BAHRAIN-UPCYCLING Bahrain-based designer turns discarded items into upcyled goods

Record ID: 140499

  • Title: BAHRAIN-UPCYCLING Bahrain-based designer turns discarded items into upcyled goods
  • Date: 1st September 2015
  • Summary: HOORA, EAST OF MANAMA, BAHRAIN (AUGUST 30, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF INDIAN DESIGNER, VRUSHALI JOSHI, USING OLD NEWSPAPER TO CREATE OBJECTS COLOURFUL OBJECTS MADE FROM DISCARDED ITEMS PLACED AT TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN DESIGNER, VRUSHALI JOSHI, SAYING: "There is a slight difference between recycle and upcycle, because in recycle I always mention that in recycle we crush the products, we use the machines, we again use the electricity and all this, while upcycling I am just changing the form of one waste to be used for something else - so that is upcycling. Now what happens is upcycling is slightly difficult because you have to think a little bit. You know you have to be a little creative about it, but its not impossible." JOSHI WORKING IN HER WORKSHOP / USING STICKS TO CREATE OBJECTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN DESIGNER, VRUSHALI JOSHI, SAYING: "It is definitely very difficult, it is not something easy to slice the paper, to cut it, or to cut the bottles, to break the bottles, it is a tool job, it is not something which is very easy to do." VARIOUS OF JOSHI USING ROLLED NEWSPAPER STICKS TO CREATE COLOURFUL BASKETS VARIOUS OF COLOURFUL BASKETS BEING PLACED ON TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN DESIGNER, VRUSHALI JOSHI, SAYING: "I think that's the greatest honour I can have that so many of them have appreciated my work. When I started, it was absolutely nothing and when it comes to a level where it's a completely grown up baby you handle it from a piece of paper to the entire range of baskets that I make out of plastics and paper." JOSHI'S WORK DISPLAYED ON THE WALL DECORATION OF COLOURFUL BOTTLES MADE FROM DISCARDED ITEMS LAMP MADE FROM DISCARDED ITEMS AND DECORATED WITH BUTTERFLIES IN LIVING ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN DESIGNER, VRUSHALI JOSHI, SAYING: "Now I wish to reach to the kids in the school as I always - that is the thought in my mind because I have a daughter and I see her just throwing away things and I am sure so many other kids do that, so I really want to reach to the kids in the school who would start it from there, the teachers, because more than the parents the kids listen to the teachers more, so if it comes from there I think it would be imbibed in the education itself that they should not throw, they should not just fling their things here and there." VARIOUS OF COLOURFUL DOLLS MADE FROM DISCARDED ITEMS DECORATED IN JOSHI'S HOUSE
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bahrain
  • Country: Bahrain
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAD335PPSVCF0Y1OT5FQJU82KRM
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: An Indian designer, based in Bahrain, is turning trash and unwanted items into upcyled products in an attempt to reduce global waste.
    Instead of throwing away old newspapers and plastics bottles, Vrushali Joshi is turning such items into eco-friendly products such as woven baskets, pen-holders, and colourful dolls.
    Upcycling refers to reusing an object in a new way without degrading the material it is made from, as opposed to recycling which generally involves breaking down the original material and making it into something else, using more energy.
    Joshi explains more about the difference between the two practices.
    "There is a slight difference between recycle and upcycle, because in recycle I always mention that in recycle we crush the products, we use the machines, we again use the electricity and all this, while upcycling I am just changing the form of one waste to be used for something else - so that is upcycling. Now what happens is upcycling is slightly difficult because you have to think a little bit. You know you have to be a little creative about it, but its not impossible," Joshi told Reuters TV.
    Upcycling is used on a range of products including jewellery, furniture and fashion items, such as making bracelets from old flip flops, lamps from blenders, and turning skateboards into furniture such as chairs and bookcases.
    But Joshi says the practice is not an easy job.
    "It is definitely very difficult, it is not something easy to slice the paper, to cut it, or to cut the bottles, to break the bottles, it is a tool job, it is not something which is very easy to do," she said.
    Joshi's idea for upcycling started in 2009 after watching her daughter regularly discarding unwanted items from her wardrobe. It was then when she started to think about ways to put such waste to good use.
    Soon after, she started using the internet as a mean to self-train herself and promote her work online.
    After gaining some popularity among the local community and through her website, Joshi started to provide free workshops to those interested to learn the craft.
    Joshi says her work has been showcased in various exhibitions in Bahrain during which she received recognition and admiration.
    "I think that's the greatest honour I can have that so many of them have appreciated my work. When I started, it was absolutely nothing and when it comes to a level where it's a completely grown up baby you handle it from a piece of paper to the entire range of baskets that I make out of plastics and paper," she said.
    Joshi says she now hopes to introduce her idea to schools to help educate children about the benefits of upcycling, and to limit the amount of waste that is being produced. She also sells her home-made products online through her website.
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