Upcycling Archives - 8Shades https://www.8shades.com/tag/upcycling/ Make the world one shade greener Tue, 30 Aug 2022 06:51:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://www.8shades.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cropped-8shades_favicon_512x512-32x32.png Upcycling Archives - 8Shades https://www.8shades.com/tag/upcycling/ 32 32 199104719 Code Effort: Giving New Life To Cigarette Butts https://www.8shades.com/code-effort/ Thu, 22 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.8shades.com/?p=14570 Did you know that cigarette butts are the world's top plastic polluter? We meet Code Effort, the India-based startup aiming to tackle the problem.

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Quick, what do you think is the world’s top plastic polluter? If you replied ‘plastic bags’ or ‘plastic bottles’, you’re wrong. The correct answer is actually ‘cigarette butts’ or CBs.

Did you know that there are over 4.5 trillion individual CBs on our planet? Another fact: over 750,000 metric tonnes of CBs find their way into our environment every year, ending up in waterways and causing soil pollution.

Source: Code Effort

With such disturbing figures, one would think that there’d be more of a spotlight shone on the environmental impact of CBs. But probably because of their size, people don’t even regard CBs as waste and often dispose of them carelessly – simply flicking them onto the pavement when they’re finished smoking.

There’s also a common misconception that CBs are made of paper and cotton. While there is some paper, cigarette filters are made of man-made cellulose acetate that takes at least ten years to fully degrade. Moreover, the chemicals released by CBs (including arsenic, lead and nicotine) are enough to actually classify CBs as hazardous waste.


Tackling CBs One Butt At A Time

Source: Code Effort

Fortunately, someone is taking action to reverse this trend. Enter Code Effort, an India-based start-up that collects CBs and uses them as raw materials to create sustainable products like cushions, mattresses, accessories and even mosquito repellent.

Their story follows the tried-and-tested origin of a start-up: brothers Naman and Vipul Gupta saw a problem and put their efforts into solving that problem to make a better world. In their case, it was the unhealthy number of CBs in the city of Noida, Uttar Pradesh in India. They hunkered down and thus Code Effort – which stands for ‘Conserve Our Depleting Environment’ – was born in 2015.

Naman shares, “A common saying is that smoking is bad for our health, but I believe that this saying is incomplete. In the process of building a cigarette waste management and recycling industry, I can confidently say that smoking is not only bad for our health, but also lethal to the planet!”

Source: Code Effort

The idea behind Code Effort is simple – collect CBs from around the city, drop them off at their factory and transform that waste into usable products. Initially, Code Effort placed special bins around the city to collect CBs. But to build the volume necessary for their recycling operations, they soon scaled up collection by partnering with various government units and institutions, incentivising people by exchanging CBs for cash.

But is Code Effort putting those who collect the CBs in harm’s way? It’s important to note that the company has taken several steps to educate CB collectors about the harmful effects of cigarette toxins. In addition to implementing practical hygiene and safety protocols, Naman insists that those dealing with the waste use N95 masks and gloves. This extends to their own factory, which is ISO 45001:2018-compliant and regularly audited.


Turning Waste To Gold

Source: Code Effort

What happens next is the critical part of this programme – transforming these toxic materials into a safe and sustainable product. Naman shares, “Our closed-loop recycling process ensures 100 percent utilisation of the materials, has a net-zero carbon footprint and fosters a circular economy.”

Collected CBs are first separated into tobacco, paper and polymer. The tobacco undergoes a month-long process to break it down to powder, turning it into organic compost used in plantations.

Source: Code Effort

The paper is ground to pulp, with binders, colours and fragrances added to turn the paper into mosquito repellent. Code Effort is also in the process of producing stationery and packaging material from this recycled paper. Naman says that they are even able to customise the thickness of the paper according to their customers’ needs – and that these papers are sustainable and sturdy enough to be recycled up to eight times!

As for the polymer, Code Effort treats the material with biodegradable and organic chemicals to remove its toxicity before using its recycled fibres to stuff cushions, pillows, mattress and even toys. To date, these cushions have been the bestsellers among Code Efforts end products!


