Anyone that has ever seen Kirstie Allsopp on TV will be aware of the recent re-emergence of 'upcycling'. Whilst recycling (sometimes known as down-cycling) uses additional energy to extract useful raw materials, upcycling converts old or discarded materials into something useful and often more beautiful. Plain and simple, upcycling makes a positive impact on the environment. Whilst recycling requires significant energy, upcycling only requires creativity and a bit of elbow grease.
Whilst we upcycle at every possible opportunity, we also ensure that any remaining materials, such as old copper cable, are recycled.