Upcycling:

• It is the reuse of discarded objects or materials to create products of higher quality or perceived value than the original.
• Reduces waste of materials when used to create new products.
• It has been recognized as a promising way to reduce material and energy use.

Benefits of upcycling

• Reduces environmental impact
• At the industrial level reduces the amount of toxic material in the biosphere
• Reduce the amount of waste generated and reaching landfills to extend the life of landfills.
• Reduces the need for new materials and thus conserves natural resources.
• It reduces the amount of energy needed to create new products, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Uses less energy than recycling.
• Helps save money
• Enables the creation of unique items of higher value
• Helping to alleviate poverty in developing countries
• They create a sense of community, aid relaxation and create empowerment benefits.

Disadvantages

• Relatively low volume solution to make a significant impact on waste volume.
• There is a small market for this type of producer.
• The limited number of people who are willing to separate and clean products to be used.
• Not all materials can be used to create new products.

References:

• Anderson, A. (2009) "Trash or treasure? Controlling your brand in the age of upcycling," Trademark world, pp. 1-2, July/August.
• Emgin, B. (2012) "Trashion: The return of the disposed," Design issues, vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 63-71.
• Frank, C. (2013) Living simple, free & happy: How to simplify, declutter your home, reduce stress, debt & waste, Georgetown, Ontario: Betterway Books.
• Gauntlett, D. (2011) Making is connecting: The social meaning of creativity, from DIY and knitting to YouTube and Web 2.0, Cambridge: Polity Press.
• Goldsmith, B. (2009) "Trash of treasure? Upcycling becomes growing green trend," [Online]. Available: http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/09/30/us-trends-upcycling-life-idUSTRE58T3HX20090930. [Accessed 17 5 2022].
• Hellmann, E. Malluche, J. and Hellmann, G. P. (2007) "Condensation kinetics of polyphthalamides. II. Polyesters and diamines," Polymer Engineering and Science, vol. 47, no. 10, pp. 1600-1609.
• Koepenick, M. (2012) "The upside of upcycle," Paper 360, pp. 16-19, September/October.
• Lang, D. (2013) Zero to maker: Learn (just enough) to make (just about) anything, 1 ed., Sebastopol, CA: Maker Media, Inc.
• Martin, M. and Eklund, M. (2011) "Improving the environmental performance of biofuels with industrial symbiosis," Biomass and Bioenergy, vol. 35, pp. 1747-1755.
• McDonough, W. and Braungart, M. (2013). The upcycle: Beyond sustainability -Designing for abundance, New York: North Point Press.
• Sung, K. Cooper, T. and Kettley, S. (2014) "Individual upcycling practice: exploring the possible determinants of upcycling based on a literature review," Copenhagen.
• Sung, Kyungeun (2015). A Review on Upcycling: Current Body of Literature, Knowledge Gaps and a Way Forward.
• Szaky, T. (2014). Outsmart waste: The modern idea of garbage and how to think our way out of it, San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publisher, Inc.

Author: Francheska Ruiz Canino
Bachelor's Degree in Biology with a concentration in Wildlife from the University of Puerto Rico - Humacao Master's Degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras