What is Sustainability? How does one live a sustainable life? How did this natural way of existing turn into such a frenzy fad? What is the difference between Recycling and Upcycling?
We will have to figure it out as we go along.
Sustainability is a blanket expression for a way of life that is beneficial to the human race and the planet alike. We, the human race, have deluded ourselves into thinking that we can exist without the planet that gives us life. We must change this human-centric way of viewing our world. The resources our planet offers are limited and cannot be squandered away in our quest to satisfy our endless greed. In lieu of using virgin raw materials that will need a massive amount of our already depleting resources to be made from scratch, we can use materials that have been created and not used to their maximum capacity. With this in view, let us explore the various differences between Upcycling and Recycling.
Using materials that have already been consumed in one way, but can be processed and used again, creating a circular economy, where there is virtually no wastage as every single material is used again and again, in different forms until its entire life span is completely done.
If we can concentrate our attention on technological advances in processes that will allow the use of not-so-raw materials as opposed to the norm of virgin material, we can not only reduce our carbon footprint on the planet but also tackle the looming waste management issues we face globally. Transitioning to a Circular Economy is as the proverb goes “Killing two birds with one stone”, solving two major crisis our human race is facing, on our planet Earth.
Within the Circular Economy, there are further niche processes that can be implemented. There is Recycling, which is most commonly heard of, Upcycling, the process that is solving various industrial issues in its stride, and Downcycling, which is also an important process in waste management. Delving deeper into each process will give us a well-informed perspective on which form is most efficient and scalable.
The “Recycling” definition states that it is the process of the conversion of waste material into useful material. Recycling is usually used as an umbrella term for all processes of creating new material from waste. There are quite a few nitty gritties that come into play while talking about Recycling that needs to be addressed to reach an effective solution. Recycling involves breaking down materials or processing materials through some form of treatment to produce a “recycled” material that can be used to create new products. There are three forms of recycling; the three main types of recycling are mechanical, energy and chemical.
Each of these is further divided into minor categories, but understanding these processes will provide a better idea of how the world processes most of its recyclables. Each of these follows the same basic steps of processing where the first step is collection and separation of waste, and sorting it by type of material and cleaning level required; the second is the reuse bit when the prepped material is processed through one of the three types of recycling-listed procedures and is reverted back into raw material; and finally, the waste transformation when this raw material becomes a finished product again.
Recycling is the preferred option when plastic and its many derivates are involved. Plastic is a non-biodegradable compound, it never breaks down entirely and will not get reabsorbed into our planet’s energy cycle. Therefore, plastic needs an external force to be broken down hence Recycling plastic is viewed as our main option. And when plastic gets broken down to its basic form, it may be converted into a plethora of new products in multiple industries. It is argued that recycling, in whatever form, is a high-energy consuming process and the cost of which is a major discouragement for mainstream adoption. That being said, there is a significant increase in mainstream companies turning their focus on recycled products to meet the steadily growing demand for planet-friendly goods and production processes to cater to the needs of the conscious consumer. Even so, it is long, uphill climb, battling the likes of greenwashing and finicky consumer trends.
On that note, Upcycling seems to be the best option for repurposing material that cannot, more so, should not be recycled. Fabric waste is the highest polluter in landfills, right after food waste. Fabric is usually an organic compound and is biodegradable. But this process of say pure organic cotton taking anywhere between a week to five months to degrade, is indefinitely extended when blended with polymer-based fabrics. Therefore it is rendered non-biodegradable and the discarding of this material needs to be handled more efficiently than throwing it into incinerators.
Upcycling definition states that it is the act of taking something that is no longer in use and giving it a second life and new function. In doing so, the finished product often becomes more practical, valuable and beautiful than what it previously was. Upcycling is by far the most reliable, cost-effective method of repurposing materials. With materials like fabric, rubber and wood whose value will drastically decrease if it is broken down, it is more viable to invest in a process that will cater to the use of these materials and valorize the new products created from them, thereby making Upcycling the norm.
Investing in Upcycling is beneficial to all involved. The transition to using upcycled as opposed to virgin raw material can be made seamless with just a bit of extra effort, maybe some tweaks in the production processes and most importantly, skill training. Upcycling is almost intrinsic to basic human behavior and traits. Our ancestors have tried and tested this, their efforts impacting us even today. Making these changes will inevitably have teething problems but it is critical to stick with it and implement and incentivize these changes for a better, cleaner process in the long run.
Downcycling, the not so popular but integral method of repurposing is often ignored as it involves the obvious de-valuation of the materials post-processing. This method is usually kept as the last resort but is definitely preferable than the waste ending up in landfills and returning to us indirectly as pollution.
We cannot say for certain which template of repurposing is the best. This way of thinking defeats the very purpose of a Circular Economy. The ideal choice depends on the case and is mainly determined by the type of waste and local economic aspects. The focal point of this school of thought is to ensure any and all material is used to its maximum potential until it is discarded responsibly.
The Recycling process will work best with plastic and its derivatives as it is the only way that plastic can retain some of its value and be repurposed in multiple ways, adding to its potential for scalability. For example, PET bottles are processed to create activewear and shoes; Engineers and scientists working together to create parts for aircraft using recycled plastic is a major step forward. Upcycling on the other hand, is best suited for materials like fabric, rubber and wood. Fabric is used to create upcycled fashion, with upcycled clothes and shoes, and so on; Rubber as long-lasting and durable bags for travel and daily use; Reclaimed wood being turned into unique, statement furniture pieces are all excellent forms of upcycling that adds value to the product while making significant changes for the better in the creation process, all while helping reduce our impact on our planet Earth.
Downcycling cannot be ignored as it takes care of the end zone, where it manages the waste that cannot be recycled or upcycled. The best example of downcycling is breaking down glass pieces to their coarse, rudimentary form to create sand, to refill the quickly depleting beaches, the sandbanks of our world.
The fact is that actually all of these three techniques complement each other. None of them are capable of recycling 100% waste. As you can see, our past actions have brought us to this point where it may seem like we are given a choice between two difficult options. Will it be the lion’s den or the drop off the steep cliff? We often forget that we do have a third choice. To step back and analyze how we got to this point, look at the big picture and pave the way forward from there.
We need to break out of our delusions of comfort and convenience and begin to appreciate the value of each and every item that makes our life, well livable. Putting in an extra little effort and doing some research never hurt anyone. In fact, it will lead us to form a deeper connection and appreciation for everything around us.