The Upcycling concept is misleading on the first interview. By processing the plastic that way, the material is chemically degraded, so the process actually downcycle the material, make it less valuable in the long run. The PET plastic is no longer food grade after the process. This example is textual in the book "The Upcycle" from Braungart and McDonough. Upcycling means, after a process, we end adding value for the ecosystem (ie. Composting) or we improve the quality of the material. I think this misleading use of concepts in sustaintability is a problem, make it less concrete and more ambiguous. The recycling industry is kind of "greenwashing" by using the term "upcycling" for name anything basically

@SvenU2017

2 жыл бұрын

@the Economist: check out the Cradle to Cradle concept, that could really make a huge difference in the world!

@leohuba7825

2 жыл бұрын

I agree with you. Also what happens when you don´t want your shiny recycled sunglasses anymore? they are still waste but in a different shape? I mean the upside is, it didn´t come from a new material but still goes back in the trash cycle?

Everyone remember the classic „reduce, reuse, recycle“? I think it’s most important to keep that in mind and try our best with the first 2 steps before we put all our money on recycling, while still consuming more and more

@tomaszwida

2 жыл бұрын

yes all these recycle gimmicks are on increased consumption. because u know gdp will fall if u reduce it. reduction is a forbidden word in a economy as the system we have now would collapse if that was implemented

Seems it's a problem made by manufacturers, which responsibility to clean up should rest on manufacturers. I'm sure that a tax of 150% of the average cost of dealing with the trash would make companies quickly come up with schemes to re-use containers, re-purpose the waste, etc. In a context where it's almost impossible to go Zero Waste, individual consumers cannot shoulder this huge complication to their lives. Schemes to pick-up used containers, to recycle specific things, have to be as easy as possible, well supported and implemented. Alternative packaging and waste management options exist, it's a matter of closing the tap on this torrent of trash being pumped out of factories.

@keepingitwild5994

2 жыл бұрын

I'd say a 150% tax should be put on you too - as a consumer. Let's see what you make of it.

@tomaszwida

2 жыл бұрын

@@keepingitwild5994 o look a parott for a corporations. there are monopolies left and right if there is no altrtnative then lets blame a customer way to go. such an idiot ha

@ravenhummel8202

2 жыл бұрын

The problem is the consumer. No consumer, no manufacturer needed. Problem solved.

@ChowYewLoon

2 жыл бұрын

Great idea and also a bad idea! The tax will eventually passed back to the consumer!

@ravenhummel8202

2 жыл бұрын

@@ChowYewLoon The best way is to not be materialistic.

As shock therapy to become zero waste, we should all visit a dump site or recycling plant

Standardise packaging! Force packaging companies to only use aluminium, glass and cardboard and have them made to an international shape standard (Think a4 paper or soda can or shipping containers) if they're built to a standard recycling an aluminium box that contained cereal might only need to be washed out before being used again, less energy than melting and reforming it!

What about the criticism that upcycling could be a false solution-which would result in continued plastic production, rather than the needed switch, in so many cases, to nontoxic & genuinely biodegradable materials?

@melvinsujo8565

2 жыл бұрын

It’s better than nothing. And also more realistic than expecting people to transition off plastic without any profit motive.

@hvdveer

2 жыл бұрын

It ís a solution if it would be done right. Furthermore biodegradable packaging brings its own problems, so it's not right for everything.

The fire safety aspect in using these plastic products in commercial spaces is of concern. Besides that, how many times can a product be recycled?

@erincarr9411

2 жыл бұрын

Depends on the materials it is made of. Also, remember recycling requires energy

Thanks so much for sharing your video. From trash, to cash, & and then finding a treasure in what we throw away. Very informative.

@repentoryouwilllikewiseper8741

2 жыл бұрын

Repent to Jesus Christ “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ M

Taiwan has been doing a great job of recycling is because there are a number of volunteers who have rolled their sleeves in their spare time and committed to their beloved communities; in the meantime, they set up a great example to educate their families to do recycle.

