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Upcycling & repurposing: How to give new life to old merchandise

Natasha Ithildin

A photo of a tin being upcycled into a plant pot

Do you remember, as a kid, making telescopes out of juice cartons?

Or, how about, at uni, running out of clean cutlery and having to use an old pen as a fork?

(Just me?)

Upcycling and repurposing products is usually a lot more graceful than the above examples, but the essence is the same: you’re creating something new from something old that would have otherwise been thrown away.

And even though we hope your merch will be around for a lifetime, we realise things change. Products break, branding becomes outdated (thanks to rebrands - check out ours), and sometimes new and improved products come along that make the old ones obsolete.

And, just like you, we hate throwing things away, especially merch.

That’s why we’ve put our heads together to figure out ways you can upcycle and repurpose your old merchandise, as well as a few ideas for including other upcycled items into your brand’s workspace.

If you’re looking for some fresh new merch to replace your old stock, check out our fantastic range of products. From sustainable brands, bestselling favourites, and brand necessities, we’ve got all the branded promotional merchandise you could ever need (or want).

Are you ready? Your brand is waiting for you.

Explore Branded Merch Now

What is upcycling?

Upcycling is taking what you would have thrown away and giving it new life. You repurpose it into something new. Something exciting. It’s as simple as that!

Upcycling vs recycling

Sometimes, upcycling and recycling are used interchangeably. However, they really shouldn’t be. Both reuse materials, sure, but that’s like saying cheese and yoghurt are the same.

They’re just not (please ignore the existence of fromage frais).

What they do have in common, though, is that they prevent items from ending up in landfills.

That’s a win, whatever way you look at it.

A photo of a cardbout cut-out recycle sign on some grass.

What’s recycling?

Recycling is an industrial process that either creates something new from a product or the materials get made into the same product again. The products are often destroyed into their base materials (paper shredded, glass smashed) and remoulded into the next product.

Ultimately, the original product is no more.

What’s upcycling?

Upcycling, on the other hand, is the process of taking something that would have otherwise been thrown away and improving it to be useful again or repurposing it into something new.

For example, modernising an old bit of furniture with a bit of paint, or creating garden furniture out of pallets. The essence of the original product is there, it’s just had a bit of a makeover.

The benefits of upcycling

Beneficial for the environment

Upcycling products is really REALLY good for the environment. Firstly, they don’t have to go to landfill. Secondly, recycling creates toxic waste that’s hard to get rid of. And thirdly, upcycling uses minimal natural resources to create something new.

A chance to get creative

On a personal level, it’s a chance to let yourself get creative! Get those paints out, find that sanding paper, get the glue gun and create something new.

On a more commercial level, upcycling allows brands to explore traditional methods of craftsmanship, supporting local and rural industries as well as creating unique items with a story behind them.

A photo of a hand holding a seedling, and half the hand is painted green.

Lower energy consumption than recycling

Recycling might sound good on paper, but it actually uses a lot of energy to destroy and rebuild a product through recycling.

There are also aspects of recycling that often get overlooked, like the energy it takes transporting and cleaning the products before we even get to the melting stage.

Upcycling doesn’t require this; it just requires whatever energy you have to put into the project (usually fuelled by copious cups of tea and biscuits).

Better quality products

Recycled products, although good, aren’t as well-made as their virgin counterparts. It’s almost impossible (and far too costly) to make sure contamination of the materials doesn’t happen during the recycling process. This means the products created are often of a lower quality than the originals.

Highlights your brand’s eco-credentials

By sharing your upcycled products (such as old merch) on your socials, you’ll be highlighting your brand’s eco-credentials to your audience. You’ll be seen as a brand that cares about the environment because you’re saving products from landfill, but also a brand that’s willing to connect with their customers on a more personal, creative level.

Office upcycling and repurposing ideas

Interested in exploring how you can begin upcycling and repurposing in your office? From plants to furniture to intriguing design choices, there’s a lot of flexibility when it comes to incorporating upcycled products into your brand’s workspace.

Here are just a few of our favourite methods:

Living walls

Living walls, or walls made of plants, are the latest interior/exterior trends in the world of sustainable construction. Not only are they pretty to look at, but they also:

Help improve indoor air quality
Improve employee concentration
Lower energy costs
Protect against rain and heat damage
Reduce noise pollution

These are perfect for adding that touch of greenery to your corporate space indoors.

Reclaimed wood furniture

Often super durable to everything (spills included), reclaimed wood furniture is a way to upcycle wood that would otherwise have gone to waste. They’re often designed to last for years, making sure you don’t have to replace them anytime soon.

Antique pieces

These become the focal point of your office. By repurposing antique furniture into your workspace, like vintage wardrobes for storage or rustic chests as filing cabinets, you add a touch of elegance and longevity to your brand.

A antique wooden chest of drawers.

How to extend the life of your merchandise

Choose the right promotional product for your audience

You need to know who your audience is to determine what merch they’ll benefit from the most.

Carry out some market research and look into what’s proved more popular with certain demographics, or check out the latest trends to see if any fit your target audience.

Don’t add dates to your products

Adding dates to your products is a surefire way to reduce their life. That’s because once that date has passed, your items and branding are no longer relevant.

A photo of a man wearing a t-shirt that says, "Wicked Sick Marketing Expo. 2021"

Don’t follow fads

Think fidget spinners and phone fans. These may have been great fun (and popular) at the time, but the key to making your merch last is investing in products you know will be popular (and useful) for months/years to come.

Tips for repurposing your old merch

Bottle planters

Got lots of old branded bottles but don’t know what to do with them? Turn them into planters! Just drill some holes into the bottom of them, and voila! Some excellent branded planters.

A photo of a plastic reusable branded bottle with 'Fluid' on the bottle filled with soil.

Candle storage jars

Candles usually come in really nice jars that are a shame to recycle. Instead, upcycling them into storage containers! Just freeze the jar overnight, and in the morning, you’ll be able to chip away any old wax. Then just wash them, and you’ll be left with a very fancy storage jar.

Cotton T-shirt wipes

Cut up old T-shirts to create some scrap cotton wipes - perfect for getting rid of smudges on car windscreens or for some reusable kitchen cloths.

T-shirt bags

Need an extra tote bag fast? Turn one of your old t-shirts into a tote back easily with no sewing required. Check out the video below for a tutorial.

Travel cup bird feeder

Reconnect with nature by giving your birds somewhere new to eat. Just wrap some string around your old travel cups, fill them with your garden birds’ favourite seeds, and you have your very own cup bird feeder!

A photo of an apple tree with an upcycled bird feeder in it made out of an old travel cup.

Pen plant sticks

Growing some new plant buddies, but they need a little bit of support? Got a load of old pens lying around? Old pens make excellent plant canes for your green young ’ uns! Just poke them gently into the soil next to your plant and secure them with a piece of string.

A photo of a branded pen tied to a seedling as a support cane in a planter on a windowsill.

Future-proof your merchandise with us

We understand the importance of making an impact, that lasting first impression. And we know that there’s no better way of doing it than through branded merchandise.

And we want your merchandise to last. To keep creating that all-important ROI for you, long after they’ve been branded. And we never, ever want them to end up in landfills.

Your brand is too good to be thrown away.

Get your brand some fresh new merchandise to last a lifetime now.

Explore Branded Merch Now

Upcycling & repurposing: How to give new life to old merchandise

What is upcycling?