Sunday, May 3, 2009
Semantics (or, what's in a name?)
Today I learned what I hope is a very valuable Etsy tip: use all 14 of your available tags! Doh! So, in going through my items and tagging them very descriptively, I have run into a conundrum: what's the real difference between recycling and upcycling? So far, I kind of feel like upcycle is a made-up word; like a more trendy version of recycle... unless to upcycle is a just a different way to say repurposed. I just bought something on Etsy that was described as upcycled, and this got me to thinking, what about the gift tags and the vase I've got listed? Are they recycled, upcycled, or both?
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I looked it up: "Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value." Whereas, "Recycling involves processing used materials into new products in order to prevent waste of potentially useful materials..."
ReplyDeleteSo, C, would you call the gift tags and vase upcycled AND recycled?
ReplyDeletePooh. I have no idea. I thought I understood it at first . . . Yes on the gift tags, no on the vase?
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