Do you know about upcycling and downcycling?
We must first review the definition of recycling in order to fully understand what upcycling and downcycling are.
We could define recycling as "making new from old" . This definition is not very scientific but it is accurate. The idea is to transform a product/material into another object/substance different from its predecessor. We then obtain a new object without reusing raw material, or very little. The second process is also to be able to reconstruct the same product, identically, from the old one. Isn't that crazy?
There are two different types of recycling: upcycling and downcycling. There is closed-loop recycling and open-loop recycling .
To better understand, let's take the example of a plastic bottle :
- In a closed loop , the plastic bottle will be recycled into a new plastic bottle, identical to the original one. It is therefore an infinite loop since the plastic is not "degraded" in nature but reused.
- In an open loop , the plastic bottle is transformed. This is an example of this in some textiles. Since these new materials are not subsequently recyclable, they will likely end up in a landfill. The loop is therefore not infinite .
So you're wondering, what do downcycling and upcycling have to do with it?
Downcycling and upcycling are actually recycling trends.
Downcycling involves recycling the material over and over again, causing it to lose its quality. The material will very rarely regain its original usefulness. For example, the paper in a book will be transformed into recycled paper. This is obviously more environmentally friendly , but of lower quality . Be careful, however, as a material of lower quality for one application may be of good quality for another. For example, take steel from cars. Once recycled, this steel can no longer be used due to safety standards in the automotive industry. However, it can be reused in construction. We therefore find a new use for it.
For upcycling , this process appeared in the 90s in developing countries. Upcycling is the use of end-of-life materials to make a product with added value . That is to say, we reuse a product that is no longer used, or can no longer be used, in order to make a useful product .
This method of recycling has a huge positive impact on the environment, as it allows for much less waste and reduces the amount of waste. The material isn't actually transformed; it's cut, twisted, and folded to create a new product. Upcycling is similar to "Do It Yourself," which involves creating an object yourself that you could find in a store.
And SAOLA in all this?
SAOLA shoes are neither upcycled nor downcycled .
We cannot talk about upcycling when we talk about SAOLA since the materials used in shoes are already recycled materials . Let's take the example of plastic bottles. These are first collected , whether in garbage cans or in nature, then are transformed into smaller and smaller chips before being transformed , without additional chemical substances, into granules . These are then melted and stretched like fabric. We are therefore in an open loop where, once the pair of SAOLA is obtained, it becomes complicated to recycle it like any type of shoe.
Nor can it be called downcycling , as the quality of the materials used in the shoes is not inferior to their previous function. The original material is used differently without altering its quality, quite simply.
But then, what type of recycling does SAOLA do?
We use open-loop recycling ! In fact, the materials are harvested from nature and then transformed into SAOLA sneakers. In complete transparency, we give a second life to these fossil materials, but it is still complicated to make this loop infinite . Nevertheless, we are on different paths that would allow us to achieve the utopia of switching to a closed-loop system.
Do you get the idea? Yes, indeed, we will soon be able to recycle your SAOLA shoes by reincorporating them into future collections. Although this is complicated to implement from a materials and logistics point of view, we are not giving up and are on the right track .