Not A Social Enterprise

Source: Code Effort

Since its launch, Code Effort has recycled over 1.2 billion CBs across India, thereby preventing toxins from seeping into 30 billion litres of water and offsetting 48 billion grams of carbon dioxide. It has been able to scale up its operations from Noida to now include the entirety of India, as well as partnerships in Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Naman is also open to more partnerships beyond South Asia, either through the import-export of CBs or a technology licensing agreement. After all, CBs are a problem for the whole planet.

In addition to uplifting the environment, Code Effort has also uplifted the lives of countless people in its network including over 2,000 rag-pickers who collect the CBs and hundreds of local artisans who use the recycled materials to make the final products.

In this way, Code Effort has been able to go beyond its tech start-up roots to become a sustainable business, something Naman wants to underline: “Code Effort is a sustainable, rather than social enterprise!”

Find out more about Code Effort


See also: What Happens To All That Plastic We Try So Hard To Recycle

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Sustainability Defined: 10 Useful Eco Fashion Terms https://www.8shades.com/sustainable-fashion-terms/ Mon, 08 Aug 2022 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.8shades.com/?p=13459 Do you know the difference between recycling, downcycling and upcycling? We give you the lowdown on 10 sustainable fashion terms worth knowing.

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When dipping your toes into the world of sustainable fashion, it’s important to know the terminology. While you might already be familiar with terms such as ‘fast fashion’ or ‘second-hand’, would you know the difference between ‘recycling’ and ‘upcycling’? Or whether a piece of clothing can be classified as ‘organic’ or ‘vegan’?

It’s easy to get stumped with all the new sustainability terms cropping up – but fret not! As part of our ‘Sustainability Defined‘ series, 8Shades is here to help guide you through the confusing world of responsible fashion, with these useful definitions for ten common sustainability terms.

See also: 10 Useful Food Sustainability Terms


Deadstock Fabric

Source: Unsplash

This may sound an unnerving term, but there’s nothing sinister about it! When fashion industry people refer to ‘deadstock fabric’, they’re talking about surplus or leftover fabric, which wasn’t used or sold and would have been ordinarily thrown away. Instead artisans repurpose these materials, breathing new life into them by incorporating them into their existing designs or creating entirely new pieces with them, thus extending their lifespan and enhancing their sustainability.


Downcycling

Pexels
Source: Pexels

This is what happens when you break down a product to extend its life, keeping it from ending up in landfill. An example of this is when you use old socks or garments as cleaning rags, or when clothing is shredded down for its fibres to be used as insulation stuffing. A popular example of downcycling is Nike breaking down old sneakers to be used to make basketball courts.


Fair Fashion

Unsplash
Source: Unsplash

Also known as ‘fair trade’, this term is similar to its food equivalent – meaning companies that carry this label have ensured that the workers who make its clothes have been paid a fair wage and work at factories that meet or exceed safety guidelines.


Natural Fibres

Pexels
Source: Pexels

These are fibres like cotton, linen or wool that come from plants and animals, instead of synthetic sources like polyester. Though these are generally more sustainable, not all natural fibres are biodegradable – especially if they’re treated with chemicals during the manufacturing process. For instance, while leather is a natural fibre, it actually has a larger carbon footprint than polyester.


Organic

Unsplash
Source: Unsplash

While closely associated with food sustainability, the term ‘organic’ can also be found in fashion. Organic clothing means clothes that were made from materials like cotton, wool or hemp that have not been genetically-modified or grown with chemicals. In addition to not using any pesticides, organic clothing also has the added benefit of being biodegradable.


Pre-Loved vs Vintage

Pexels
Source: Pexels

Both of these refer to second-hand items that you might come across via a thrift shop, hand-me-downs or swapping with friends. ‘Vintage’ items have the added distinction of being over 20 years old and accurately representing the style of a certain era, like bell-bottom jeans from the 1970s.

