ReCreate Waste into Value - Skills Based Upcycling Workshops
The ReCreators is a Social Enterprise based in Auckland, New Zealand, which promotes upcycling by learning to do it yourself (DIY) through our community workshops & programmes, through purchasing locally made upcycled products or by collaborating on a custom circular design.
We are a diverse and inclusive collective of upcycling creatives - tutoring, designing and manufacturing. We believe that making with reclaimed materials promotes positive mental wellbeing as well as protecting Papatūānuku
We offer various upcycling workshops for tamariki, rangatahi, and adults, as well as an online store. Our prices incorporate the Living Wage as a minimum and the time taken to prep materials ready for a new life.
Our collective supports collaborative learning, materials and support for sustainable creatives. The materials we use are either discarded or offcuts that would otherwise be destined for landfill. We feel they are beautiful and deserve a second chance on this planet.
Our Mission - Reimagine Waste into Value
Our mission is to move consumers away from new products towards upcycled goods, either through purchasing from us online or by making their own with the skills they have developed from our workshops. We believe that over-consumerism is one of the many factors threatening our planet.
You can read our latest Annual Report here: 2022 Annual Report for The ReCreators
Local Craftmanship & Employment
All our products are made in New Zealand and our website supports all creative ReCreators on a journey towards business success, financial sustainability and community integration.
How items are priced
Our ReCreators are encouraged to price workshops and items according to the time they spent making an item (using the Living Wage as a minimum), the cost of materials and a small percentage to cover their equipment and design costs.
What is Upcycling?
Upcycling is creative reuse through reviving old materials or unwanted items into new materials or products of better quality and better environmental value than the original.
We reimagine waste into value!!
Upcycling vs Recycling
Waste Disposal is a growing global issue. Upcycling (re-using) takes items from the disposal pattern. Upcycling only requires your own creativity and elbow grease. It has a near to zero carbon emissions and prevents the purchase of new products.
Recycling requires energy to break down and re-use materials. It requires high cost machinery, lots of transportation and energy.
Why Upcycle?
Preventing extraction and landfill. There are many low-cost and/or free objects that only require a few accessories, equipment, and time to transform them into new and fabulous products. There are endless creative opportunities. Additionally, upcycling can bring income/ employment opportunities to local communities and provide skills around creativity. This is the beginning of a true circular economy.
What Can I Upcycle?
There are endless creations to be made from old wood, wine bottles, cans, newspapers, milk cartons, tyres, suitcases, clothes, you name it. Anything old can be made new again. This is where real creativity happens. Check our IG or FB pages for inspiration.
About the Founder
Ger Tew is passionate about the environment, human rights and creative entrepreneurship. This venture was a combination of all these passions and the freedom to see how this upcycle movement will develop and gain traction in New Zealand.
Ger's background has been working for the government in refugee and protection matters and The ReCreators is her first entrepreneurial venture. She believes that working collaboratively brings the best results and is enthused to bring this Upcycle Collective to a New Zealand audience.
How can I Support The Re-Creators or other charities?
- Buy Upcycled Products – reduce your spending on new products.
- Next time you want to purchase a new item – check out The ReCreators website first. Buy something funky and upcycled. Think about all your purchases - who you are purchasing from and how has the product been made.
- Sort through your wardrobes, garage or workplace and see if you can donate items to local upcycling community groups, or give us a call if you want to donate directly to our ReCreators.
- We are always looking for help with marketing, website content, copyrighting, blogging, photography, videography – so if you have these skills, please get in contact by emailing help@therecreators.co.nz.
- Spread the word. If you like what we’re doing, and our upcycled products, then please promote The ReCreators to your friends and on social media. We post regularly on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter so feel free to share our updates.
- Donate. Tax deductible donations will be used towards workshops, product donations to vulnerable groups or they can pay for materials and/or tools to make products. Our Charitable Trust account number is 06-0622-0979540-00