Post by PLASTICS (Plastics Industry Association)

What if we've been thinking about "upcycling" and "downcycling" all wrong? In an op-ed for Recycling Today, PLASTICS' Senior Vice President of Sustainability & Policy Patrick Krieger makes the case that these terms are doing more harm than good. Turning plastic waste into a luxury product is celebrated as "upcycling," but turning plastic film into durable composite lumber rarely gets the same praise. Dismissing durable products like park benches, asphalt, and railroad ties as "downcycled" undervalues real innovation that keeps plastic waste out of the environment for years and sometimes decades. Instead of debating whether a recycled product is "upcycled" or "downcycled," perhaps we should ask a simpler question: Does the material stay in use? It's a timely reframe as recycling policy conversations continue to evolve. Read Patrick's full take. 👇 https://hubs.la/Q04nFgrS0