In the guide below, we list the potential pros and cons of upcycling & downcycling.
Summary – Pros & Cons Of Upcycling & Downcycling
Firstly, What Are Upcycling & Downcycling?
We’ve provided definitions of upcycling and downcycling in this guide, and also compared upcycling and downcycling to recycling in this guide.
Potential Pros
Both Might Provide Options To Manage Waste Where Other Waste Management Options Aren’t Possible Or Unsuitable
Upcycling Might Be Used Where Downcycling Isn’t Possible Or Suitable, & Vice Versa
Both Might Have Sustainability & Eco Benefits
Both Might Have Economic Benefits
Upcycling Has Been Used In Developing Regions For Years
Upcycling Has Gained More Awareness Online In Recent Years
Potential Cons
Other Waste Management Options May Be More Practical, More Feasible, Or Better In Some Instances
Both Might Have Some Sustainability & Eco Drawbacks
Both Might Have Some Economic Drawbacks
Upcycling Isn’t Practiced Commercially At Large Scales Yet
There’s Limited End Uses For Downcycled Material & Waste
There’s Only So Many Times Some Materials Can Be Downcycled
Potential Pros Of Upcycling & Downcycling
Both Might Provide Options To Manage Waste Where Other Waste Management Options Aren’t Possible Or Unsuitable
For example, not all waste is recyclable, and some waste is unsuitable to recycle for various reasons.
In this instance:
– The waste might be upcycled into something of higher value
– The waste might be downcycled into a use other than what the item or material was originally used for
Upcycling Might Be Used Where Downcycling Isn’t Possible Or Suitable, & Vice Versa
Not all materials can be upcycled practically or profitably, and vice versa for downcycling.
In this instance, the alternate option – either upcycling or downcycling – might be practical or profitable instead.
Both Might Have Sustainability & Eco Benefits
There might be a range of sustainability and eco benefits to both upcycling and downcycling, including but not limited to:
– Total Resources Consumed & Inputs Used
Some forms of upcycling and downcycling may use less resources and inputs, including less energy, water, or raw material use.
– Resource Depletion
In instances where both upcycling and downcycling don’t involve the use of virgin resources or raw materials, they may help conserve resources in general (and contribute to sustainable resource management)
These processes may also rely less on finite resources than new products.
Both of these things might help address resource depletion in different ways.
– Environmental Pollution & Degradation
In some instances, upcycling and downcycling may involve less mining and agriculture (for the supply of raw materials and virgin resources).
In some instances, they may also involve less manufacturing.
Less resource extraction and production, and less manufacturing (which involves the generation of waste), may mean that there’s a smaller environmental and waste pollution footprint for upcycling and downcycling in some instances compared to producing new products.
As examples, there may be reduced emissions, air pollution, and water pollution.
From a waste disposal perspective, upcycling and downcycling materials may also have a more positive eco footprint compared to burning waste, or sending it to landfill.
– Compatibility With Some Other Sustainability Concepts
For example, both upcycling and downcycling would be compatible practices with sustainability concepts such as zero waste, a circular economy, and a green economy
Zero waste places an emphasis on waste prevention and waste reduction, amongst other priorities.
Upcycling and downcycling are both practices which can align with these priorities.
Both Might Have Economic Benefits
– Creating Value & Utility For Waste They May Not Have Had Any Otherwise
Waste that is simply sent to landfill may have no further utility or value to offer.
Waste or materials that are upcycled or downcycled can be used again, and in this instance, they:
– Provide economic opportunity to those who provide upcycled or downcycled products and services
– Offer utility and value to the end user
Upcycling and downcycling therefore create their own sub sectors in the economy.
– Generates Income & Employment
Some companies have managed to turn a profit commercially upcycling or downcycling some materials.
Some companies are also able to sell waste products from their processes to other producers who can use them for production. This creates an additional income stream for them.
wikipedia.org notes that in some instances, ‘[Brewer’s spent grain, which is a waste product from brewing processes, can be sold for a] profit of approximately 20% of the operational costs [and upcycled as] substrate in biogas processes’
Individuals can also generate an income for themselves by upcycling and downcycling waste and using it for different forms of economic activity. This can be common in regions of the world with less economic opportunity.
Upcycling & Downcycling Have Been Used In Developing Regions For Years
In regions where there isn’t as much economic opportunity, or where resources are more scarce, upcycling and downcycling have been practiced for years.
People living in these regions don’t always have the option to access or purchase new resources and materials, so, it might be a necessity to reuse materials (rather than just an option).
Upcycling Has Gained More Awareness Online In Recent Years
Various stats show that upcycling is an activity and topic that has gained increasing awareness in recent years across various online platforms
wikipedia.org provides stats that show this growth between 2010 to 2013 specifically
Potential Cons Of Upcycling & Downcycling
Other Waste Management Options May Be More Practical, More Feasible, Or Better In Some Instances
For example:
– Some materials might be better and more profitable to recycle (like some types of metals)
– It might be better to burn some materials and waste, or discard them to landfill, where upcycling or downcycling isn’t practical or feasible
Both Might Have Some Sustainability & Eco Drawbacks
– Still Use Resources & Inputs
Upcycling and downcycling can still involve processing to make the final product, or to increase the quality of the material
These processes and activities may use energy, water, and other resources and other inputs.
The question has to be asked for example as to whether more resources are used for upcycled and downcycled products compared to virgin products.
– Waste Generation & Emissions
There’s also the generation of waste to consider from the above processes.
– Pollution
Waste and emissions leads to different forms of waste pollution and environmental pollution.
– Overall Sustainability & Eco Footprint
Simply collecting and dumping or burning some materials and waste may have a lower eco footprint than upcycling or downcycling in some instances.
Both Might Have Some Economic Drawbacks
– Cost
In some instances, upcycling and downcycling may be less feasible from a cost perspective compared to other waste management options like landfill and incineration.
– Profit & Business Feasibility
Additionally, upcycling and downcycling may not be as profitable or cost competitive compared to some new products made with virgin material.
Upcycling Isn’t Practiced Commercially At Large Scales Yet
There can be a number of practical and economic challenges to making upcycling a profitable and feasible business
Materials have to be suitable, and the time and cost invested in upcycling have to either be less than the price the upcycled product can be sold for, whilst also being cost competitive with new products and other competing products
Companies want to see profitability and that the economics of upcycling work before starting businesses and scaling them up
For these reasons and others, upcycling is practiced at scale yet in some countries
There’s Limited End Uses For Downcycled Material & Waste
Because downcycling involves using materials and waste in a manner where their quality or value is lower than their original use, there’s only so many applications for downcycled materials
The applications have to be compatible with using materials of lower quality or that contribute to a lower value product
There’s Only So Many Times Some Materials Can Be Downcycled
Some materials lose their quality or structural integrity everytime they are downcycled
Therefore, some materials can only be downcycled a limited number of times before they inevitably end up having to be sent to landfill or incinerated anyway
With this being the case, downcycling might be considered a short term option for reuse only, before other options have to be pursued
Sources
1. Various ‘Better Meets Reality’ guides
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downcycling
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upcycling
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