From the authors "Cradle to Cradle," the next step, in how society must change the way it uses resources. Drawing on the lessons gained from 10 years of using the cradle-to-cradle concept, McDonough and Braungart envision the next step in the solution to our ecological crisis.

Upcycle this book. Rewrite it as a manifesto. Steal and take and copy and change this book. Upcycle these twenty-three texts just as I have upcycled so many other texts and responded to many sets of existing conditions. Or unlike I have. Treat these words as existing conditions. Some of them are artworks. Some of them upcycle artworks by others. Some are barely texts at all. . . . Often the words are a script to be performed. Its useful to read words out loud in public. Gavin Wade is pragmatic utopian, an artist, artist-curator, artist-writer and one of the founding directors of Eastside Projects in Birmingham, UK. He has curated numerous exhibitions as well as written and published a number of bookssuch as Has Man a Function in Universe? (Book Works, 2008). Upcycle This Book was co-published by Book Works and Stroom den Haag in an edition of 1,000.

A manifesto for a radically different philosophy and practice of manufacture and environmentalism "Reduce, reuse, recycle" urge environmentalists; in other words, do more with less in order to minimize damage. But as this provocative, visionary book argues, this approach perpetuates a one-way, "cradle to grave" manufacturing model that dates to the Industrial Revolution and casts off as much as 90 percent of the materials it uses as waste, much of it toxic. Why not challenge the notion that human industry must inevitably damage the natural world? In fact, why not take nature itself as our model? A tree produces thousands of blossoms in order to create another tree, yet we do not consider its abundance wasteful but safe, beautiful, and highly effective; hence, "waste equals food" is the first principle the book sets forth. Products might be designed so that, after their useful life, they provide nourishment for something new-either as "biological nutrients" that safely re-enter the environment or as "technical nutrients" that circulate within closed-loop industrial cycles, without being "downcycled" into low-grade uses (as most "recyclables" now are). Elaborating their principles from experience (re)designing everything from carpeting to corporate campuses, William McDonough and Michael Braungart make an exciting and viable case for change.

Renowned environmental lifestyle expert and Today Show regular Danny Seo shares 100 of his most inspiring projects for creative transformation. Have neglected items around your house? They can be the source for exciting craft possibilities! Turn your old leather belts into a cool doormat (or even a briefcase!); worn-out paperbacks into gorgeous bud vases; tennis balls into a quaint country swing; chopsticks into a handsome trivet, and many more. With full-color photos throughout to guide and inspire, Danny shows that it's easy to be crafty, and fun to be budget- and eco-conscious.

Consume less and create more—by turning old T-shirts into new treasures. Kid-friendly projects included! Did you know the average American throws away more than sixty-eight pounds of clothing each year? Join the revolution to reduce your carbon footprint—one T-shirt at a time! Widely known for her recycling efforts, environmental crafter Jenelle Montilone will show you how to upcycle tees into fun and fanciful quilts, accessories, toys, and gifts for the whole family. With nearly 30 easy-to-make ideas, you’ll consume less and create more!

Presents many projects for creative "upcycling"-- using used and recycled products to create extraordinary gifts and decorations for celebrations from New Years Eve through Christmas.

Have a bunch of mason jars in your cupboard but not sure what to do with them? Have some fruit crates laying around? Upcycle is a fun, contemporary project book that will show you how to take a range of common objects, many available cheap or free, and craft them into stylish home furnishings and décor. The projects are practical and attractive, with full-color photography and easy-to-follow instructions. Turn an old wooden pallet into a stylish coffee table or a charming, rustic headboard, a leftover jam jar into an accent light or a hanging plant holder, and dozens more simple home crafts. The lovely “farmhouse chic” esthetic brings a rustic yet modern flare to any home. Each project has a complete list of tools and materials needed, and handy illustrations that even the beginner to DIY projects can follow with ease. The book focuses on 8 everyday items you may find at a flea market or even free—perhaps in your own home, and shows how each can yield a wide range of projects. Bonus section includes ideas for stencils to trace, or be inspired by to create your own. Wooden Pallets: Coffee table, Floor lamp, Headboard, Shelves, Fun wall hangings, End table, Key rack, Building blocks, Candle holders Fruit Crates: Firewood box, Banquette, Book shelves, Shadow boxes, Planters Cotton Sheets: Round tablecloth with festive matching napkins, Embroidered wall hangings, Stencilled table runners, Dip-dyed curtains, Tote bag, Throw pillow, Light shade Glass Jars: Accent light, Wall lamp, Suspended vases, Indoor garden, Terrarium, Christmas lights Wine Bottles: Vases, Planters, Hanging lamps, Mood lighting Tin Cans: Cozy planters, Stencilled candle holder, Desktop organizer, Hanging silverware holders, Hanging lights Old Lampshades: Dreamcatcher, Mobile, Revsamped hanging light Dishes: Candle holders, Wall décor, Working clock, Serving tray

This book covers topics not commonly associated with creativity that offer us insight into creative action as a social, material, and cultural process. A wide range of specialists within the humanities and social sciences will find this interesting, as well as practitioners who are looking for novel ways of thinking about and doing creative work.

Bookworms derive great pleasure from the simple act of reading. But what happens when a book is old or damaged and no longer in a fit state to be read? Through 20 do-it-yourself projects, Upcycling Books: Decorative Objects gives your tattered friends a new lease on life. With simple techniques and common household materials, you can upcycle an old atlas, dog-eared comics, or an obsolete set of encyclopedias. Projects include party decorations, a woven basket, a smartphone charger, a mail organizer, a secret storage box, and an origami lampshade. Links to videos show a process or technique in detail, while templates can be printed for use. More than 30 variations and suggestions will further inspire you. Don't let old books gather dust; give them a new purpose with Upcycling Books.

* Our summary is short, simple and pragmatic. It allows you to have the essential ideas of a big book in less than 30 minutes. By reading this summary, you will discover how to live in an ecological way without forcing yourself to be economical, but on the contrary by generating more and more well-being and resources. You will also discover that : sacrifice is not necessary for an ecological solution; current recycling generates a loss of material; waste is a precious resource, and carbon dioxide a vital element; sustainable solutions are possible if we take inspiration from nature. Following their first book entitled "Cradle to Cradle", William McDonough and Michael Braungart, respectively architect specializing in sustainable development and researcher in environmental consulting, propose in this new book a concrete application of their ecological principles previously described in detail. Both men argue for a positive and fertile ecology, producing more well-being and resources, rather than an ecology of damage limitation and simple damage reduction. Against preconceived ideas and reluctance to make major changes, they propose solutions already in place at the level of certain companies, cities or even countries, which can be easily adopted, for a long-lasting conception of the Planet. *Buy now the summary of this book for the modest price of a cup of coffee!