Upcycled
The upcycled tag refers to the use of waste materials or by-products to create a new, useful product. Such processes give unwanted materials a second life. Instead of ending up in the waste stream, they are turned into products with higher value.
Note:
It is important to note the difference between recycling and upcycling. Recycling involves breaking down waste into raw materials that can be used to make a product. Examples include products made of recycled paper or plastic, since the discarded and used products (ie. plastic bottles, used paper) undergo a process of destruction and modification to become new raw materials.
Upcycling on the other hand reuses waste as it is without breaking it down into a base state. They are creatively used to make a product that has higher function and purpose than the waste’s original state. Examples include the use of sugarcane bagasse to make food packaging, or mango skin to make leather.