Upcycling techniques have gained attention for their environmental and resource conservation benefits, as they use ingredients that would not have gone to human consumption and are produced using verifiable methods. Upcycling food production is part of the food waste management hierarchy, which plays a crucial role in establishing policies. Regulations around upcycled food are expected to improve its public acceptability. Country-specific regulations may vary, with New Zealand and South Korea having varying regulations. Upcycling contributes to reducing food waste, a pressing global issue, as approximately 40% of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. Preventing food waste is an effective solution to global warming, as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The financial cost of wasting food is estimated to be around USD 1 trillion per year globally, with additional environmental and social costs.
The success of upcycling depends on the consumer acceptability of these new products. Consumer studies and focus groups help assess perceptions of foods derived from upcycled ingredients, and understanding consumer preferences and educating the public about upcycled foods is essential for market growth.
Upcycling benefits various industries, including fashion, industrial design and furniture, home decor and interior design, electronics and technology, automotive industry, job creation and craftsmanship, packaging and containers, food industry, and construction and architecture. By utilizing upcycling, designers can create new products, reduce food waste, and promote sustainability.
Upcycling food is a sustainable approach to repurpose food waste into valuable ingredients or products. It involves repurposing surplus food into new, nutritious products for human consumption, contributing to the circular economy. Food waste is a significant global issue, with approximately 30% of all food produced being lost or wasted annually. Upcycling helps prevent this waste by creating high-quality products from surplus food. Preventing food waste is the most effective solution to curb global warming by more than 2 degrees Celsius. Companies convert discarded food into valuable ingredients, which can be used in their own products or sold to other companies. Upcycled food is often cheaper for buying companies than purchasing raw ingredients. As consumers, we can play a role in preventing food waste by supporting upcycled food products and contributing to building a sustainable food system for the future.
In the electronics industry, upcycling is a crucial approach to address the growing problem of electronic waste (e-waste). In 2019, 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste were dumped worldwide, containing valuable raw materials worth $57 billion. Only 17.4% of these materials were recycled, with the majority ending up incinerated or in landfills. The Circular Electronics Partnership (CEP) was established in 2021 to co-design solutions for a circular electronics industry, identifying 40 core barriers to sustainability and outlines pathways toward circularity. The Upcycled Certified Standard is a certification program that aims to reduce food waste and promote sustainability in food products. Key requirements include demonstrating that the product contains at least 10% upcycled inputs, a supply chain audit to verify the source of upcycled ingredients, information disclosure, and meeting or exceeding certification thresholds. # Author – Roohi Bali
