upcycle

verb

up·​cy·​cle ˈəp-ˌsī-kəl 

upcycled; upcycling

transitive verb

: to recycle (something) in such a way that the resulting product is of a higher value than the original item : to create an object of greater value from (a discarded object of lesser value)

The line upcycles single-use plastic bags that are cleaned and brought in from Bali, Indonesia, and parts of California for use as the main material in the shoes. In the company's first year more than 175,000 plastic bags were reused to create footwear and accessories.

—Melissa Magsaysay

upcycling noun

Examples of upcycle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Phase one of the upfit includes an upcycling studio with space for 150 upcyclists, and clear windows, so customers can watch the process unfold. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026

The brand upcycles the black rice by-product of brewing makgeolli (Korean rice wine) to pack the product with antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. — Rosa Jisoo Pyo, InStyle, 2 Nov. 2026

At the start of the project, 64 percent of the 29 companies believed their textile waste was disposed of through preferred disposal methods like reuse, recycling, upcycling or downcycling. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026

Slaps Base is another leather shop that upcycles deadstock and salvaged car airbags into bags, shoes, belts, and more. — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1994, in the meaning defined above