Artcycling Coop: Sustainable and inclusive decorative arts

European initiative based on the upcycling concept, that is to say, reuse and recycle waste materials to create valuable, useful or simply aesthetically pleasing objects. Thus, we wanted to provoke critical thinking on general society on issues like social and environmental challenges or the throw-away world we are living nowadays. Artcycling gave a unique opportunity to 85 European artists from underrepresented groups, especially those with disabilities, as for instance mental health issues, to develop their creativity and to enter/reenter the labour market. Art can be a useful tool to fight against stigma and discrimination and to promote a respectful mentality with our environment and with the handcraft, with well-done things, encouraging people to think of new and creative ways to use things, instead of simply buying new consumer goods.