See also: 8Shades Of Christina Dean of Redress


Sustainable Collections

Stella McCartney
Source: Stella McCartney

This is usually a brand’s way of highlighting their eco credentials, with collections that include items or accessories made from organic materials or eco-friendly packaging. Examples of this include Stella McCartney’s Mylo Bag that’s made from lab-grown mushroom leather and Zara’s Join Life Collection that uses fibres sourced from controlled-growth and protected forests.

See also: Why Is Sustainable Fashion More Expensive Than Fast Fashion?


Upcycling

Pexels
Source: Pexels

This is essentially the opposite of downcycling. While both processes turn waste into usable material, upcycling involves repurposing waste to make it into a better product – for example, sewing shirts into bags or making leather scraps into mobile device cases.


Vegan

Pexels
Source: Pexels

In addition to being cruelty-free and not tested on animals, vegan fashion also does not use any animal byproducts – so leather jackets, fur coats and wool mittens are a big no no.


Zero-Waste

Unsplash
Source: Unsplash

The fashion industry is notorious for creating a lot of rubbish. Zero-waste fashion aims to minimise the amount of waste created during the manufacturing process, as well as considering how items can be repaired to keep them out of landfill for as long as possible. An example is using fabric scraps to create other fashion items.


See also: 8 Sustainable Fashion Brands in Southeast Asia to Know

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World Hunger Day: 6 Companies That Are Tackling Food Waste https://www.8shades.com/world-hunger-day-6-companies-tackling-food-waste/ Mon, 30 May 2022 03:44:41 +0000 https://www.8shades.com/?p=12821 To mark World Hunger Day, here's a look at some of the innovative companies that are tackling food waste through upcycling.

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While most of us are in no shortage of food, over 811 million people in the wolrd still suffer from food insecurity. That’s despite the fact that we actually produce more than enough food to feed the world’s population of 7.9 billion. How is this possible?

A huge amount of food is wasted throughout the food chain, which includes all stages from harvesting to consumption. What’s more – the main reason for food waste differs from country to country. In developed countries, food is mainly wasted during the retail and consumption stages, whilst in developing countries, food is primarily wasted during the post-harvesting stage.

On the bright side, many companies are now taking note of the potential of food byproducts to create new food items. To mark World Hunger Day, here’s a look at some of the companies that are tackling food waste through upcycling.


Nestlé 

Nestlé
Source: Nestlé

Nestle may be controversial in the world of sustainability, but one way it’s going greener is by using cocoa pulp (which is usually discarded after cocoa beans are harvested) as a natural sweetener to create a new chocolate bar called Incoa.

Using cocoa pulp as a natural sweetener is not only healthier – it also makes the most out of the cocoa fruit and reduces waste. Sadly, the Incoa bar is only available in Japan right now, but we hope that it will soon reach our shores!


Barnana

Barnana
Source: Barnana

Barnana upcycles ripe bananas from family farmers to produce their banana-based snacks. After realising that many bananas are discarded because they are ‘too ripe’ for shipping, Barnana‘s founders source ripe bananas directly from family farmers and turns them into chewy, delectable bites. Our favourite is definitely the dark chocolate-dipped version!

Available at Nine Life, Desert Cart HK


Breer

Breer
Source: Breer / Facebook

Launched by HKUST students, Breer turns surplus (unsold and uneaten) bread from local bakeries into local craft beers. Choose from pizza crust beer to the original bread beer – both are great options that have been met with rave reviews! Cheers to a good cause, indeed!

Available at breer.com.hk


FurryGreen

furrygreenhk
Source: @furrygreenhk on Instagram

FurryGreen turns what they call “ugly food” into pet food. By taking surplus produce discarded by supermarkets and meat scraps from processing facilities, a typical bag of FurryGreen contains a portion of vegetable and meat each to ensure a balanced diet for our pets. What’s more? The company also donates a portion of its food to dog shelters!

Available at furrygreen.hk


Chomp

chompfoodwaste
Source: @chompfoodwaste on Instagram

CHOMP partners with local food businesses in Hong Kong to tackle food waste. The food rescue app does this by reallocating surplus food that would otherwise be headed to landfill and offering them to its customers as Mystery Boxes at a discounted price. All you have to do is arrange a suitable pickup time and start “chomp“-ing!

