Recycling for the Planet and our Minds

In “The Most Ingenious Recycled Homes,”  Clare Dowdy (2023, https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230302-the-most-ingenious-recycled-homes) makes the point that recycling is not only good for the planet but can also give us a psychological boost because it makes us feel good about ourselves—and recycled choices can also be great aesthetically, so using them isn’t a design sacrifice.

As Dowsy shares, “The recycling and repurposing of materials is increasing in popularity. With recycling, materials are turned into something else for their second life, which generally takes some effort and energy. With repurposing, items are simply used again, though often for new purposes. In both cases, designers have more and more products and techniques to choose from. . . . Going for the waste-not-want-not approach carries a cachet in some parts of the world, where being sustainable is worn as a badge of honour.”

So, as we do the right thing by the Earth we can silently sent out signals that we are a truly committed Earth preserver, which is as good for our own self-esteem as it for our planet’s future.  Regularly science shows that our perceptions of ourselves and the places where we find ourselves have a more dramatic effect on our levels of wellbeing than more concrete criteria.