Upcycling

Turning material headed for disposal into something of higher value. Distinct from recycling.

How it differs from recycling

Recycling breaks material back down into feedstock and makes new products from it. That usually costs energy, and quality degrades a little each cycle. Upcycling keeps the material's form and properties largely intact and redirects it into a different use. Skipping the breakdown step tends to mean less energy in.

In food, the typical inputs are coffee grounds, sake lees, okara, fruit peel and bamboo powder. They arise in volume, reliably, with known properties — which makes them practical to design around.

What to check

What the original material was, and where it came from
What proportion of the product is upcycled material
Product lifespan — a short-lived object undercuts the point
What happens at end of life: does it biodegrade, or go to general waste?