Download the CHOMP app here

See also: Chomp: Taking a Bite Out of Food Waste


Phenix by Onthelist

Phenix by Onthelist
Source: Phenix by Onthelist / Facebook

Similarly to CHOMP, Phenix by OntheList is another innovative food waste app where you’ll find baskets of goodies from local suppliers at a discounted price. Partners are varied and include everything from Feather & Bone to Cocoparadise – offering plenty of options to suit your taste buds.

Learn more at phenixbyonthelist.com


As much as it is important to support the companies tackling food waste, it is equally important to take note of how we can reduce food waste ourselves, in our day-to-day lives. This can be as simple as double checking the ‘use by’ dates of food to ensure you consume it before it perishes, not buying more than you need, and making sure you are not over ordering at restaurants, which can lead to leftovers that become wasted in the end.

Read also: 8-week Challenge: 8 Ways to Reduce Food Waste


See also: 6 Must-see Documentaries About Food Waste

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Meet Kevin Cheung, Hong Kong’s Upcycling Product Designer https://www.8shades.com/kevin-cheung-hong-kong-upcycling-product-designer/ Thu, 07 Apr 2022 01:42:59 +0000 https://www.8shades.com/?p=11096 In a city that produces 13,000 tons of solid waste every day, upcycling product designer Kevin Cheung is looking for creative solutions to reusing waste material, and changing the mindset of city people around the world.

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In a city that produces 13,000 tons of solid waste every day, upcycling product designer Kevin Cheung is looking for creative solutions to reusing waste material, and changing the mindset of city people around the world.

Kevin Cheung
Source: Kevin Cheung

Tucked behind Wanchai’s historic Blue House, a shaded area on the ground floor leads to a quiet, two storey building called the Yellow House, where product designer Kevin Cheung has established his studio – it’s a bright and airy space to tinker, showcase, dream and live.

Entering Cheung’s studio, you get the idea that this place is not just another flat – in fact, it’s an extension of all that Cheung does as an upcycling product designer: to live life intentionally, and to find the story in everything. Every fixture and piece of furniture is handmade, constructed entirely of upcycled materials.

Blue House
Source: Blue House

“I was invited to live here and everyone who lives here contributes something to the community,” Cheung explains. The studio, which he has converted into a workspace loft, is part of the Blue House heritage conservation programme which preserves historical buildings by renovating them to be inhabited by like-minded individuals who live together collaboratively.

Interestingly what originally led Cheung to live at the Blue House was a sense of guilt.


In 2009, Cheung graduated with a degree in product design from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, entering the workforce as a designer for a battery company.

Kevin Cheung
Source: Kevin Cheung

“We designed a lot of e-stuff which turned into e-waste, super toxic stuff, and I worked there for a year and felt like the whole industry is doing the same thing,” Cheung recalls. “We tried to make a lot of money out of selling stuff people don’t need. [That didn’t] really go in line with the product designer I think I was meant to be.”

Disillusioned, he left the industry and began building things with waste materials.

Kevin Cheung
Source: Kevin Cheung

Reinventing used PET bottles into wind chimes, deconstructing rice cookers into bicycle bells and refurbishing discarded bicycle rims into elegant lighting, Cheung’s ingenious work creatively repurposes waste material – or as he sees it, “materials in the wrong place at the wrong time” – into new, functional products, catching the attention of media, brands and corporations. Today he has been covered by dozens of publications, and his designs have led to collaborations with brands like Hermes, and corporations like Citibank and DBS.

Kevin Cheung
Source: Kevin Cheung

His most famous product and the one that kickstarted his upcycling designer journey is the Boombottle, a portable speaker constructed from an empty five liter bottle that used to hold printing ink. The speaker, which also features a small light and durable straps for easy carrying, cleverly utilises upcycled felt carpet fabric from HKTDC. Each speaker is assembled by St James’s Settlement Workshop, which provides employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Kevin Cheung
Source: Kevin Cheung

When it comes to design perspective, Cheung says, “The shape of the bottle is actually perfect for holding and generating sound.” He’s applied this same logic to other items like outdated wallpaper samples, which led him to develop his own line of wallpaper wallets. “Each wallet is different since every page of the sample booklet has a unique color and texture,” reads the product description on Cheung’s website. An added bonus? They’re waterproof too.


