From Recycling to Upcycling (Upgrade + Recycling)

Jim Park, Professor

Recycling and Upcycling

Recycling takes consumer materials — mostly plastic, paper, metal and glass — and breaks them down so their base materials can be remade into a new consumer product, often of lesser quality, i.e., downcycling.

Upcycling an item is not breaking down the materials but rather refashions it — like cutting a t-shirt into strips of yarn — but it’s still made of the same materials as when started. Also, the upcycled item is typically better or the same quality as the original.

Uniqueness: Story-telling of solid waste, emphasize the only one item in the world

Stylish: Improvement of salability by reassembling or combining the idea of the designer and waste material

Efficiency: Reasonable price through cost reduction by dissemble, refurbish, design, etc.

Design technic: Research and development on design, waste material, and manufacturing method

Useful Websites

http://inhabitat.com/?s=upcycling

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upcycling

http://hipcycle.com/what-is-upcycling#sthash.tinHpXqP.dpuf