What is the difference between upcycling and recycling? I honestly wrote down my thoughts on it.

Recently, I've been hearing a lot of environmental terms like "upcycling" and "recycling." To be honest, at first I wasn't really sure which was which.

Although they seem similar, they are quite different in meaning and progression.
Since this seems to be relevant to my own life, I thought I would try to organize it properly.
In this article, rather than providing a complicated explanation, I will focus on summarizing the "real differences" that I felt when actually using the product.

What I realized about upcycling is this

Roughly speaking, upcycling is the idea of ​​"using the original material as it is while giving it a different purpose."

For example, you could use old tent fabric to make a bag, or remake old denim into something else. I think it's interesting how the atmosphere of the material itself, including scratches and quirks, can become a part of the material's character.

If you actually try it, you'll understand,
It's not as simple as "we just reused it," there is a proper process of "remaking" it.
It takes a lot of effort and reflects the sensibility of the person who made it.

That's why upcycled items are so special.

Impressions of recycling: It's essential to daily life, but it also feels like "factory work"

Recycling is the process of taking used items apart and reusing them as materials.
Things like recycling paper and turning plastic bottles into fiber all fall into this category.

The good thing is that you can do a lot of it.
It is a system that circulates resources at a societal level, so we benefit from it in our daily lives.

However, when I tried it (although it was just household-level sorting...)
Sometimes I think, "Not everything circulates smoothly."
Some require energy or the quality of the materials may deteriorate.

Unlike upcycling, it gives the impression of being a bit more of a "leaving it to a larger system."

To sum up the difference between upcycling and recycling in my own words:

Upcycling: Using the charm of the material as it is. Requires a little effort and a sense of style. Has a strong personality.

Recycling: Returning materials to their original state and reusing them. This is a large-scale social system.

Neither is better or worse, they just have different roles.
However, I think which one suits you better will depend on your purpose and lifestyle.

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

The "realistic" feeling I got from actually touching it

This is a difficult part to write about, but I will be honest.

Sometimes, when it comes to upcycling, the finished product looks more normal than I expected.

It may seem like the price is low, but in reality, it is the opposite because there is a lot of work involved.

Recycling is convenient, but there are limits to how much a material can be reused.

I think these "non-logical aspects" are elements that can only come from actual experience.
That's why I made sure to include it this time.

✔ 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

Many people who search for "upcycling vs recycling" are probably wondering which one to choose.

I personally use them like this:

✔ Easy to adopt → Recycle

Just like separating trash, it's something that can be done naturally in daily life, so it's easy to continue.

✔ Want to find a story in your items → Upcycling

It feels like a one-of-a-kind item, and just owning it makes me feel a little better.

So, I think it's okay not to decide on the correct answer.

lastly

Knowing the difference between upcycling and recycling has changed the way I choose things a little.
I feel like I'm spending more time thinking about where the materials come from, rather than just shopping.

YUEN also has a project working on upcycling.
There's something genuinely fascinating about things that allow you to see the background of the material.
If you're interested, please take a look.

I feel like making more "slightly better choices" in my life makes me feel lighter.

▶︎ rerer | Upcycling project here