TED2- Design for Recycling / Upcycling

 2- Design for Recycling / Upcycling

  When I heard recycling and upcycling, I did not know what is differences between these two. So, I thought I would like to research about recycling and upcycling more profoundly.

   I usually use the yahoo auction, Japanese auction web site, and vintage shops to buy cloths as a customer in a society.  However, in fact, I have never considered  how can I recycling / upcycling my creations I made as a creator. In the future, if I am a designer or creator who make design in a society, I should think about them to maintain industry cycle as a designer in textile or fashion industry. I will look at some examples of recycled and upcycled creations and designs, and consider how can I recycle and upcycle my creations. 




①Upcycling
Upcycling is a kind of recycling, and  the process of converting old or discarded materials into something more useful and beautiful than original materials. 



・FREITAG (http://www.freitag.ch)

FREITAG is a bag brand founded in Switzerland. In 1993, Markus Freitag and Daniel Freitag started the brand in Zurich. Main material of FREITAG bag is truck tarps. 
Now FREITAG bags are popular in the world, because their design is very stylish, unique and functional, in spite of recycled products.

( Markus Freitag and Daniel Freitag,  FREITAG bags)

Truck tarps is used for trucks, open-cars, and roof of trains to prevent dust, wind and rain. In this regard, truck tarps is very durable, and waterproof. 

Using trucks is an ordinal way to transport products in Europe. At first, Freitag brothers were annoyed with noise of trucks. But they were brought up their interest in the course of watching the trucks everyday, and then they have started thinking about recycling truck tarps.

In Zurich, there is the 7500㎡ FREITAG's factory. FREITAG have thought a great deal of three main their concepts, "Quality", "Recycle", and " Zurich" in process of making their products. All processes except sewing are operated in their Zurich factory to make products effectively. Track tarps have been cut by hands. And they also upcycle inner tubes of bicycles  and seat belts of cars. 

In 2011, the number of employees was approximately 130, and they made their products 300,000 per year. Usage of recycled materials was 390 tons truck tarps, 36,000 inner tubes of bicycles and 80,000 seat belts. 

Personally, FREITAG products are attractive products in terms of their design. Most attractive point I think is that their products are one-off products. Design of each track tarps is different, so design of their products is different as well. Sometimes, there are some scratches and colour fade-out on surface of their products, but those can be part of unique design.
In my point of view, the price of FREITAG products seems quite expensive. For instance, the price of classic messenger bags is from €135 to €290. I understand upcycling is fairly costly. However, if the selling price is more affordable price than present average price, more customers might be able to take part in upcycling movement in a society.
Therefore, design is not only important factor for uprecycling, but how reduce cost for uprecycling is also very important factor.








②Recycling
Recycling means  reusing products which were used once before or returning materials used once to original condition.



・PASS THE BATON(http://www.pass-the-baton.com)

PASS THE BATON is a new type of recycle shop in the center of Tokyo. Masamichi Toyama, the President of Smiles: Co., LTD., founded PASS THE BATON in 2009. 

( Toyama. M, PASS THE BATON, 2009)

Inside PASS THE BATON, there is literally everything. There is general merchandise, books, clothes and more, just like in a garage sale. However, it is also like a sophisticated vintage shop filled with the owner's favorites from Europe, and with the addition of the urban atmosphere, the store makes customers feel like they are at a very special place. Costumers could find something special at the store.

Mr. Toyama mention the reason why PASS THE BATON is a new type of recycle shop. He said " In PASS THE BATON, customers who bring in the items themselves play the role of buyer for our shop, and judge which items are suitable for the shop. This place is not just like an ordinary recycle shop; it has a unique atmosphere. 

Also, the items for sale are presented not only through their images, but also by a brief profile of the seller and a short anecdote about the item. I think this makes exhibitors feel like you can not just bring everything here. While PASS THE BATON allows anyone to bring anything, the itema are still judged by the exhibitor himself."

Above image is redesigned items of outlet business tableware. About 20% of the total product ends up with a small blot of iron powder, and usually, these outlet goods are crushed and disposed. Because Japan's production checks are too strict. But that is such a waste. So PASS THE BATON collaborated with Akira Minagawa, the designer of mina perhonen. He painted illustration on the tableware, and PASS THE BATON sells them.

When I go back to Japan, I always go to PASS THE BATON to check items and feel atmosphere of the shop. I think PASS THE BATON is the place to let people act on passing on the baton of culture, not just passing on items. The customer himself chooses the true story to be passed on as his personal culture, or designers add value to what is supposed to be thrown away. This is a place for each one of us to bewitch and relight the items. I believe such a place is essential to maintain recycling movement. 

References
・FREITAG. (2013) Bags. [Internet]. Available from :<http://www.freitag.ch> [Accessed 15 October 2013].
・Toyama, M. (2013) History of PASS THE BATON. Tokyo: Koubundou.

・Toyama, M. (2009) PASS THE BATON. [Internet]. Available from :<http://www.pass-the-baton.com> [Accessed 15 October 2013].