“Upcycling” refers to the process of repurposing something that is no longer needed into a new item of greater value.
Upcycled objects can encompass waste materials, unwanted products, or byproducts resulting from industrial processes. Understanding upcycling becomes easier when contrasted with “downcycling,” which refers to the conventional form of recycling that involves items like bottles, cans, paper, or cardboard.
Downcycling: breaking down the original object into its component parts and utilizing those parts to create a lower-quality version of the same item.
Upcycling: using the original object to create a new, different, or higher-value item (Kamleitner et al., 2019, Park and Lin, 2020).
According to Adgüzel and Donato (2021), consumers who are environmentally conscious are more inclined to purchase upcycled goods rather than downcycled goods. This preference is driven by the fact that upcycled goods are generally perceived as having higher quality, greater value, or being more novel.
Some Examples of Upcycling
In recent years, there has been a notable surge in scientific studies conducted in the field of upcycling. Here are a few examples:
Ahn et al. (2018) explore the upcycling of jellyfish sea wastes into reducing agents for synthesizing gold nanoparticles, which find diverse applications in “photothermal therapy, drug/gene delivery, catalysis, imaging, and sensing” (Ahn et al., 2018, S1127). The proliferation of jellyfish populations in recent years, attributed to climate change, has led to significant disruptions in marine ecosystems and raised concerns over visitor safety in popular coastal areas like Queensland, Australia, during the peak tourism season of summer. Utilizing jellyfish extract as a reducing agent in gold nanoparticle synthesis helps mitigate the disruption caused by jellyfish in marine ecosystems. Additionally, the use of jellyfish extract is more environmentally friendly compared to conventional synthetic reducing agents.
Alammar et al. (2022) investigate the upcycling of agricultural waste into membranes, which serve as separators in chemical and green chemical engineering. Specifically focusing on date fruit seeds, an abundant and non-edible agricultural byproduct, the study outlines the upcycling process using green solvent systems and a minimal number of processing steps.
The resulting membranes demonstrate stable performance and exhibit satisfactory biodegradability.
Tiso et al. (2021) explores the bio-upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a widely used clear, strong, and lightweight plastic for beverage packaging. The bio-upcycling approach involves a unique process that entails the enzymatic depolymerization of PET, followed by the microbial conversion of the resulting compounds into valuable polymers. This approach distinguishes itself from traditional recycling methods as it harnesses the power of enzymes and microbes to degrade plastics that were once considered non-biodegradable. The outcome is the production of biodegradable bioplastics and other valuable products, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional waste management practices.
In conclusion, recent scientific research on upcycling has shed light on the immense potential of this approach in addressing waste management and resource conservation challenges. Through innovative methods and creative applications, researchers have showcased the transformative power of upcycling in turning discarded materials into valuable resources. These studies highlight the environmental, social, and economic benefits of upcycling, emphasizing its role in building a more sustainable and circular economy. As we move forward, continued exploration and implementation of upcycling strategies will be crucial in unlocking new opportunities and mitigating the impact of waste on our planet. By reimagining waste as a valuable resource, we can pave the way towards a more resilient and sustainable future.
References:
Adıgüzel, F., & Donato, C. (2021). Proud to be sustainable: Upcycled versus recycled luxury products. Journal of Business Research, 130, 137–146.
Ahn, E.-Y., Hwang, S. J., Choi, M.-J., Cho, S., Lee, H.-J., & Park, Y. (2018). Upcycling of jellyfish (Nemopilema nomurai) sea wastes as highly valuable reducing agents for green synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their antitumor and anti-inflammatory activity. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine & Biotechnology, 46, 1127–1136.
Alammar, A., Hardian, R., & Szekely, G. (2022). Upcycling agricultural waste into membranes: from date seed biomass to oil and solvent-resistant nanofiltration. Green Chemistry, 24(1), 365–374.
Kamleitner, B., Thürridl, C., & Martin, B. A. S. (2019). A Cinderella Story: How Past Identity Salience Boosts Demand for Repurposed Products. Journal of Marketing, 83 (6), 76–92.
Park, H. J., & Lin, L. M. (2020). Exploring attitude–behavior gap in sustainable consumption: Comparison of recycled and upcycled fashion products. Journal of Business Research, 117, 623–628.
Tiso, T., Narancic, T., Wei, R., Pollet, E., Beagan, N., Schröder, K., Honak, A., Jiang, M., Kenny, S. T., Wierckx, N., Perrin, R., Avérous, L., Zimmermann, W., O’Connor, K., & Blank, L. M. (2021). Towards bio-upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate. Metabolic Engineering, 66, 167–178.
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