The colossal problem of waste disposal is being tackled by various methods and and among them the most popular phrase is the three Rs of waste management — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

    Another related term is Upcycling which is a form of recycling gaining prominence. Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products perceived to be of greater quality, such as artistic value or environmental value.

      This is in contrast to Downcycling which involves converting materials and products into new materials, sometimes of inferior quality. The term upcycling probably was coined in the '90s, but the practice has been prevalent in India since long.

   One cannot forget the common experience in many indian households in which the mothers turn old saris into new outfits, children's festive....