Hope!! What Does Upcycled Mean? Recycling & Upcycling Explained

Recycling, Repurposing, Upcycling – what’s the difference?

…and what precisely is Upcycling?

We all know what recycling is. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 plastic pocketbook is used to comport domicile groceries, in addition to then is later reused by the possessor who uses the pocketbook a instant or 3rd time, maybe to ane time to a greater extent than comport groceries or to store items. The pocketbook has been reused, in addition to inward a way, it has been recycled yesteryear its owner. The value of the pocketbook remains the same.

Let's forthwith say that the same plastic pocketbook is sent out for recycling to a recycling plant. It's taken to a mill where it is position amongst lots of other plastic bags which are in addition to then turned into something new, such every bit to a greater extent than novel plastic bags. The pocketbook is beingness recycled, but nearly of the time, it is every bit good beingness downcycled...

Downcycling is something that occurs when items that are recycled are converted into items of lesser lineament due to the recycling procedure itself. For example, dissimilar types of plastic bottles may live recycled in addition to during the recycling process, around of the valuable materials from these plastics may live extracted yesteryear the recycling procedure itself. In the end, what may live left is a hybrid type of plastic of a lesser lineament than the lineament of plastic of the master bottle earlier it was recycled. After the recycling process, the lineament of the plastic has gone down. One event is that an onetime plastic pocketbook that is recycled into a novel plastic pocketbook may non live every bit durable every bit the master pocketbook was. This is downcycling.

With upcycling, an detail is no longer beingness used for its intended purpose, but is repurposed – given a new purpose – in addition to along amongst this novel purpose (and this is the of import part) it is every bit good given an increase in value (usually both aesthetically in addition to monetarily.)

It is worth to a greater extent than inward its novel form.

Upcycled items oftentimes lead maintain both a better quality in addition to a higher environmental value than they had inward their master state!

What else makes upcycled items hence desirable?

They are created amongst invention in addition to creativity!

Here's an example:

My daughters institute this slice of a broken plate on a nature walk...

I turned the broken plate slice into 3 beautiful necklaces for them!

I made this necklace pendant from broken Shelley Blue Rock teacup

One of the best quotes explaining upcycling comes from Wisegeek:

"Upcycling is designed to piece of employment inward opposition to consumer culture, encouraging people to shout upwardly of novel in addition to innovative ways to utilisation things, instead of just buying novel consumer goods. It every bit good benefits the environment, yesteryear promoting reuse over discarding whenever possible."

At a glance:

Recycled – inward it's broadest feel - used ane time to a greater extent than in addition to value remains unchanged

Downcycled – items are turned into novel items of a lesser lineament than their master state

Repurposed – used ane time to a greater extent than but amongst a novel purpose

Upcycled – used again, amongst a novel purpose, in addition to amongst greater value than its master state