the thought of throwing one thing helpful away. If a product nonetheless has life in it, you may as effectively benefit from it, proper?
Well, that’s what we’re going to speak about on this month’s Biofriendly DIY. We’re going to debate repurposing and, hopefully, get extra individuals incorporating this idea and exercise into their lives.
Convenience Has Become a unclean phrase
Before we get into speaking about repurposing what we now have, we have to discuss concerning the comfort of your purchases. Are you shopping for merchandise constructed to final? Are you searching for one thing long-term or one thing you should use and toss?
Unfortunately, over time, a lot of the world has been centered on the “comfort” of their purchases. They need one thing they will merely purchase as soon as, use and eliminate it afterwards. This has turned comfort into a unclean phrase. Why? Well, as a result of comfort is commonly related to single- and one-use, plastic and disposable gadgets. Which, as everyone knows, will not be actually handy in any respect.
People purchase plastic cups, straws and utensils for yard events. They go for plastic bottles of soda or water, as a substitute of providing visitors reusable glasses. Disposable social gathering decorations are a reasonable approach to beautify, however the waste generated isn’t essential. Sometimes, individuals even purchase plastic furnishings to make use of for particular occasions, as a substitute of repurposing different objects into seating areas. Even vogue has change into wasteful because of individuals choosing cheap, but poorly made, garments as a substitute of making a sustainable wardrobe which could last a lifetime.
All this “comfort” results in waste. As a end result, most of these merchandise are pilling up in landfills and polluting our oceans. According to research, a plastic water bottle could take up to 450 years to decompose in a landfill. Even clothes waste may take many years to decompose. What is even worse is, as these merchandise decompose, they break down into smaller particles (micro-plastics) and these particles get into the air we breathe, the meals we eat and the surroundings during which we stay.
Although scientists will not be positive of all of the dangers related to microplastics, these micro-particles have been shown to cause damage to human cells, so it’s positively trigger for concern.
Built to Last Means Longer Use
So, with the knowledge we now have on microplastics and poor high quality supplies, the truth is it’s extra handy to purchase merchandise constructed to final. If you’ve got one product able to lasting for many years and one other supposed for use solely as soon as, it’s truly going to be cheaper and higher for the surroundings to buy to product from which you may get a number of makes use of over time.
Let’s take a eating room desk set, for instance. If you purchase a well-made desk and chairs, with high quality supplies, you’ll have it for years to come back. If you go for a cheaper desk, simply since you need one thing instantly or for the quick time period, then you definately’re not going to get as a lot use out it. Plus, it’s going to finish up within the landfill rather a lot before your different desk would.
The similar is true for many merchandise, clothes included. Did you recognize, the variety of instances an individual wears a garment earlier than throwing it away has declined by around 36% in the last 15 years? Much of this downside stems from the poor high quality supplies used to make garments. In addition, the expertise for textile recycling begs enchancment.
One answer to this downside is shopping for gadgets constructed to final. This means you should have them longer, get extra use from them and generate much less waste. It will prevent cash in the long term, as effectively.
Repurposing Needs to be Your NEXT thought
Once you’ve taken a take a look at the “comfort” of your buy, and also you’ve factored in shopping for gadgets to final, repurposing must be your subsequent thought.
You shouldn’t robotically take into consideration throwing gadgets away. Disposal must be a final resort if you happen to can’t repurpose, reuse, recycle or donate. This is the place society has fallen quick lately. Back in my grandparents’ day, they might have by no means purchased gadgets they didn’t intend to maintain for a really very long time. The thought of single- or one-use merchandise was merely wasteful. Why would you need to purchase one thing to make use of solely as soon as?
When you purchase one thing, it must be constructed to final and must be constructed to be repurposed.
Going again to the eating room desk and chairs, when you’ve used them as a lot as you may, sanded and refinished them again and again, contemplate shifting them to your yard or deck for an out of doors eating set as a substitute. You may additionally break up the arrange and repurpose the chairs into a pleasant backyard bench, a planter or two and even a number of bookshelves. The desk may very well be used as a desk, for gardening preps, as a craft desk and extra.
Clothing might be repurposed in quite a lot of methods. You can repurpose components of an outfit into new outfit. You can repurpose a shirt right into a cleansing material or a pair of denims right into a bag. Sometimes individuals take worn sweatshirts and repurpose them into a brand new quilt.
Other repurposing concepts
Wine bottles and mason jars might be repurposed into lovely lighting or candle holders. An finish desk might be repurposed right into a e-book shelf. Take a standing bookshelf, flip it on its facet, add some doorways or curtains and make it a storage cupboard. Repurpose an outdated window body into an image body or hold it within the backyard to “body” the sundown view out of your porch. Take the knobs off outdated doorways and cupboards and switch them into ornamental wall hooks. Make an unused ladder right into a towel or blanket rack. An outdated pair of denims can change into a brand new pair of shorts. Turn your favourite, worn out t-shirt right into a sensible tote bag.
The choices are quite a few in the case of repurposing. If you aren’t positive what to do, a fast on-line search can result in numerous concepts and sure offer you a path to take.
The key right here is altering your mindset. When you make a purchase order, purchase to final. Realize comfort doesn’t have to imply single- or one-use solely. Look for reusable as a substitute of disposable. Figure out tips on how to repurpose an merchandise earlier than ever contemplating throwing it away. Opting this viewpoint will prevent cash, decrease waste and assist the surroundings.
