What is the difference between upcycling and recycling? What you need to know to choose a sustainable lifestyle

As "eco-friendly living" and "sustainable choices" become more commonplace, we are seeing the words "upcycling" and "recycling" more and more often.
These two words may seem similar at first glance, but they both have in common the idea of ​​"reusing things," but surprisingly few people understand what they mean.

In this article, we will explain the differences and roles of each, as well as the benefits and difficulties we have actually experienced, and tell you what perspective to consider when choosing.

What is upcycling? How to increase the value of reused items

Upcycling is the idea of ​​giving new value and function to materials that are no longer needed or would otherwise be discarded.
It is not simply about reusing, but rather about adding ideas and designs to the original materials and reconstructing them into more attractive forms, which can also be described as "upcycling = reusing with added value."

For example, there are many different examples, such as dismantling old jeans and remaking them into bags and pouches, or remaking the fabric of an old tent and turning it into accessories for an outdoor brand.
In upcycling, the emphasis is on transforming materials into new products while preserving their original shape, texture, and feel.

What's even more noteworthy is that the "background story" and "manufacturing process" themselves have value. For example, "This bag was made from a tent that was going to be discarded." The appeal of upcycling is that users can also enjoy the "history of the item."

In recent years, upcycling techniques have been widely adopted by apparel brands and miscellaneous goods manufacturers both in Japan and overseas, and are attracting attention as a way to combine environmental considerations with individuality.
This trend will likely continue to spread in the future as a way of life that values ​​things, as opposed to mass production and mass consumption.

What is recycling? A circular system that "returns" materials

Recycling is a system in which used items are returned to their original material state and then reused as raw materials.
In other words, "recycling" means reusing materials .

Specifically, typical processes include collecting used magazines and documents and turning them into recycled paper, and crushing used plastic bottles into finely ground fiber material.
The "separate collection of recyclable waste" that we often see in our daily lives is part of a social system that is based on recycling.

The greatest strength of recycling is its efficiency in processing and reusing large amounts of resources at once. Because it reprocesses materials individually, the same raw materials can be reused to make a variety of products, and it is widely adopted at the corporate and local government levels.

However, recycling also poses challenges, such as the energy and cost required for reprocessing. For example, recycling plastic requires multiple processes such as cleaning, sorting, and processing, and in some cases, new resource inputs are required.
Also, depending on the condition of the original material, the quality may deteriorate, so reuse does not always necessarily mean environmentally friendly.

However, recycling plays a very important role as part of the resource circulation that is deeply rooted in our daily lives. Materials such as paper, metal, and plastic are particularly effective for recycling, and can be used more effectively by sorting them correctly and understanding the circulation flow.

What is the difference between upcycling and recycling?

Upcycling and recycling both have in common the idea of ​​"reusing things instead of throwing them away." However, their purposes and approaches to reuse are very different, so it's important to understand the characteristics of each.

First of all, upcycling means reusing something to increase its value. It refers to making use of the material and shape, while also devising a design and use to turn it into an item that is even more appealing than the original. For example, an old shirt can be transformed into a tote bag, or scrap wood can be made into a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture. It is characterized by a strong creative element.

Recycling, on the other hand, is a system of reusing materials. Things are first broken down and returned to their original materials, such as paper, metal, and plastic, which are then reborn as new products. Typical examples are recycled paper and fibers from recycled PET bottles.

The differences between each are summarized in the table below.

item	Upcycling	recycling
meaning	Reusing and increasing the value of items while preserving their original shape and materials	Disassemble and process it once and reuse it as a material
Features	Emphasis on one-of-a-kind items, high design quality, and storytelling	It is capable of mass processing and is widely used in society
merit	Enjoy unique products and products with a story behind them	Large-scale resource recycling is possible and linked to social infrastructure
Disadvantages	It can be time-consuming and costly, and processing techniques are required	Energy consumption may occur during playback
Suitable uses	Fashion accessories, furniture, art, and other unique occasions	Areas where material recycling is important, such as paper, metal, and plastic

Actual challenges and realizations

I have tried my hand at upcycling products and simple DIY projects myself, but I have also come across some challenges.

✔ It didn't look as stylish as I thought it would.

I got the impression that it required some ingenuity in materials and shapes, and that if it wasn't presented properly it would just look like "something old."

✔ I was confused by the price gap

Many of the products are more expensive than recycled ones, which overturns the preconceived notion that "reused = cheap." I felt that it was difficult to convey the reason for the price without understanding the background and story.

✔ It takes a lot of time and effort

You might think, "It'll be OK if I just remake it," but there are more steps than you'd imagine, such as pre-processing, sewing, and assembly, so it can be difficult to enjoy casually.

Through these experiences, I realized that upcycling is not just about reusing things, but that creativity and the ability to communicate are also important.

Which to choose? Decision points

Upcycling and recycling are not superior or inferior to each other, but rather they play different roles. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Situations where recycling is suitable

If you want to efficiently recycle large amounts of resources, or if you want to obtain everyday items and items related to daily life infrastructure at low cost,

Situations where upcycling comes into play

When you want to prioritize design and individuality When you want to choose a product with a story When you want to cherish the "traces that someone made it"

Whichever you choose, going a step beyond just buying something on a whim and making a choice after learning about the background is the first step towards a sustainable lifestyle.

Summary: Knowing the differences gives you the power to choose

Both upcycling and recycling are methods born from the idea of ​​"using things carefully."
However, there are differences in their approaches and the values ​​they place on them.

There was a time when I thought that "reuse = all the same," but knowing the background and methods changes the way you see things.
By simply changing the criteria you use to make your selections, such as what materials are used and what kind of thought went into making them, you can add meaning and enjoyment to your everyday shopping.

And if you're interested in upcycling, we'd love for you to take a look at the projects our brand is working on.
We introduce items that make the most of the characteristics of the materials and are created with unique ideas.

▶︎ rerer | Upcycling project here