Upcycling refers to the reuse of disposable materials, by-products or waste products to convert them into something of greater artistic or environmental value. Upcycling is a very convenient process that has aided the shortage of raw materials in progressive industries like, garment, handicraft, home decor and many more.

The development of upcycling industry in Bangladesh has led to the reduction of waste material that might have been harmful for the environment, and helped to transform them into something commercially significant. Companies like BRAC Aarong and JatraBD made a major breakthrough in commercializing throwaway products in an artistic manner. Aarong took an initiative to recycle disposable papers into handmade paper and paper crafts which has led to the innovative journey towards a closed loop for papers. This Eco-friendly imagination has lowered the dependence on natural resources. Rickshaw arts, plastic or glass bottle handcrafts has minimised the volume of non-biodegradable discarded materials and waste leading to the reduction of soil defilement.

Upcycling textile waste is a great initiative to ease up the pressure on natural resources like raw cotton and wool. SICA, a Brazilian company working to Create unique clothing and accessories from the vibrant textile waste from local factories, has expanded to Bangladesh. SICA strives to collect textile clipping-waste from the Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry (RMG) and bring them into the hands of the skilled craftswomen in rural Rangpur and Northern Bangladesh. They have played a significant role in upcycling used textiles into new high-value textiles while preserving traditional crafts. Their method is cost effective and there is no secondary pollution to the environment, ensuring that the life of the upcycled material is prolonged in a sustainable way. Moreover, it has created remarkable financial opportunities for the local artisans. Rugs, clutches, bike panniers, table mats and cushion covers are some of the noteworthy upcycled products sold in Berlin with the line “Proudly made in Bangladesh”. The role in Berlin is not only to give visibility to Bangladeshi crafts, but also to connect and collaborate with its thriving sustainable design community.

Although Bangladesh is very progressive in reusing the useless to make something usable and beautiful, we need more organizations and initiatives to cut down the quantity loss in production. Since upcycling also helps to preserve the culture and create working opportunities for the locals, the benefits of more organizations like Aarong, JatraBD or SICA will be monumental.