What Is Downcycling?

We understand recycling as the practice of reusing materials to avoid creating waste. However, not all materials can be reused for their original purposes over and over again. Downcycling is a type of recycling that consists of reusing materials in alternative applications of lesser value. Also known as cascading or open-loop recycling, downcycling primarily repurposes materials that lose quality the more they are recycled. The practice is eco-friendly as it reduces and postpones the creation of waste, but does not entirely eliminate it.

You might be surprised to learn that when you recycle paper, wood, and most plastics, the material is often downcycled. But is that a bad thing? Let’s explore the sustainability of downcycling, beginning with a close look at how downcycling works.

Not all materials can be reused indefinitely without losing quality. This means that when an item is recycled and broken down– shredded, chipped, melted, or alike– some of the qualities that made the material appealing, such as transparency, color, or strength, are lost. Additionally, a fraction of the downcycled material is always lost in the process. The resulting material may no longer be fit for the same use or even industry, hence downcycling is often called “open-loop” recycling. The downcycled material is used in alternative applications outside of its original purpose.

For example, your discarded plastic bottle might not become another bottle because the recycled plastic is no longer transparent or food-safe. It could be melted into polyester thread for clothes, or turned into plastic lumber products such as lawn chairs and park benches.

Any material can be downcycled, or reused for an application of lesser value outside of its original purpose. Even materials that are 100% recyclable– meaning they can be reused nearly indefinitely without losing quality– like glass, aluminum and steel, can be downcycled. Downcycled materials are used across many industries from textiles to construction. 

Some materials are more commonly downcycled than others due to their tendency to lose quality when recycled.

Paper

Paper fibers can only be reused about five to seven times before becoming too short to maintain their quality. Instead, downcycled paper can be used to create paper towels, tissue paper, egg cartons, boxes, and alike.

Textiles

Textile elements such as clothing is often used to create insulation, carpet padding, baseball and softball filling, and more.

Concrete

Concrete can be crushed into small granules and used as gravel-like aggregate or road base.

Glass

While it is best to take advantage of the 100% recyclability of glass and avoid downcycling it, glass can also be crushed into aggregate.

Steel

When recycled in scraps, such as from other vehicles, steel can be reused in construction. Steel is 100% recyclable, but when it is contaminated or mixed with other metals, it is more likely to be downcycled.

Plastic

Plastic types such as HDPE, PP, and PET are often downcycled. However, polyethylene (PET) plastic is recognized as 100% recyclable for its ability to maintain quality through multiple cycles of reuse.

• Paper - Recycled paper cannot always be restored into white, durable paper. Paper fibers can only be reused about five to seven times before becoming too short to maintain their quality. Instead, downcycled paper can be used to create paper towels, tissue paper, egg cartons, boxes, and alike.
• Textiles - Textile elements such as clothing is often used to create insulation, carpet padding, baseball and softball filling, and more.
• Concrete - Concrete can be crushed and used as gravel-like aggregate.
• Glass - While it is best to take advantage of the 100% recyclability of glass and avoid downcycling it, glass can also be crushed into aggregate.
• Steel - When recycled in scraps, such as from other vehicles, steel can be reused in construction. Steel is 100% recyclable, but when it is contaminated or mixed with other metals, it is more likely to be downcycled.
• Plastic - Plastic types such as HDPE, PP, and PET are often downcycled. However, polyethylene (PET) plastic is recognized as 100% recyclable for its ability to maintain quality through multiple cycles of reuse. Therefore, recycled PET bottles can be reused for their original purpose more often.

When plastic is recycled, it can typically be turned into packaging products about one to two times before it becomes too degraded and needs to be downcycled. Even as it is reused for packaging, plastic suffers from some quality loss. PCR allows slightly degraded, used resin to become dependable containers.

PCR Plastic, short for post-consumer resin, is plastic that has been recycled, broken down into a resin, and used in the formation of new products. PCR items contain anywhere from 10% to 100% PCR, often supplemented by virgin resin. One of the downsides of certain PCR products is that the plastic tends to have a darker shade, an example of the loss of quality plastic can undergo during recycling. PCR products still make for excellent, durable and eco-friendly containers, with some even being suitable for food-use.

30% PCR

100% PCR

Once the plastic is too degraded to be used for packaging, it can be downcycled into carpet fibers, textile threads, plastic lumber, or car, truck, and railroad parts, among other things. Plastic lumber is used in the creation of park benches, outdoor furniture, fences, and other structures.

Downcycling is an eco-friendly method to keep materials in use, but it is not recognized as sustainable. Learn how current sustainability conversations address the importance of downcycling.

Downcycled materials cannot be sustained over time; instead, they gradually degrade with each use, eventually generating waste. This is why downcycling is recognized as an open-loop process as opposed to a closed-loop, circular one. When possible, it is better to recycle an item than downcycle it. Still, downcycling is an eco-friendly option when compared to discarding an item into a landfill.

Despite its challenges, downcycling is very much necessary in our world’s state of growing landfills. It promotes sustainability by taking advantage of materials until they are no longer a viable resource. By keeping materials in use, downcycling decreases the need for new raw materials and the energy it takes to produce them. Downcycling supplements existing waste-reducing efforts, so it is a great practice to upkeep alongside recycling and using sustainable materials.

At The Cary Company, we recognize the importance of quality, dependable containers and packaging that leave you feeling confident in your purchase. This includes providing options and alternatives for eco-friendly packaging, eco-conscious products for environment care, recycling equipment, and more.

However, we also recognize that providing options for eco-friendly containers is only one aspect of a sustainable mindset. We want to equip you with the knowledge of proper, effective recycling methods as well as creative reuses for your containers. Visit our other articles for more!

Have any questions? Interested in finding a specific product? Contact one of our product specialists available to answer any questions and recommend products for you. Give us a call at 630-629-6600 or email us at sales@thecarycompany.com.

Explore The Cary Company's sustainable containers, products, and services in our enlightening guide...

Understanding RIC plastic codes helps you easily distinguish what type of plastic can be recycled...

Do you have rust on your drums? Are you unsure how to get rid of it and continue to use your drums?...

Empty pill bottles risk joining billions of discarded plastic bottles in landfills. They can be recycled, but...

Want to recycle your paint cans in a way that will take your safety and the planet's into consideration...

The U.S. oil industry produces more than 7 billion barrels of oil per year. These containers can last...

Being prepared and knowing how to respond to an oil spill is a crucial element of spill prevention...

Thanks to the durability of 5 gallon plastic buckets, they can be repurposed for a variety of outdoor uses...

Glass is a non-toxic, all-natural substance that can be 100% recycled over and over again... 

There are a wide variety of ways to use and reuse the five gallon buckets you have...