Upcycling is a transformation of discarded products into items with increased functionality and value. The main idea is to give a preloved item a new life, either by remaking it into something new or rethinking its original form.

Upcycling and ancient civilisations

Upcycling finds its origins in ancient civilisation, in contrast to a shared misconception that it originates in industrialisation. For instance, in the Roman Empire, there was a practice called “Spolia”, which refers to the repurposing of building materials. In simple terms, some of the architectural elements of old structures would be used for new ones.

Source: The Guardian

The earliest mentions of upcycled textiles appear in medieval Europe, where clothing was patched, reused, and eventually became rags for papermaking.

How Upcycling got its name

As a term, upcycling was first used in the late 20th century by German engineer Reiner Pilz to describe the process of creating new products or materials of enhanced quality from existing products and materials, as opposed to downcycling, where the value of the final product is reduced.

Source: magazine “Salvo”, 1994

Soo…

People have historically been looking for ways to reuse materials or to rethink the use and meaning of pre-owned items. In the 21st century, upcycling became mainstream due to growing consumerism and the need to make better use of what we already own instead of constantly buying new items.

Source: The Business of Fashion

According to the British Fashion Council, we have enough clothes on the planet to dress the next six generations. Some researchers say it can be up to ten generations. So, how do we use these materials instead of putting them in the landfill?

Downsides of Upcycling

Unfortunately, upcycling has its pros and cons and needs to be approached responsibly, since sometimes it might not be the best solution.

Let's talk about it.

Why upcycle when you can recycle?

Sometimes items that could be recycled or composted are upcycled, and unfortunately, end up as trash. It's important to note that materials often used in upcycling, like acrylic paint or hot glue, can sometimes worsen the problem rather than solve it. So things like kids' crafts from discarded items, holiday decorations, or upcycling just for the sake of upcycling, so you can say you did it, are contributing to the waste problem.

Complacency is one of the problems. When we, as consumers, get the misleading feeling that we can consume more if we can upcycle some part of the waste the purchase creates. This might seem fine at first, but what happens after a dozen such purchases?

It kinda takes away the whole idea of reducing when consuming, doesn't it? When those things more often end up in the trash rather than get significantly prolonged use or get recycled on time.

Greenwashing

The European Parliament describes greenwashing as the practice of giving a false impression of the environmental impact or benefits of a product, which can mislead consumers.

Sadly, it's a growing tactic in the marketing landscape that companies use to capitalise on insignificant sustainable actions and create a misleading image of environmental responsibility for consumers.

Often, companies advertise their products as those that can be upcycled into something else and give you this false idea of sustainability, when in reality, it just shifts the responsibility onto the consumer, instead of the company being accountable for the waste that their products create.

For example, the companies that promote their packaging as one that can be upcycled into a planter. Which at first appears as a nice green initiative, but in reality, it's not helpful; it's still a waste. So, in reality, the company is just saying that they are sustainable because you have to upcycle.

What can we do as consumers? I'm gonna hold your hand when I say this, but we have to pay attention and be critical. There are governmental initiatives that look for ways to regulate greenwashing effectively, but as consumers, we are also responsible for what we are purchasing, and it's in our power to reduce greenwashing if we call out the brands that use it as a marketing tool rather than making real changes.

Harmful projects

Some of the upcycling projects can potentially be harmful. The lack of knowledge and understanding of different features of different materials can lead to fatal outcomes.

Lead paint, flame retardants, collapsing structures, bizarre but pointless projects. We've all seen DIY videos online that raise doubts about their safety, or their value as true upcycling.

For example, using anything to make a candle. Some are made from cans, some are made from wood… zero fire hazard or warning about flammable materials that can easily lead to fires and harmful fumes.

That's one of the many examples you can find online. These kinds of upcycling projects can be very dangerous, and there is a huge liability that comes with them.

Source: Reddit

When does Upcycling Make Sense?

Although there are several drawbacks to upcycling, it remains a valuable and important practice that can contribute to positive change when used thoughtfully. So what are the things we should think about before we decide to upcycle?

1. Focus on the items that are already destined for the landfill.

   That's the core of upcycling – giving a second life to items that can't be recycled or composted and keeping them from becoming waste for as long as possible.

2. Learn about the materials you will use in ur upcycle project first.

   Make sure that they are suitable for DIY solutions and can't potentially harm you. And if materials can be easily recycled, sometimes it's better to recycle.

3. Upcycling is your last resort!

   It's only a temporary solution to overconsumption, so reducing what you consume should be the top priority.

Not everything needs to be upcycled, so think twice before jumping in. Since we are all on this sustainable journey together, being intentional is what really makes the difference.

Want to learn more about how you can make your daily practices more sustainable? Check out our Reflawn News!