upcycle
verb
- convert waste into a higher quality product
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈʌpsaɪk(ə)l/
noun
Etymology: From up + cycle.
- A period of a cycle where something is increasing or improving.
“You could probably take care of yourself through the cycles but during the period when one of the upcycles—it should be an upcycle for your business—you just said you are going through a worse depression from that standpoint than a normal business depression?”
“The upcycle has lasted so long that many economists even doubt the old cycle theories. Others try to label the lull in 1962 and again this year as the downcycles.”
verb
Etymology: Blend of up- + recycle or possibly upgrade + recycle.
- To convert (waste materials, etc.) into new materials or products of higher quality and greater functionality.
“Recycling in many cases means "downcycling" – in particular cases, however, it can also mean "upcycling".”
“As I child I made thins from "nothing." If I didn't have any store-bought materials, I would go to my closet and cut up my least favorite article of clothing and make something new with it. It just made sense to use, reuse, upcycle and make things from scratch.”
- To promote into a more productive or useful role.
“One designer I know was known for his vibrant use of color in his fashions. When he purchased a weekend home not too far from me, he had this crazy idea to paint the bark of the trees in different bright shades. […] To me, this wasn't upcycling the Great Outdoors, but more like upchucking on it.”
“Friday night's crowning victory at The Hawthorns was the 25th in 30 league matches since Antonio Conte's decisive re-gearing of his team in September, the tactical switches that have coaxed such a thrilling run from this team of bolt-ons and upcycled squad players, most notably Victor Moses, who was dredged out of the laundry bin in the autumn to become a key part of the title surge.”