By: Ashley O’Hara

Limiting consumption is a major part of sustainable living and limiting waste is absolutely necessary to protect the environment. However, removing waste completely, even in a place like Auroville, is extremely difficult. So the question becomes: what can we do with the existing waste? Well, one of the best things that we can do with waste that already exists is reuse it. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure! 

Housing both Wasteless and the Upcycling Studio is a fully sustainable building created by Ribhu Vohra, the co-founder of Wasteless. The Upcycling Studio is located downstairs on the ground floor. Upon arrival, we were greeted by displays on the front terrace that gave us a first glance at the immense creative passion inside the workshop. Here, we are introduced to the upcycling process. A huge part is obtaining and cleaning waste materials. The Upcycling Studio gets waste from the EcoService in Auroville, where garbage is separated. They collect many different types of waste for their projects, including glass bottles, old CDs/VHS tapes, plastic packages, fabric, and even toilets. Inside, the studio is a bright, creative space decorated with past projects. There are large workspace areas and a wall of tools, making this a productive studio area. 

The Upcycling Studio has a powerful way of giving meaning to their recycled projects, truly giving a beautiful new purpose to what was once just waste. An example that really encapsulated the thought they put into their products is the Desk Harmonizing Kit that they showed us. They wanted to create something that was not only attractive but also extremely practical. The kit comes in a basket made of recycled paper which comes from Wellpaper (an organization we also went to visit!). Inside, the first object is a self-watering plant vase. This is made from a glass bottle which is cut in half with the top piece turned upside down inside the bottom part. This allows for a succulent plant to sit on top with its roots through the neck of the bottle, where they can reach the water at the bottom. It brings some living greenery to the desk. Next, the kit has a quantum water bottle. The top piece is removable as it doubles as both a lid and a cup. This is inspired by Aquadyn Auroville’s water purification system technology that uses quantum physics. Inside is a purifying silver coil. The outside is engraved with words of love written in the four languages of Auroville and those spoken at the Upcycling Studio. They chose this as it shows the gratitude for water and they believe, as researchers do as well, that water’s molecular structure is transformed when spoken positive words. A candle holder is the next object, made from the top of an old gin bottle. The base is made from trees that fell from natural causes in the Pitchandikulam forest. The candle sits on this wood base with the glass top covering it nicely. There is also a paperweight made from old glass tiles and broken glass pieces. The symbolism behind this kit is that it is balancing because it brings all the worldly elements together on the desk: earth (plant holder), water (water bottle), fire (candle holder), and air (paperweight). This shows how the studio is dedicated to making thoughtful, meaningful pieces. 

One of the team’s key initiatives is bringing upcycling workshops into schools. Instead of normal arts and crafts activities which create even more waste, the team encourages children to collect trash they see and make artistic projects with it. They aim to break the stigma that trash is dirty to encourage reuse practices. The team also uses this as an opportunity to educate about the importance of limiting waste. Upcycling is an amazing education tool as it can bring in creativity, mathematics, and problem-solving skills. 

The team also seeks to educate the public through inspiring public displays. Sitting on chairs made from recycled materials and stuffed with plastic wrapper waste, we had the opportunity to look through various books on the Upcycling Studio’s past work. They have had many large public art displays in Auroville and abroad, including the Trashion show (featuring upcycled outfits) which they do in Auroville every few years. 

What I found quite beautiful about the Upcycling Studio is the way it added a hopeful lens to waste. It spreads the message that we should limit waste as much as possible, but we should see the remaining waste as a material that can be reinvented time and time again. Their work opened our minds to the wide array of possibilities that come when we destigmatize trash. The creative mindset that waste can actually be something shiny and new with just a few tweaks and a creative vision is truly inspiring. The possibilities are endless!