What are the differences between upcycling and recycling ?
One revalues and the other transforms
Syne opts for upcycling, which is often confused with recycling. These two approaches define the management of end-of-life objects and materials.
However each one has a different process:
Upcycling: keeps the material intact to enhance its usefulness.
Recycling: industrially transforms the material to create a new one.
We suggest you delve into the subject in order to better understand which are the good methods to promote!
Upcycling
Upcycling involves using objects and materials intended for destruction to give them a second life.
For example a wooden pallet that we transform into a shelf.
We therefore revalue the object without degrading its material. This avoids creating a new product, thereby saving energy and raw materials required for a manufacturing process.
We are talking about the circular economy and reuse.
Upcycling
Upcycling involves using objects and materials intended for destruction to give them a second life.
For example a wooden pallet that we transform into a shelf.
We therefore revalue the object without degrading its material. This avoids creating a new product, thereby saving energy and raw materials required for a manufacturing process.
We are talking about the circular economy and reuse.
Recycling and its energy
Recycling consists in recovering and industrially transforming the material of several products of the same component to then create a new raw material.
Plastic bottles, for example, are compacted, crushed, to obtain plastic flakes, which will be washed and then melted to create new bottles.
Facts to know on recycling
Unlike upcycling, recycling has a few caveats that await improvement over the years to come.
-> This process requires industrial energy and substantial natural resources to arrive at a usable material.
-> It induces a loss of quality of the finished product compared to the initial product.
-> Recycling is underdeveloped in France, some of our waste deposited in yellow bins or said to be recyclable is sent to other countries for recycling.
-> The recycled material must be made from 100% of the same material. Light mixing prevents the component from being recycled.
Facts to know on recycling
Unlike upcycling, recycling has a few caveats that await improvement over the years to come.
-> This process requires industrial energy and substantial natural resources to arrive at a usable material.
-> It induces a loss of quality of the finished product compared to the initial product.
-> Recycling is underdeveloped in France, some of our waste deposited in yellow bins or said to be recyclable is sent to other countries for recycling.
-> The recycled material must be made from 100% of the same material. Light mixing prevents the component from being recycled.
Conclusion
Upcycling is found to be a less polluting solution than recycling, which today requires natural resources and industrial energy.
It is nevertheless important, in the analysis of a product, to be concerned with its entire production chain. The materials are a fundamental point, but the garment factories, the means of transport of the products and the packaging used are also to be taken into account.
Watch out for greenwashing, the big brands that are going green may be trying to make a good impression without real intention. It’s up to you to judge by finding out about the number of collections produced, their countries of manufacture, their transparency, their commitments and future ambitions.
