UpCycling - Who invented the word?

Well, first of all, since I used this picture from the internet, let me introduce the blog/site from which I borrowed.  http://www.upcycling.co.uk/   I haven't read too many posts, however, love the diversity and the promotion of upcycling.

Now, while I borrowed the logo/picture, you may be surprised to know that I didn't borrow the word from her site or any other site.  Some years back, I decided to advertise my costumes online and wondered what word or words would properly describe such endeavors.  I was chatting to my good friend Danielle D. and she suggested marketing it as recycling or upcycling.

I asked her - "What is upcycling?"  I still remember the little laugh she gave as she admitted she didn't know if it was a word, but that it made sense.  I wasn't recycling used item such as a thrift shop, but taking something old, new, or traditional and changing it.  Changing it to something more exciting.

So, I googled it. What else would one do?  I googled the word "upcycle".  NOTHING was to be found on about 5 pages.  Miss spelled words, and related content, and of course recycling.  But nothing on upcycling.  So, I thought to myself, "Well, it might be cheesy to advertise with a homemade word, but I'll try it.   And I did.

Now, the word is everwhere.  Why didn't I trade mark it? Could it really be that I was the first one to use it online?  Did Danielle actually invent the word for one of the biggest trends hitting the planet?  I like to think so. Wikipedia says Etsy has been trending it since 2010, also that it was first coined in 1997, but I still think she coined it herself as well.

Now, I told her this, and she couldn't remember having said it.  Laughingly asked me if she really had.  So, maybe she heard it somewhere.  But I truly think, we started the trend on the internet!  At least according to my first google search we did!

Love to hear how others stumbled upon the concept.