As Cheung’s upcycled product line has expanded, he’s also been tapped for large-scale installations as well as educational workshops to teach recycling and sustainability principles in the classroom.

Wanting to take the social aspect of his work a step further, a few years ago he received funding to travel to the Japanese island of Shikoku, where he spent time in the small village of Kamikatsu which is renown for its low-waste practices where residents separate their waste into 45 different categories.

Kevin Cheung
Source: Kevin Cheung

“At that time, I had been talking about how to be zero-waste, reduce waste or stop sending to landfills, but I didn’t really know how to involve that in daily life, it was just part of my design [work].” Cheung recalls how Kamikatsu visitors are required to read a manual about the village’s waste practices before arriving.

“I was there to learn how they motivate a whole village to have a recycling rate of up to 80%.” Through his time there, putting on workshops and learning from the residents, he understood that a successful recycling system has to involve everyone in the community.

“This means not just people working in the [recycling] station, but everyone living in the neighbourhood needs to know the system and be dedicated to it. And that’s what’s missing in Hong Kong,” he says. “Usually we think things go into the bin, and then it’s someone else’s responsibility. But that doesn’t work.”

Returning to Hong Kong, Cheung was motivated to live in a place where he could get to know his neighbours. The Blue House ticked all the boxes.

Kevin Cheung
Source: Kevin Cheung

When Cheung first started the community recycling programme, he got his neighbours to save a week’s worth of waste. Together, the Yellow House residents spread their rubbish across the communal front yard. “We did a waste audit,” Cheung explains, “we tried to figure out how much paper waste, metal, [etc.] so we could estimate how much a month we were collecting, and then look for a dedicated recycler to come and pick it up so we don’t go to the three colour bins which don’t actually work that well.”

“City people tend to not have the time or effort to deal with materials they don’t see any value in,” he says. “So I really hope to see a future world where people see these kinds of materials as more than their economic value. As long as we do that, we won’t do as much damage to the world.” For Cheung, this is why upcycling is more than just about repurposing waste – when you see an object used in a different, yet functional way, you begin to think differently about it and its value. Likewise, for companies and brands, it’s a chance to do something fun and unexpected.


Kevin Cheung
Source: Kevin Cheung

“I see upcycling as a powerful tool to tell a good story,” Cheung says. He notices a unique opportunity when working with large companies, especially during the holidays. “For example, during Christmas, you can always hire somebody to print some stickers or buy some fancy decorations but it doesn’t really relate to the company or what they do. But when those materials come from the company, or are collected by the colleagues themselves, that’s a whole different story – they get involved. The sense of involvement and creating something beautiful is something everybody loves.” This thinking is what led Cheung to build nutcrackers out of paper clips and filing folders with Citibank, and Christmas trees out of recycled office paper for DBS.

The tactile nature of building is just as integral to the process as the upcycling itself – for Cheung, having to touch and interact with the materials to understand their capacity, shape, and form is a way to get others involved.

Kevin Cheung
Source: Kevin Cheung

“When we do upcycling, we try not to focus on how much waste we are reducing or that we are doing so much good for the world,” Cheung says, “but we think about the story. As long as people are willing to take the first step, they will find the fun in it. Whether it’s working on a vintage cupboard or getting to know your neighbour because they also recycle. The key is to find a good story – when you have that, I think people will naturally be interested. People are very important to this process.”

Learn more about Kevin Cheung at kevin-cheung.com


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3 Companies Making Magic from Coffee By-products https://www.8shades.com/3-companies-making-magic-from-coffee-by-products/ Mon, 14 Mar 2022 04:38:03 +0000 https://www.8shades.com/?p=9666 Love your cuppa joe? Here are three companies that upcycle coffee by-products to help your coffee habit become more climate-friendly.

