Valuing the waste: Re-innovation through the lens of upcycling

The purpose of this paper is to introduce ‘upcycling’ – a well-known term within the design practice – to the field of re-innovation in public domains. In the simplest terms, upcycling is the practice of transforming by-products or waste elements into something of greater value. When we upcycle, we add value to something that is perceived of as disposable or of no value. This ‘valuing the waste’-mindset is highly relevant in public domains, we will argue. The paper investigates what perspectives emerge when approaching re-innovation through the lens of upcycling and claims that upcycling provides a much needed response to growth-biased innovation discourses in public domains.