14 DAY TRIAL // Turning useless products or waste materials into new materials or products of better quality or more environmentally friendly is known to be the process of “upcycling.” Now, upcycled products have a new online home where people can buy them.
Hipcycle, the new e-commerce site selling "attractive, stylish, durable and price competitive" upcycled products, officially launches on October 11, 2011.
At first, online shoppers will be able to choose from nearly 400 products in the home, office, garden and furniture categories.
By encouraging the upcycling process people will help reduce he use of new raw materials to create products, which has a significant effect on the reduction of energy usage, air and water pollution, and various emissions.
"Our goal is to bring the marketplace for upcycled products closer to the mainstream consumer," said Andrew Sell, CEO (or "Chief Hipcycler") of Hipcycle. "The upcycling industry is one of the fastest growing segments of the green economy.”
“Rather than only targeting people who are highly environmentally conscious, we want to reach the broader population,” continued Sell. “Hipcycle features a curated variety of products that are stylish and aesthetically pleasing, that also happen to be environmentally friendly."
Many of the products featured on Hipcycle.com are made in the Unites States while others are purchased through a commitment to Fair Trade Practices.
Once on the site, you can search for products by category (initially, Home, Office, Garden, Furniture) or by the material from which they're made – wood, fabric, glass, metal, plastic, wine barrels, and vinyl records, to name just a few.
Some initial products include picture frames made from upcycled ceiling tin, candelabras made from wood spindles, benches and tables made from reclaimed wood, and a variety of baskets made from upcycled paper, tires and woven plastic.
"Hipcycle is going to be constantly expanding and adding beautiful, functional new products. I'm always interested to meet new upcyclers who have an amazing creative vision and the ability to bring that to life," Sell concluded.
And while you’re shopping for upcycled products, you might also want to play the first social media game to ever highlight the concept: Trash Tycoon, which has recently launched on Facebook.