The earth’s continued ability to sustain life, and future economic activity, is threatened today more than ever by the way manufacturers continue to waste our natural resources. The majority of businesses continue to run their companies based on the cradle to grave business model where more than 90% of natural resources used in the manufacturing process become waste materials.

The definition of Upcycling is the repurposing of discarded or used materials into new products with a higher value.

Upcycling is a practice that allows people to think of new, innovative and entrepreneurial ways to re-purpose, not only material waste and discards, but still functional items.

Upcycling not only closes the recycling loop but helps the environment by eliminating:

The down-cycling of discarded materials
The use of virgin resources
Valuable recyclable materials from going into landfills

The process by which companies Upcycle is a five step process:

Identify Waste Materials

Define New Purpose

Collect, Disassemble and Clean

Design & Manufacture

Market New Product with Higher Value

Upcycling Process Loop:

The Upcycling loop is only completed when a new product enters the marketplace to be purchased by a consumer. The Upcycler focuses on this final stage of recycling by designing and marketing practical, stylish products that give a new life to waste materials.