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We all love our daily cuppa joe, but did you know that the coffee industry actually produces a lot of waste? Beyond the disposable paper cups and lids that usually don’t get recycled, much of the waste includes spent coffee grounds.

It’s estimated that 18 million tonnes of coffee grounds goes into landfill each year, where they emit methane – a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period, which is one of the primary causes of global warming.

To make sure that your coffee habit isn’t contributing to climate change, we’ve found three companies around the world to support that have been finding new uses for coffee by-products:


Coffee Cherry Co.

Source: Coffee Cherry Co/Facebook

Denver-based Coffee Cherry Co. upcycles coffee cherries from farmers to create coffee flour, which is then used in baked goods, confectionery or in beverages. Not only does this reduce significant amounts of waste, it also prevents the additional greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that would otherwise be released if the cherries were left to rot in coffee plantations.

Belliveau, founder of Coffee Cherry Co and a former Starbucks coffee engineer, explains that the product “has more antioxidants than pomegranate, more iron than spinach, and more fibre than a coconut.” Head to the company’s website for a range of delicious recipes that can be made from coffee flour, from Coffee Cherry Caramel Corn to Coffee Cherry Flour Tortillas. The company’s partners have also used coffee flour to enhance the nutrition and taste of a range of foods, from almond butters to pasta.

Learn more at Coffee Cherry Co.


Bio-bean

Bio-bean’s pellets
Source: Bio-bean

British company Bio-bean has developed a way to upcycle spent coffee grounds while reducing GHG emissions. Leveraging the oil in spent coffee grounds, the company compresses them into biomass pellets and logs, which can then be used to fuel industrial boilers, domestic stoves and multi-fuel burners, replacing the use of virgin wood. Bio-bean’s pellets and logs reduce GHG emissions and are also more efficient – they are also 20% hotter and burn for longer than dried wood.

Realising the residual nutritional value in spent coffee grounds, Bio-bean has also produced a line of spent coffee ground extracts. The extracts can be used as natural flavouring in foods and beverages; they can also be used commercially, as an additive to cosmetics or dyes. When it comes to a circular economy for coffee, Bio-bean is certainly leading the way! 

Learn more about Bio-bean


Eco Greenergy

Source: @eco.greenergy on Instagram

Hong Kong-based social enterprise Eco Greenergy has also been innovating with coffee grounds. Having launched the ‘Zero Grounds Coffee Campaign’ to encourage coffee ground upcycling, they provide a coffee grounds recycling service, upcycling workshops and a coffee grounds recycling tour in the company’s processing factory.

Since its launch, they have already recycled 105.5 tons of coffee grounds, with participating organisations including hotel groups such as Mandarin Oriental, and global coffee chains such as Starbucks and Pacific Coffee.

What’s more – Eco Greenergy also sells a variety of zero-waste products on its e-shop, including coffee scrubbing soaps that were made from spent coffee grounds.


By upcycling coffee cherries and spent coffee grounds, these companies showcase the endless possibilities that come with embracing a circular economy. Not only are they able to reduce waste, but in the process, create products that have a much lower environmental footprint, higher nutritional value and positive impact on the planet.


See also: These Sustainable Sneakers Are Made of Coffee

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8 Sustainable and Chic Handbags for the New Year https://www.8shades.com/8-sustainable-and-chic-handbags-for-the-new-year/ Wed, 19 Jan 2022 01:00:00 +0000 http://www.8shades.com/?p=8054 Whether you’re treating yourself to a “new year, new me” moment or sharing the festive spirit with a dear friend, here are some of 8Shades’ favourite handbags that are both sustainable and chic.

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With the Lunar New Year fast approaching, you might be in the mood for a new handbag (to carry all that laisee you’ll be giving out… or receiving)! Whether you’re treating yourself to a “new year, new me” moment or sharing the festive spirit with a dear friend, here are some of 8Shades’ favourite handbags that are both sustainable and chic.


AAKS: Two-Tone Baw Pot Dot

Source: @a.a.k.s on Instagram

Handcrafted sustainably by women artisans in Ghana, this adorable mini bag is made from woven raffia and accented with tasselled leather trim. Both versatile and unique, it’s sure to become your new wardrobe staple.

