Talk:Upcycling/Archive 1

Move-Deletion
Page Upcycle should go here, in the same fashion as articles Recycling and Downcycling. Please delete page. Please also delete this (Upcycling Temporary Page), as a result of my mess. Jo9100 22:10, 14 June 2007 (UTC)
 * I agree. The Upcycle article have been moved to Upcycling over the original redirect. The page did not need deletion in order to move the article.Alan Liefting 23:06, 14 June 2007 (UTC)

Confusion on Plastics Example?
The example given in the fourth paragraph is ambiguous; its lack of intro leads one to believe that it pertains to the broadest possible topic (upcycling), but its content and proximity to examples of conventional downcycling can convince readers that it is an example of the opposite. Someone who knows which process the example pertains to should clarify. --Whiporwill (talk) 22:35, 26 July 2010 (UTC)

Definition
When Recyclable Materials are converted to a non-recyclable product those resources are destined for landfill or to be turned into biofuel. Is durability part of the definition or can recyclable material be crafted into a product for short-term use, and then discarded? Shouldn't the definition of Upcycle specify the use of non-recyclable waste materials? Perhaps the concept is useful to begin to teach the value of waste, and the importance of Reuse above Recycle, and I am putting too much thought into it. Like Earth Hour or Waste Reduction Week - these concepts are great for raising awareness but must eventually be outgrown. Please comment.EdmCPC (talk) 15:15, 5 April 2012 (UTC)

Alternative definition?
The idea of using waste for a better or fancier purpose isn't really distinct from recycling or the opposite of downcycling. Another definition that fits better with the Reiner Pilz story is this one from http://intercongreen.com/2010/02/17/recycling-vs-upcycling-what-is-the-difference/ : "Upcycling: A process that can be repeated in perpetuity of returning materials back to a pliable, usable form without degradation to their latent value, moving resources back up the supply chain." There's a clear diagram too. Should this sense be included in the article? Sssuuuzzzaaannn (talk) 23:01, 22 January 2014 (UTC)

I do not agree with the above definition. If the process can be repeated in perpetuity that is not up-cycling, that is re-using (or re-cycling). Think of a glass bottle. --Megustalastrufas (talk) 12:22, 23 January 2014 (UTC)
 * re-use: return to bottling plant to be washed and re-filled. The bottle does not change, nor does it lose value. This process may be repeated in perpetuity.
 * re-cycle: return to bottle-making factory to make new bottles with it. The bottle is crushed into glass powder as raw material. This is a full cycle and may be repeated in perpetuity.
 * up-cycle: you do something else with the bottle, and the result has a higher value. i.e. a lamp, a translucent wall, a vase, jewellery. There is a jump in value (the up- in up-cycle)
 * down-cycle: you do something else with the bottle, and the result has a lower value. i.e. landfill, bricks in a non-translucent wall, etc

The "adding of value" that you describe is the addition of personal value, but not environmental value. As far as the earth is concerned, a used bottle is no more environmentally valuable than lamp. Both are otherwise destined to be trash. Adding environmental value is by returning the material "up" the supply change and increasing its pliability--options for use--increasing the ways that it can avoid being waste. Upcycling has to increase environmental value. Tjcaine (talk) 03:13, 14 March 2014 (UTC)

TerraCycle
TerraCycle is a company in New Jersey that is currently promoting this concept and getting media coverage -- but does that make them worthy of mention in this article?-71.174.187.78 (talk) 15:22, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Okay Mpumi02 (talk) 09:11, 11 October 2015 (UTC)

How creative?
Wow... Just think reusing trash can make nice objects. It can the world a better place if more people do so. And it will be saving all plants and trees. Wow! Mpumi02 (talk) 09:11, 11 October 2015 (UTC)

Upcycling growth determined by... Etsy?
According to the final paragraph in the background section, "upcycling" is seeing growth and this claim is backed by an increase in users tagging their work on Etsy with "upcycle." This is not proof of growth. Only a trend. Maybe even a just an Etsy marketing tactic. I recommend this line either be removed or reworded to not imply that usage of a tag directly translates to growth. Jcmcc450 (talk) 12:30, 29 December 2014 (UTC)

How about making upcycling a trend? Mpumi02 (talk) 09:13, 11 October 2015 (UTC)

Great article, I never heard of upcycling. But...?
Can food recue also be a type of upcycling? Taking rotten food and converting it into fuel instead of throwing it into the landfills, for example. Another example is how food that is still edible but past expiration dates can be redistributed to food banks, the homeless, or even live stock. Using it for composting to feed the soil is also an alternative to it ending up in landfills where it does more harm than good. I linked the Upcycling page and the Food Rescue page in the 'see also' sections of both pages. Colenyj (talk) 18:12, 28 May 2018 (UTC)

Bad link in my edit summary
I swear I'll get the hang of wikilinks eventually! It doesn't help that preview doesn't include the edit summary. Sorry, my edit was for MOS:PERSON. Schazjmd (talk) 17:41, 29 December 2018 (UTC)