We've all heard about the importance of recycling — it's a message that is constantly in front of us, whether it's the triangular recycling symbol on the packaging or an advertisement for an eco-friendly product. But, if we truly want to reduce our waste footprint, we need to think beyond recycling and also consider waste reduction, reuse and repurposing (upcycling), says Re.Bag.Re.Use. 

With Global Recycling Day on Tuesday, 18 March, now is the perfect time to explore what the waste economy is really about and how we can all play a role in it, adds the organisation. 

As a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), Polyco helps ensure more plastic is collected, processed and kept in the recycling value chain. "Almost everything we throw away could have a second life. With new regulations like the Extended-Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, products and packaging are being designed with recyclability in mind. This means that majority of products can and should be recycled," says Patricia Pillay, Polyco CEO. 

But it doesn't stop with recycling. With a bit of creativity products and packaging, in many instances, can be upcycled. Re.Bag.Re.Use says it has seen so many exciting innovations in the upcycling space.

Global Recycling Day highlights the power of rethinking waste. Understanding the difference between recycling and upcycling allows us to see opportunities where we can close the loop on waste, says the organisation. 

According to the organisation, this difference comprises:

Recycling breaks materials down into their core elements to create something entirely new. For example:

  • glass bottles → new glass jars and windows
  • aluminium cans → bicycle frames and airplane parts, and 
  • plastic bread bags → pipes, rubbish-bin liners and even furniture. 

Upcycling keeps materials as they are, simply transforming them into something useful. For example:

  • glass bottles → decorative vases or drinking glasses
  • aluminium cans → DIY stationery holders, and
  • plastic bread bags → crocheted shopping bags have become a popular functional item that is replacing plastic shopping bags. 

Both processes reduce waste and contribute to a secondary resource economy, but they do so in different ways. Recycling breaks materials down and reshapes them into entirely new products, whereas upcycling preserves the original material, giving it a fresh purpose.

Although recycling remains the top priority due to its scalability and long-term impact, upcycling plays an important role in extending the lifespan of plastic before it eventually enters the recycling value chain 

"For us at Blue Ribbon, it's about making the most of every material," says Stephanie Hoy, Marketing Executive for Bakeries at Premier FMCG. "Our bread bags are 100% recyclable, and we actively support responsible recycling. But at the same time, we love seeing upcycling projects like Re.Bag.Re.Use giving plastic a second life before it reaches a recycling facility. It's about sustainability with impact."

Not every piece of plastic makes it into the recycling system right away. That's why Blue Ribbon proudly supports upcycling initiatives like Re.Bag.Re.Use, which collects used bread bags and transforms them into crocheted, functional products — all while creating jobs and empowering women in the community, says Re.Bag.Re.Use. 

"We take something that would usually be thrown away and turn it into something beautiful and practical," says Regine le Roux, Founder of the Re.Bag.Re.Use initiative. "Upcycling isn't just about reusing plastic — it's about creating opportunities, promoting material sustainability and finding value in our waste." 

Re.Bag.Re.Use concludes that on this Global Recycling Day, let's rethink waste together — because every bag, bottle and can has more to give.

For more information, visit www.rebagreuse.com. You can also follow Re.Bag.Re.Use on Facebook or on Instagram.

*Image courtesy of contributor