n.
A process that takes used or recycled materials and creates a new product with a higher quality or value than the original materials.
—upcycle v.
—upcycle v.
Example Citations:
Mr. Kalin is big on 'upcycling,' a process whose name was coined by William McDonough, an architect, and Michael Braungart, a chemist, in their 2002 book, 'Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.' They used the term to describe the process of taking something that's essentially waste and moving it up the consumer-goods chain. 'I love upcycling,' Mr. Kalin said. 'I love this idea of bringing something from lower down and elevating it.'
—Penelope Green, "Romancing The Flat Pack: Ikea, Repurposed," The New York Times, September 6, 2007
—Penelope Green, "Romancing The Flat Pack: Ikea, Repurposed," The New York Times, September 6, 2007
We also consider "upcycling", which involves taking used materials and increasing their value. For example, by taking an old shirt that someone won't wear just because they've dropped a tiny bit of balsamic vinegar on it, printing over the top of it and perhaps cutting into it to make it fit with current trends. It's very quick and easy. I can upcycle a worn-out ordinary shirt into a designer handprinted B.Earley one.
—Lucy Middleton, "Turning the fashion industry green," New Scientist, October 6, 2007
—Lucy Middleton, "Turning the fashion industry green," New Scientist, October 6, 2007
Earliest Citation:
Current recycling is actually what we call downcycling—reducing the quality of a material over several lifecycles until it is no longer useful. When car steel is recycled into building material steel, for example, it is melted down with other materials, such as copper. This copper content destroys the steel's stability. As a result, new steel must be added to make the metal strong enough for its next use. These things are not designed to be recycled. They're forced into primitive recycling processes after they've been used. Their original quality is lost.
If today's recycling is downcycling, then what's upcycling?
Korean rice husks used as packing for stereo components are now being reused as building insulation. Shipping is free because it travels with the stereo, the insulation is non-toxic, and we eliminate the concept of waste. After use as insulation, the rice husks can be used again as bricks. We've also developed a pulp from newspapers to be recyclined into building insulation. We use the intelligence that already exists in those materials.
—Michael Cannell, "Upcycling the World," Architecture, September 1, 2000
Notes:
The New York Times citation claims that upcycling was coined in 2002, but the earliest citation shows that the term goes back to at least 2000, and it may be even earlier. Here's a citation that may qualify as the earliest, if I could figure out what all the jargon means:
PIRA International is launching a multi-client project investigating the potential of residential mixed paper (RMP) as a fibre source for paper and board. RMP is already used in recycled board in North America. Although the main RMP users will be recycled board makers, potential may exist for deinkable fractions to be used in other grades. The study will be carried out in conjunction with Moore & Associates of the US which has assessed the potential market benefits of including RMP in US recycling programs. Information on yield, contaminants and fibre quality are necessary technical research areas which will be examined in the project through: assessing the potential tonnage available; establishing fibre quality existing within designated types of RMP and assessing variability levels; examining the economics and technical feasibility of proposed upcycling process techniques.
—"Using RMP as a fibre source," Pulp & Paper Canada, November 1, 1996
—"Using RMP as a fibre source," Pulp & Paper Canada, November 1, 1996
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