Upcycling gold

Hospitality leads the field in its ability to find new uses for old, discarded and reclaimed objects. Emily Manson highlights some of the industry's most ingenious examples of modern-day alchemy

We are all now aware of the need to recycle. It's been drummed into our consciousness for years, both at work and at home. But what about "upcycling"? Is it just more of the meaningless greenwash that is so often bandied about? Although it is about reuse, the concept of upcycling is that the products are reused - or recycled - to make more of them than they originally were, so it's recycling plus some.

Sarah Daly, My Green Eye's strategic sustainability consultant, explains: "Upcycling is the clever solution, because if we can reduce what we buy in the first place and effectively find another use for existing objects, then with some creativity we have resolved several issues in one. As well as saving money, there's no doubt that upcycling creates unique and chic features which become great talking points."

And it turns out that the hospitality industry is adept at it. Sustainable Restaurant Association chairman Mark Linehan admits: "We never cease to be amazed at the ingenuity of our member restaurants.

"Making new use of items other less creative and responsible businesses would simply consign to the bin - upcycling - is a great example of that innovation."

This week we highlight some top examples of the industry's ingenuity, creativity and ability to upcycle.

1 Mexican chain Wahaca's most ambitious project to date has pushed the boundaries of sustainable restaurant building by using eight recycled shipping containers arranged in a two-storey overhanging structure, which will remain on the South Bank in London for 18 months. The containers have been reconfigured to contain seating for 130, a bar terrace and outdoor space.

2 High-street pâtisserie and bakery Le Pain Quotidien began using recycled wood to make the café's now trademark communal table in 1990, when founder Alain Coumont found a recycled table in a flea market made by Antiques & Design. Since then, for every new site, a replica table has been commissioned from A&D to be made out of the floorboards of old trains and other recycled woods.

3 The National Theatre has used its old props to create the Propstore - a pop-up contemporary bar and café outside the theatre on London's South Bank made almost entirely from old stage sets filled with pieces of scenery and props from past shows.

4 Regularly voted one of the world's most innovatively sustainable hotels, the Scarlet in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, cuts up old tablecloths that are looking a bit sad and worn and uses them in bread baskets. Meanwhile, at sister hotel Bedruthan Steps, the Ocean Spa has started reusing ‘foam peanut' packaging as toe spacers during pedicure treatments.

5 London Brazilian restaurant chain Cabana uses reject and recycled jeans as banquette covering in its St Giles site. The covering is made by a favela collective of women called Recicla Jeans.

Other upcycled elements in its two restaurants include lighting features made from old copper piping and bill bowls made out of Cuban telephone wire.

6 The Blues Kitchen in Camden, north London, has turned authentic barrels, gramophones, stoves and organ parts from the Deep South into lights and lampshades.

7 The owner of the Giggling Squid in Brighton collects driftwood while out running on the beach every morning. He uses the wood to decorate his restaurants. The restaurant tables are made out of reclaimed timber from Brighton's West Pier, which was destroyed by two fires in 2002 and 2003.

8 Created by Anna Karlin, originally as a university project, this multiple-pendant light at the Garrison in Bermondsey, south-east London, is made of vintage teacups and coloured cord and is now a feature over the bar.

9 The Riding House Café near Oxford Street in central London has built almost all of its tables on bases made from legs of old snooker tables, while the long light fixture over the bar was originally the arms of a balance to which were added lights and shades. The large refectory-style table that forms the centrepiece of the dining hall was built in situ from reclaimed wagon boards and industrial metal pipework.

Responsible hospitality resource

For more information on how to run your business responsibly, visit our online resource www.catererandhotelkeeper.com/responsible-hospitality.
The Responsible Hospitality channel, supported by Accor, Gram UK and Kraft Foods, features tools and guidance that will help you reduce waste and energy usage, while offering examples and information on increasing recycling, ethical food sourcing and social responsibility.