What is Creative Reuse

Creative reuse, also known as upcycling, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value. Andex’s skin board packs will keep your product safe and looking its absolute best, visit andex.net/skin-board-packaging/ to read more.

To reduce our waste, we need to find creative reuse solutions for every day problems. Repurposing solves so many problems. Not only does it save money, but it keeps materials out of the landfill. Some days bringing packaging into the house can’t be avoided, so it’s important to find new ways to reuse everyday packaging. Finding new ways to repurpose is the reason I wake up in the morning, but it’s easy to overthink it. There are lots of great ideas that require no effort, so I compiled this list of crazy easy ways to reuse everyday packaging.

Repurposed Cleaning Supplies and Tools

This is a great way to reuse everyday packaging. To keep cleaning supplies fresh, you can’t use them for long. Why waste money on something you’ll have to throw away in a month or so. Just we use what you already have that would have to be thrown away anyway. If you decide to start decluttering your whole house, you may need to contact dumpster company to rent a dumpster that you can use for the collection of your trash and unwanted items.

Bread Tags

These little suckers are great for getting off food or other hard grime.

Fruit Nets

Great for getting stubborn food off dishes.

Parmesan Cheese shaker

Sprinkle baking soda for cleaning

Repurposed Crafts

You can make crafts out of any material. Why buy new supplies when you have so much packaging just waiting for a new life?

Paper

You can reuse paper and make gift wrap bows. These add an extra special touch and are easy to make with any extra paper you might have laying around.

Plastic Bags

Make plarn (plastic yarn) and make plarn crochet bags. This is one of my favorite repurposed crafts to make.

Plastic Bottles

Upcycled hummingbird feeders are perfect for old pop bottles and spoons.

Wine Bottles

Using old wine bottles are a great to reuse as candle holders.

Repurposed Decorations

Decorations are great way to find creative reuse ideas for everyday packaging because you can use it again and again for however long you want. You don’t have to feel bad when you need a new look because you can find a new way to repurpose the materials again.

Cereal Boxes

Thin cardboard is perfect to cut in whatever shape you need and add as a mat to your picture frame.

Wine Bottles

These make great candlesticks and you can decorate them for any occasion.

You can also use wine bottles as a vase for flowers.

Repurposed Family Supplies

When you have a family of little ones, repurposing what you already have is a great way to save money. The new things we buy are often torn up or lost, so reusing materials is a great way to save money.

Bottle Piggy Bank

This repurposed piggy bank is so adorable! You get reuse everyday packaging and get to use it as a teaching tool, so show your kids the importance of saving. It’s a win-win!

Creamer Containers

Going on the road?  Just fill up creamer containers with yummy snacks and make sure the family has plenty access to yummy snacks.

Juice Bottles

The Good to Grow bottled juices repurposed as sippy cups with these toppers. Cleaning instructions can be found online. 

Laundry Detergent Bottles

Cut out the side of these bottles, and you can dig in the garden or take it to the beach as a shovel.

Repurposed Garden Supplies and Tools

Outdoor and gardening supplies never stay new and clean for long. These are great ways to reuse what we already have, instead of wasting money on something that won’t be new after a first use.

Parmesan Cheese shaker

Sprinkling Diatomaceous Earth around plants.

Kitty Litter Buckets

Stackable buckets that make great vermicomposting factories in small spaces.

2-Liter Bottles

Poke holes in an empty 2-Liter Bottle and hook it up to the sprinkler for some fun in the sun or to water the garden.

Toilet Paper Rolls

These serve as great seed starters.

Repurposed Kitchen Tools

I love using creative reuse items in the kitchen. There is so much potential and this is where most of the packaging seems to come from. It only makes sense to reuse everyday packaging in the same area it comes from.

Mason Jar Lids

These are the perfect size for mini pies. Use the ring and lid to measure the pie dough then lay the dough in the ring, fill with pie filling then lay the remaining pie dough on top. Check out a recipe here.

Parmesan Cheese Shaker

Some ingredients are only needed in small doses, but not have an appropriate package to accommodate. Parmesan cheese shakers can help. Sugar, powdered sugar, and flour are great examples.

Plastic Ice Cream Buckets

Perfect for kitchen scraps until you can get to the compost pile.

Starbucks Frappucino Bottles

Store olive oil, salad dressing and other liquids.

Store small amounts of creamer, sugar, flour or other ingredients needed for travel.

Wide Mouth Jars

These serve as great freezer containers. They are 24 oz, so they allow for up to 2 cups of liquid with plenty of head space left. 

Aldi’s brand of spaghetti has jars with measurement markings. These are also great for storing liquid that requires measurements.

Repurposed Organization

These are just a few examples of the many things you can repurpose to organize your life. Bottles and containers have no end to ways we can repurpose them.

Altoid Tins

Great for storing paper clips, tacks, beads or other small items. You can also use it hide money in a purpose.

Candy Boxes

If you  have a lot of a small item in a drawer, they can get lost in a mess. Use small candy boxes to keep drawers organized.

You can also use them to keep under a glue gun, so it keeps glue from drying to the table.

Hanging Mason Jars

If you’re short on storage, this storage idea is perfect. Check out the full tutorial here.

Nature Made Vitamin Containers

These are great for storing lip glosses, cream blush and hand lotions.

Plastic Supply Holder

Put a zipper on that old pop bottle from lunch and use to carry or store pencils or craft supplies. Check out this no-sew full tutorial here.

Wine Corks

These make great cork boards. Check these out for inspiration.

Paper

You can reuse paper and make gift wrap bows. These add an extra special touch and are easy to make with any extra paper you might have laying around.

Paper Packaging