The Earth’s system currently contains over 7.4 billion metric tons of plastic, a figure projected to surge to 40 billion metric tons by 2050. Each year, approximately 10 million metric tons of that plastic end up in the oceans.

In a world increasingly in need of more options for improving sustainability, people often hear about recycling as the solution to waste management. And yes, we should all recycle! However, upcycling—the creative reuse of waste materials into higher-value products—is proving to be a better alternative in many ways. Yet, upcycling still has significant challenges to overcome. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top 5 reasons why upcycling is better than recycling and dive into the challenges and opportunities associated with both practices.

How is upcycling different from recycling?

Why is upcycling is better than recycling? The top 4 reasons.

1. Energy Efficiency

Recycling is still regarded as more energy efficient than using virgin, raw materials. However, recycling still requires significant energy to break down and reprocess materials. The materials usually broken down, mechanically, which requires large energy inputs to turn machines that crush plastics back into pellet form. Then, these materials usually remelted back into new parts, again requiring large energy inputs.

Upcycling, however, uses materials as they are, reducing the carbon footprint of production. The energy inputs are usually significantly lower because the materials do not need to be converted back into their original raw material forms before reprocessing and product manufacturing.

2. Preserving Material Quality

Most popular plastic materials degrade in quality during recycling. Recycled polymer often have diminished toughness, modulus, and other structural properties compared to the original material. As a result, a significant amount of virgin polymer usually needs to be added together with the pellets from recycled plastic to produce a product with enough quality for its intended use.

Upcycling preserves the original integrity of the material, allowing for long-lasting reuse. In some cases, certain forms of upcycling even improve material quality. Some work on “functional upcycling” involves modifying existing waste materials chemically to change the material properties and enhance them for new uses. In this case, waste materials not broken down into their original starting materials to be reformed, as in recycling. In this way, the functional upcycling process is less energy intensive and requires less material consumption since waste materials are the source materials.

3. Encouraging Creativity and Innovation with One-of-a-Kind Designs

Upcycling is more than just a process; it’s a mindset that challenges us to view waste not as trash, but as a valuable resource waiting to be reimagined. By thinking outside the box, upcycling encourages innovation, creativity, and sustainable solutions that can reshape how we approach material use.

There are a variety of small-scale upcycled clothing producers, and some interesting organizations are even making blocks designed to replace concrete with ever-unique color structures. Canary Upcycled is working in this space as well, creating unique hats for outdoor enthusiasts.

4. Stronger Environmental Message

Upcycling sends a powerful signal about rethinking waste. By turning “trash” into treasure, it fosters a culture of environmental responsibility and sustainability.

Upcycling isn’t just about creating new products—it’s about reshaping our relationship with waste and fostering a more circular economy. Upcycling demonstrates how businesses and individuals can lead the charge toward sustainability, turning discarded materials into products that are practical, beautiful, and environmentally friendly.

For more inspiration, explore initiatives like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which promotes the circular economy and highlights innovative upcycling projects around the world.

By thinking outside the box, upcycling empowers us to address waste creatively, reduce our ecological footprint, and contribute to a healthier planet.

Challenges in plastic recycling.

Recycling plastics from postconsumer waste is challenging. In fact, currently less than 6% of recyclable plastics are actually recycled in the US. This is due to a variety of reasons, some of which are highlighted below.

• Contamination: Mixed plastics and non-recyclable waste can render entire batches unusable. For example, many plastic products contain functional additives (e.g., foaming agents, stabilizers, flame retardants, antistatic agents, plasticizers), colorants (e.g., pigments, dyes), and fillers (e.g., glass or carbon fibers, silica, calcium carbonate). Thus, they may harbor agents that kill enzymes and microbes, poison catalysts, release harmful by-products at high temperatures, and hamper demixing efforts during various recycling processes.
• Downcycling: Recycled plastics often become lower-grade products. The resulting polymer often has diminished toughness, modulus, and other structural properties compared to the original material. As a result, a significant amount of virgin polymer usually needs to be added when the recycled plastic is intended for use in its original application or eventually result in waste.
• Separation Challenges: Not all plastics are recyclable. This becomes a challenge in separating and sorting recyclable plastics from non-recyclable plastics. Some materials are chemically mixed, while others are mechanically combined that making separation difficult, and at times, impossible.

Challenges in plastic upcycling.

Upcycling, however, is also not without its challenges.

• Labor-Intensive: Transforming waste into new products often requires hands-on effort and creativity. Without standardized processes for many upcycled products, one-off designs require more labor, and, consequently, often dictate higher end-prices.
• Scalability: Custom upcycled items may be difficult to scale for mass production. The diversity in source material and its condition means scalability is very challenging to achieve for most upcycled products. This, again, often leads to higher end-prices and an inability to make meaningfully large impacts on waste reuse.
• Material Limitations: Some waste materials are harder to repurpose than others, limiting their upcycling potential. Thus, some materials, or parts of materials, must still be recycled or trashed.
• Market Perception: Consumers may undervalue upcycled products compared to brand-new ones, despite their eco-friendly benefits. For some products, this can command a higher price due directly to this eco-friendliness. However, especially for more functional products, the perception of lower quality leads to lower prices and lower demand.

Is upcycling better than recycling?

The answer depends on the context, but in many cases, yes! Upcycling avoids the energy pitfalls of recycling, keeps materials out of landfills, and encourages a shift in how we value resources. While both have their roles in a sustainable future, upcycling represents a proactive step toward a circular economy by extending the life of materials and reducing the need for raw resources.