If you’re a maker just starting out your journey in sustainability, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to get started. From understanding the types of materials to utilize, learning what steps will help reduce waste and emissions, and finding inspiring new ways to explore creativity that don’t have a negative environmental impact. The good news is there are plenty of resources available for DIYers looking for ways to make their projects more sustainable – from simple switches you can make today, big-picture ideas for longterm change, or exciting new ways makers are helping push sustainability into the future. In these blog posts we’ll look at tips tricks and ideas specifically tailored towards diyers and makers on the road to creating projects with greater eco consciousness so that not only will you create something beautiful but also respect its impact on our planet!
Designer Jens Praet makes furniture from shredded paper. He compressed it with resin into a mold, and out comes a new piece of furniture. I’m not sure how eco-friendly that resin is, or how much paper it uses (I’m guessing a lot, which keeps it out of a landfill), but the material technique sure is […]
I really like this chair because it reminds me of living in NYC. This certainly qualifies for a remake with a $3700 price tag and a 16-week wait. I would want the “scuffed” version. The chair can come complete with all the genuine scuffs and stains of its New York City roots or can come […]
Amber points us towards this easy tutorial for making a recycled cardboard playhouse for kids. These would be so simple to customize with paints and other fun decorations.
This is a 3-part article on building a solar lantern. It’s a well-documented project, and there are a lot of pictures of the build process. Make sure to check out parts 2 & 3 for the complete build. The links are at the top of the article. The solar lantern is composed of 2 main […]
These are some of the coolest junkbot sculptures I’ve seen. Really clever use of computer mice parts, windshield wiper pieces, vacuum cleaner parts, and misc. plastic trash. While most of them are merely decorative, some function as desk lamps. Mouser [Make: Flickr Pool]
Crazy Mom Quilts crochets old t-shirts into rugs and shows you how to do it in her rag rug tutorial.
Instructables user RDN1 made a tutorial for hacking a solar-powered garden lamp into a light graffiti message projector. He writes: I recently read this interesting article in Wired magazine about “Light-Graffiti Hackers”. The Problem with light-graffities is that you need a power source to make them permanent, so you usually can’t put them everywhere you […]
