你相信么？毫不起眼的“小垃圾”可变身为装饰家里的“大宝贝”；

不用花钱买材料，还能充分调动想象力和动手能力，顺带喜提沉浸式DIY的乐趣；连环保人士和设计“砖家”看了都要直乎内行。

今天的Buzzword 就和这有关，要说的是 Upcycling.

Just by hearing this word, you might be able to guess that upcycling has something to do with recycling, upcycling also known as creative reuse.

Upcycling中文翻译成“升级再造”, 也就是把已经用旧了或者不能用的东西加入一点想象力和创造力, 把它升级再造成一个新的东西, 以实现物品材料循环再利用的目的.

Upcycle

By definition, upcycle means to recycle or reuse something in a way that increases the original object's value. In short, upcycling is taking something old and creating something new.

Now you might be asking since there is upcycling, is there downcycling？

Of course, the best way to understand upcycling is actually to compare it to downcycling.

Upcycling

VS

Downcycling

其实说到downcycling, 有的时候被翻译成降级再造, 也就是我们传统上理解的这种循环回收, 再利用Recycling.

在这种传统的降级再利用里, 一般就是把材料回收之后, 通过再次的加工生产出一个价值较低的产品。

比如说回收的旧报纸之类的纸类就会被recycle或者downcycle成一些品质要求较低的纸制品；

而对比之下, upcycling升级再造就指的是在循环再造的过程中, 会通过创意和设计让被回收的旧物或者旧材料拥有更高的价值。

比如说用回收的塑料瓶做成鞋子, 或者把回收的木材做成高品质的家具。

Downcycling is the kind of recycling we usually think of—recycling paper or plastic, for example.

These materials are broken down and reused to create a product that is considered less valuable than the original.

For example, most recycled paper, like old newspapers, is considered to be lower-grade paper.

Upcycling is the same process of reusing old materials, but it creates something more valuable or of a higher quality.

Examples of upcycling include using materials from plastic bottles to make new shoes or reclaimed wood to make quality furniture.

升级回收的好处

Benefits of Upcycling

”

Another reason why upcycling is pretty popular is because it supports a circular economy.

This is a system in which goods are used and reused multiple times rather than getting discarded or thrown away after one use.

This system is more sustainable because it relies on using what we already have rather than constantly creating new products out of new materials.

The idea of upcycling started in mid 90s, and there are some clear benefits of it.

Circular Economy, 这种循环经济就跟我们现在都在关心的sustainability, sustainable living, 可持续的生活方式息息相关。

1

最大程度地减少对于自然资源的使用

Minimizes the Extraction of Natural Resources

因为upcycle用的都是现成的、已经有的回收再利用的东西, 所以既不需要使用更多的原材料, 也不需要去生产更多的合成材料。

When you upcycle something, you reduce the need to extract raw materials or create synthetic materials because you already have what you need.

Think about how many trees we can save if all our furniture is made with pre-used wood.

2

第二个好处是可以减少垃圾填埋

Upcycling Can Reduces Landfill Waste

虽然我们平时扔垃圾的时候会注意可回收和不可回收, 可是那种downcycling的回收通常都有一个限度, 比如塑料制品一般来说downcycle一两次最后还是要被丢到垃圾填埋区, 就会造成很大的污染.

It saves your original product from a fate in the landfill.

Even if the original product is recyclable, plastic can only be downcycled once or twice before the product breaks down.

And eventually these recyclables still end up in landfill which can be harmful, especially if they aren't biodegradable.

But with upcycling, you don't actually throw things away or break them down. You are turning them into something that can be used and can last much longer.

3

一定程度地减少碳排放

Less Manufacturing, Fewer Carbon Emissions

因为upcycling里面很多需要的是个人的创意, 而不是工业性的生产, 所以也可以一定程度地减少碳排放。

Recycling or downcycling is good, but it still produces carbon emission.

So compared with that, upcycling seems to be a better option.

升级回收的例子

What Can Be Upcycled?

”

Now still, you might be a bit confused as in what we can do as individuals to upcycle.

So here are some ideas for you to start with.

01

Upcycling Plastics

For example, used plastic bottles, instead of throwing them in the recycling bin, you might actually turn them into watering cans, a pot for your plants, a little plastic lantern, plant holders;

Or if you're creative enough, even repaint them and turn them into accessories.

Upcycling Clothing &Textiles

02

For old clothes like an old T-shirt, you can re-fashion them, maybe stitch different pieces together.

If you just do a quick search on social media, you'll get many fashion tutorials to upcycle clothes and fabric scraps.

03

Upcycling Aluminum

Scrap aluminum can be used to create cooking pots and utensils.

Secondhand aluminum can also be used to create musical instruments, furniture, and vehicles.

Upcycling Glass

04

Glass that hasn't been mixed with any other materials can easily be recycled, but that hasn't stopped people from upcycling it as well.

Glass jars and bottles can be used to create household items such as vases, storage containers, and even planters for succulents.

沉浸式升级改造DIY的乐趣也许妙不可言。

So maybe instead of seeing upcycling as an environmental pursuit, see it as more of a creative challenge.

例句示范

Example 1：

-Upcycling is taking something that’s considered waste and repurposing it.

Example 2：

-The upcycling movement emerged from a growing concern about collective waste.