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What is Upcycling

What is Upcycling?

We all know that recycling is good for the environment, and with the growing number of businesses and towns recycling and encouraging recycling, the pressure to practice and support these greener actions can be felt by many. Many of the people who face and meet this growing demand, however, may not be aware of the nuances of recycling. While all recycling benefits the environment, not all recycling is equal; the increasingly popular process of upcycling may be a smarter choice than recycling as most of us know it.

Upcycling, a specific type of recycling, is the process of converting old items or materials into items of better quality or higher value. The process of upcycling contrasts with that of what has been termed "downcycling," or the conversion of old materials into something of lower value than the materials or items previously had. Downcycling comprises most of conventional recycling.

This perspective on recycling has gained footing only relatively recently, with the term "upcycling" being coined in the 1990s. Since this time, several authors and environmentalists have commented on the value of upcycling in reducing human impact on the environment.

Upcycling has a number of benefits over downcycling, and therefore over much of conventional recycling. One advantage of upcycling is that it results in recycled products of a superior quality to many recycled items as we know them; this higher quality benefits those who use recycled goods and holds the potential to increase the number of people who use recycled wares, as it creates more sturdy, functional, and desirable products that can be used for a a broader range of purposes.

This aspect of upcycling brings other advantages. Upcycled products of a higher quality or value than recycled products as we know them are more marketable than more familiar downcycled items. This quality of upcycled items not only expands the market for recycled goods, but can even draw more people into recycling by inciting them to upcycle.

Despite its relative youth as a concept, upcycling enjoys modest but growing popularity. Upcycling is a popular means of creating art and of crafting, being responsible for many works of visual art as well as many items such as jewelry and accessories. Upcycling has even been used to create music; the Landfill Harmonic of Paraguay is an orchestra boasting instruments upcycled from trash.

Upcycling has been an impactful process and a valuable instrument of creation throughout its lifetime, and it holds still more promise for its future. While its use in industry is presently relatively limited, current research is working towards finding more widespread, practical applications of upcycling, including an optimal way to upcycle waste plastic. As it continues to expand, upcycling promises an even greener future for recycling.

About Author: DejaVu Designs' collection of sea glass jewelry and accessories feature sea glass collected from Boston's scenic Harbor Islands and the rocky shores of Maine's Casco Bay. The pieces are understated and elegant, yet call to mind the whimsicality of a summer's day on the beach.