Available at Aaks


Chylak: Soft Drawstring Bucket Bag in Moiré Blue

Source: @chylak.bags on Instagram

Don’t we just love that beautiful ocean blue colour? The moiré fabric in use here has been handcrafted by a family-owned business in France for more than five generations. More importantly, it’s made with 62% recycled ocean plastic!

Available at Chylak


Atomy Studios: Bag No. 5+ in Mouton

Source: @atomy_studios on Instagram

Made from vegetable-tanned leather, this half-moon shaped bag has a sleek silhouette that’s perfect for your effortless cool looks We especially love that it has a magnetic closure – so satisfying for the woman on the go!

Available at Atomy Studios


Baggu: Duck Bag in Brown Cow

Source: Baggu

Affordable, practical, and cute, this tote bag made from 16-oz recycled cotton canvas fits a 15-inch laptop. It even has an internal pocket to hold small items so you no longer have to scramble and hold up the line at your favourite neighbourhood shop or cafe.

Available at Baggu


Manu Atelier: Mini Kesme Bag in Melopen Green

Source: @manu_atelier on Instagram

Using ethically sourced and environmentally certified leather, Manu Atelier manufactures locally and promises to recycle all of its leftover fabrics. We love the box shape of this little beauty, which adds a little flavour to every outfit with its gold chain and mesmerising green.

Available at Manu Atelier


Roop: Furoshiki Bag in Brown Optical Print

Source: @itsrooper on Instagram

Inspired by “furoshiki”, a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth, Roop’s bags are made using only remnant, dead stock and vintage fabrics. The brand’s signature scrunchie strap is just another reason we adore this bag.

Available at Roop


Bottletop: Bellani Mini Enamel Bag in Stone

Source: @bottletopofficial on Instagram

You probably recognise this from somewhere! One of the most well-known handbags in the sustainable fashion industry, the distinct chainmail design by Bottletop is made by upcycling bottle tops in Kenya. The brand also works with the National Wildlife Federation to ensure zero deforestation during its production.

Available at Bottletop


0711 Tbilisi: Smoke Dumpling Tote Bag

Source: @0711tbilisi on Instagram

With statement styles featuring traditional hand-weaving, 0711 Tbilisi’s contemporary designs are graced with unconventional natural materials such as organic glass, plywood frames, and of course, vegan leather. This colourway is one of our faves – pretty without being overbearing!

Available at 0711 Tbilisi


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See also: 8 Vegan Leather Boots to Rock This Winter

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These Sustainable Sneakers Are Made of Coffee https://www.8shades.com/rens-sustainable-sneakers-coffee/ Mon, 10 Jan 2022 07:55:57 +0000 http://www.8shades.com/?p=7693 Calling all coffee addicts - bring the java jolt to your feet with Rens' sustainable sneakers made from upcycled coffee grounds and recycled plastic!

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Are you ready to put more sustainability in your steps? Sure, you’ve heard of sustainable sneakers made of upcycled fibres, ethically sourced fabrics or recycled plastic, but what about sneakers made of coffee grounds?

You read that right. Finnish start-up Rens has created a waterproof sneaker made of used coffee grounds and recycled plastic materials as a way of reducing the carbon footprint of footwear.

Source: Rens

Hit the ‘grounds’ running

Rens claims that each pair of coffee sneakers is made from six recycled plastic bottles and 150 grams of coffee waste. These materials are fully incorporated in the upper, the waterproof membrane is completely recycled and its polyester sock liner on the insole is made of recycled plastic. The combination of coffee grounds and PET create an ultra-flexible and durable material, resulting in a high-performance and long-lasting pair of kicks.

Source: Rens

In addition to having sustainable sneakers, the coffee grounds that make the fibre material is naturally antibacterial, trapping unpleasant odours and dries faster than your traditional athletic apparel, leaving you feeling and smelling fresh.

