10 ideas to start upcycling

Whether you're working towards your upcycling badge, Eco award, or just want to do your bit for the environment, we have lots of ideas to turn trash into treasure. 

Upcycling is when you save unwanted, old or broken objects from going to landfill by transforming them into new things. It also gives Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers a fun, creative challenge as they imagine all the new ways something could be used. If you're interested in doing the Eco award, or earning your upcycling badge, check out some of these easy and crafty ideas. 

1. Bottle top game: Collect 12 plastic bottle tops of one colour and 12 of another. Then paint a grid onto a scrap piece of cardboard to create a portable game, such as chess or draughts/checkers.  
2. Sewing kit in a jar: Clean out an empty plastic or glass jar. Glue a small fabric-wrapped cotton ball to the top of the lid to act as a pin cushion and fill the inside of the jar with safety pins, needles and threads. 
3. Milk bottle scoop: Find an empty plastic milk bottle and wash it out well. Mark a line diagonally across the main part of the jug, making sure the handle is still useable. Carefully cut along the line to create a perfectly shaped, heavy-duty scoop for soil or pet food. 
4. Bath towel exfoliation mitts: Take an old, worn towel. Lay it flat and trace around your hand to create a mitten shape, making sure to leave 1cm or so to make sure they’re not too tight. Repeat this again using the same hand, then carefully cut out the two shapes. Sew the edges of the two mitts together to create your wash mitt. 
5. Reuseable water balloons: Cut old towels or foam sponges into small strips. Next pile up 4 or 5 strips together and tie them tightly in the middle with an elastic band or piece of string. They’re ready to use. They can be thrown repeatedly, and don’t leave behind lots of little pieces of plastic. 
6. Ice cream tub indoor herb planters: Take an empty plastic ice cream tub and wash it out well. Carefully make a few drainage holes into the bottom (such as with a hammer and nail, and with adult supervision). Next, use the lid underneath as a drip tray, and plant fresh kitchen herbs on a windowsill. 
7. Old sock hand warmers: Take a pair of old, but clean, ankle or fluffy socks – they don’t have to match. Add 3 large tablespoons of uncooked rice to each sock, making sure it goes all the way to the bottom. The aim is to have a ball of rice in the toe end of the sock. Tie a knot in the sock, making the knot as close to the top of the rice as you can. Check that the rice can’t fall out. Pop the sock into the microwave for 30 seconds, and then carefully take it out. It will be hot, so you may want to use a tea towel or oven gloves. You can then keep it in a coat pocket as a hand warmer for a short walk. 
8. Wrapping paper cards: Fold some spare card in half to make a blank card. Cut shapes, initials, or silhouettes out of leftover scraps of wrapping paper and glue them onto the front to create a unique greeting card for friends.  
9. Kitchen tube speaker: Take a cardboard kitchen roll tube and 2 paper cups. Mark and cut a slot on top of a long cardboard tube that’s slightly wider than your phone. Draw a circle that’s the same size as the end of the cardboard tube on each paper cup. Next, carefully cut out the circles, being as accurate as you can. When you’re finished, slide a cup snugly onto each end of the tube and secure it with tape if needed. You can then decorate your speaker however you like.  
10. Cardboard box cat house: Take a large, unwanted cardboard delivery box and tape the bottom shut. Flip it over, cut out a small arched doorway on one side. Next use permanent markers to draw windows and cut them out. You could draw on other details too.  Now your pet has a new place to sleep. 

Ready to become an environmental hero? The Eco award is for all sections, from Rainbows to Rangers. 

Earn the Eco award 

To earn the Eco award, you need to complete 3 environmental actions, with 1 of those actions lasting for 2 months. There are 3 easy ways to run the Eco award, which are: 

• As a unit: everyone works together on the same 3 actions. 
• Mix and match: the unit works together to do the award at the same time, but everyone chooses their own individual actions. 
• At home: you can offer the award as optional project for members to complete in their own time if they want to. 

Find out more about each award: 

• Rainbow Eco award. 
• Brownie Eco award. 
• Guide Eco award. 
• Ranger Eco award. 

Leaders can download the  Eco award leader guidance (PDF, 178KB). This contains information on how leaders can support girls to gain their award, whether in or outside the unit.