This Global Recycling Day, we're celebrating the upcycled homeware brands going above and beyond to tackle the industry’s growing waste crisis. From upcycled cushions to recycled glassware, here are some of our favourite home décor pieces they’ve turned from old to new.
Recycled Highball Glasses (set of 4), La muerte tiene permiso* - £151
Distinctive for their thick glass and pinched detailing, these stunning retro glasses are handblown by artisans in Jalisco, Mexico, using 100% recycled glass.
Founded by architect and designer Omar Ortiz Franco, La muerte tiene permiso* is a celebration of the traditional workshops of Mexico that, for generations, have cherished the natural materials around them, designing objects to last or degrade back into the earth at the end of their useful life.
Vintage Berber Cushion – Chichaoua, Artisans du Maroc - £65
One-of-a-kind, this upcyled Moroccan cushion is made from rescued vintage Berber rug fabric. The rug would originally have been handwoven by Berber tribeswomen from the Atlas mountains.
Artisans du Maroc works closely with artisan communities across Morocco to sell their rare and sustainable wares and help preserve their time-honoured craft skills. Relying on the natural resources found locally, these artisans understand the true value of their materials, using skills passed down the generations to produce craftsmanship that lasts.
Blantyre Jars, Qäsa Qäsa - £42
These best-selling recycled glass jars are made by artisans in Malawi who collect and upcycle empty bottles from local restaurants. Once cut to size, the jars are complete with an exquisite hand-carved mahogany wood lid.
Qäsa Qäsa works with artisans across East Africa to make ethical homeware and accessories. Uniting heritage skills with contemporary style, all products are crafted using local materials and/or discarded materials which are repurposed into new designs.
Her Story Cushion – Welcome, Love Welcomes - £59
Hand-stitched by refugee women, the lettering on these cushions is made using discarded life jackets from a refugee's treacherous journey. The base of the cushion is also made from 100% upcycled linen and cotton.
In addition to helping refugee women to rebuild their lives, Love Welcomes "Her Story" collection seeks to offer a hopeful and welcoming narrative for all refugees to contrast the negative rhetoric of politicians on refugees in the news. All their home accessories are made using leftover waste and deadstock fabrics.
Soy and Eucalyptus Candle, Organic Savanna - £30
Fragrant with Eucalyptus essential oils, this candle is made using upcycled glass bottles from Nairobi streets and nearby landfills. Each candle is individually hand-poured by women makers in Kenya using vegan-friendly soy wax.
Organic Savanna is an ethical skincare brand that empowers communities in Kenya. They use only locally sourced ingredients from East Africa and upcycled glass waste collected from their community.
Textile Upcycled Bunting, The Adorned Home - £28
This playful upcycled bunting is made using the “waste” offcuts from the designer’s homeware range. It's also a great alternative to single-use alternatives.
The Adorned Home seeks to honour the planet's resources at every step using 100% plant-based, biodegradable materials and handcraft techniques to create sustainable textiles. The designer even makes her own natural dyes by extracting the pigment from organic plant waste.
For more upcycled and recycled home accessories, check out our growing Zero Waste edit.