See also: Hong Kong’s Top Eco-Friendly Coffee Shops

All-natural materials

Rounding up the sustainability cred of the coffee sneakers are the all-natural rubber outsoles sourced from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree, and a 100% recycled cardboard box for shipping. If that wasn’t enough, all the materials, dyes and adhesives used in the sneakers are 100% vegan. It’s also notable that these sneakers are produced in Vietnam, one of the world’s largest coffee producers, giving Rens a steady stream of their sneakers’ key ingredient.

Why coffee grounds?

There’s no question about counteracting the impact of plastic waste—that much everyone is clear about. But why coffee grounds? While coffee grounds are biodegradable, the dirty truth is a by-product of its breaking down process is methane, which is more potent than carbon dioxide that traps heat in the atmosphere, which as we know contributes to climate change. And with over six million tons of coffee grounds finding their way to landfills every year, the methane it produces is equivalent to the emissions of 10 million cars!

See also: 8Shades Of… Natalie Chow of KIBO

Based in the heart of Helsinki, Rens was founded in 2018 by Vietnamese sneaker heads Jesse Tran and Son Chu, who wanted to be more proactive in addressing the environmental impact of the global sneaker industry and was frustrated with the less-than-stellar sustainable sneaker options available in the market. They launched their first sneaker in 2019 through Kickstarter, which raised over US$500,000 within a day. And, the rest is history.

The coffee sneakers received the 2021 Red Dot Design Award for fashion design and are available in men’s and women’s styles in a multitude of colours including Artic Black, Classic White, Ocean Blue, Passion Red and Sweet Pink.

Each pair starts at US$159 with free shipping and can be ordered from Rens’ website.

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See also: DIY: 8 Ways To Repurpose Used Coffee Grounds

The post These Sustainable Sneakers Are Made of Coffee appeared first on 8Shades.

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8Shades x CASETiFY: Protecting Your Phone & The Planet https://www.8shades.com/8shades-casetify-sustainable-capsule-collection/ Wed, 08 Dec 2021 08:00:00 +0000 http://www.8shades.com/?p=6212 It's live – our 8Shades x CASETiFY capsule collection is now available globally for 8Shaders around the world!

The post 8Shades x CASETiFY: Protecting Your Phone & The Planet appeared first on 8Shades.

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It’s live! We’re proud to announce the launch of our 8Shades x CASETiFY capsule collection of sustainable phone cases! This is our branded collection for CASETiFY’s line of Re/CASETiFY phone cases, which are just as strong and protective as their regular phone cases – but with a 20% smaller carbon footprint.

Designed by 8Shades, the sustainable phone cases promote a greener lifestyle with fun and cheeky graphic slogans such as ‘What’s Your Green’, ‘Love The Earth’ and ‘Being Imperfectly Sustainable’.

The 8Shades x Re/CASETiFY case is made from 65% sustainable materials. (Source: 8Shades)

Boasting 65% sustainable material by weight, the cases are a proprietary blend of plant-based bioplastic, recycled factory waste and old phone cases collected from CASETiFY’s recycling program. 

Source: CASETiFY

“We are incredibly proud to partner with CASETiFY on their Re/CASETiFY collection,” said Emily Lam-Ho, founder of 8Shades. “We’re all about making the world a shade greener and this can be as simple as choosing a phone case that protects both your phone and the planet.”

Emily Lam-Ho and the 8Shades x Re/CASETiFY case. (Source: 8Shades)

“We instantly connected with Emily about the next steps our industries need to take for a greener future, which made this collaboration a natural partnership,” said Wesley Ng, CASETiFY CEO and Co-founder. “CASETiFY remains committed to bringing sustainable solutions to the tech accessory market, and our collaboration with 8Shades is a perfect example of that.”

If you’ve been looking for a chic and stylish way to make a green statement, the 8Shades x Re/CASETiFY iPhone cases are it! (They also make great stocking stuffers, hint hint…)

Head over casetify.com to shop the brand new 8Shades Collection, which is now available on for the iPhone 11, 12 and 13 series.


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The post 8Shades x CASETiFY: Protecting Your Phone & The Planet appeared first on 8Shades.

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