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.

A guide to repurposing used books and pages into unique, accessible art projects—the perfect gift for artists, crafters and book lovers. In these pages, Jason Thompson has curated an extensive and artistic range of both achievable upcycled crafts made from books and book pages and an amazing gallery that contains thought-provoking and beautiful works that transform books into art. The content encompasses a wide range of techniques and step-by-step projects that deconstruct and rebuild books and their parts into unique, recycled objects. The book combines in equal measure bookbinding, woodworking, paper crafting, origami, and textile and decorative arts techniques, along with a healthy dose of experimentation and fun. The beautiful high-end presentation and stunning photography make this book a delightful, must-have volume for any book-loving artist or art-loving book collector.

“The expert when it comes to turning old junk into special pieces of furniture . . . includes some speedy [projects] you can craft in next to no time.” —Prima Ever thought about transforming that rusty old item in the garage into something awesome to impress your dinner guests, or fancied refurbishing the random old dining chair in the shed but don’t have the tools or know-how? Discover your inner design genius, find out where to find great scrap items and learn techniques on how to transform them into great designs with this stylish eco-friendly book by Dragon’s Den entrepreneur and TV presenter Max McMurdo. Step away from the chipboard and venture out of your comfort zone into a glorious world of doodles, sanding, waxing, stunning colors and the satisfaction of telling people, “I made that!” You don’t have to own expensive tools or have any previous experience. Some of the projects involve only a few simple steps and can be completed within an hour, whereas others may take the best part of a weekend and combine several different materials, techniques and tools. Whichever project you choose the most important thing is to have fun and remember design is all about experimenting and learning—and not about always getting it right! “Max is an upcycling alchemist who turns junk into something wonderful.” —George Clarke, presenter of Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces

Do you need a unique gift to give someone? Do you have an old bottle or basket sitting around that you don't want to get rid of but aren't sure what to do with? Need an item of beauty that looks just right for your style? Do you want to learn one of the easiest and most affordable of crafts? Upcycle with Decoupage is for you. There's even an interactive Facebook page in case you need to ask questions, get some inspiration or just have a look around We're very user friendly over here.

In this inspirational and practical book, 24 international product designers show you how to recreate their upcycled designs. Inspired by the trend for recycling and craft, readers can follow the designers' step-by-step instructions and create their very own piece of high-end upcycled design for the home. Projects include a clever waterproof mat woven from marine rope, a geometric lampshade made of strips of Tetrapak carton, a hanging rail using leftover copper plumbing pipe, decorative floral arrangements made from old plastic bottles, a cane chair upcycled as a cross-stitch canvas, and many more.

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.

Retrash will inspire you with creative and innovative ideas on reusing second hand materials. Recycling and upcycling come together through the work of 82 designers and artists from 20 countries around the world.