@repentoryouwilllikewiseper8741

2 жыл бұрын

Repent to Jesus Christ “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ J

@ravenhummel8202

2 жыл бұрын

They wouldn't need to recycle, if the products were not created in the first place. A LOT of unnecessary products out there.

@gilconidaambat5917

2 жыл бұрын

@@ravenhummel8202 Yes. Who want to give up a part of their over consumption and comfort in the western world ? Here in a country of 110 million people is no recycling and and very little collecting of waste like plastic bottles and all kind of pollutants. Most of the garbage in a country of 7000 islands ends up in the ocean or are burned in backyards ........ Recycling in the 3th world should be ONE of the top priorities for the united (?) nations. As well as basic hospitals, classrooms and educated teachers. But I think that is asking too much. Windmills ,solar , electric cars are now the fashion to resolve the climate mess. Everybody happy ? For sure, I just bought an electric toothbrush. Best regards

@ravenhummel8202

2 жыл бұрын

@@gilconidaambat5917 I barely buy anything and there are a lot of people like me. You don't have to recycle if it was never purchased in the first place. I don't use plastic. Passive energy is the way to go, not the other types of energies that are merely using up resources quickly. Defeats the purpose of "green" energy, they aren't.

@gilconidaambat5917

2 жыл бұрын

@@ravenhummel8202 Since 30 years i wake up ,walk to the beach and clean the beach. The garbage is growing faster then the co2 level . I have seen the consumption and comfort society growing. Beginning the 90s there were only a few plastic bags and wrappers. After came up the first fast food trays, glasses, plastic bottles... from around 2000 I had to wear gloves with the arrival of the medicinal waste and pampers. Now its very international , a lot of things with chinese , korean arab and whatever writings. It hurt me. The toothbrush was only a joke because a lot of them end up over here. Best regards and may our tribe increase.

You should make a follow-up video about compostable materials. Those solve the trash problem by making resources for agriculture. If everything were compostable (hence biodegradable) we would have essentially no trash problem.

@teza5876

2 жыл бұрын

Even just using a regular compost bin for personal use means i generate a fair amount less waste.

Great feature on what new technology solutions are emerging from our huge waste problem! It's inspiring to see companies viewing waste as a "resource" and coming up with solutions for how to upcycle on a large scale....consumers are only one part of this behaviour change needed and can only do so much to solve the problem!

@alejandraparra3893

2 жыл бұрын

If we think on waste as a resource, we´ll keep producing it. And it is much much better not to produe waste than finding ways to use it. Remember: waste comes from nature that has been exploited somewhere.

@repentoryouwilllikewiseper8741

2 жыл бұрын

Repent to Jesus Christ “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬ J

We have plastic in out blood. Sounds like a problem.

@emilywright3454

3 ай бұрын

We inhale a credit cards worth a week I think that’s why there’s so much cancer nowadays tbh

Arthur is genuinely a genius at what he does. It's so clear he has a grounded passion for up-cycling and an easy logic to follow. Keep up the brilliant work!

“...more spending, more consumption...” The solution absolutely must include a reduction in consumption. Consumption is the root cause.

@sampy602

2 жыл бұрын

in goods that have no chance to be recycled, yes. Sadly though, a proposal of reducing the size of the economy will not happen in a democracy.

@erincarr9411

2 жыл бұрын

Yup, and so many economic structures require growth to work.

@naguoning

2 жыл бұрын

No, it depends consumption of what. What needs to be reduced is harmful consumption. A subtle but important difference.

How do you sort the multiple different materials in a garment like a hoody with a zip? All this recycling is vigorously opposed by the oil companies, and their pet governments drag their feet. We need strong, persistent public DEMAND for a circular economy.

@Iquey

2 жыл бұрын

With garments that are mixed and complicated I would say try to mend it whenever possible. If the zipper is broken, I don't know at this point but I agree the metals + plastics should be taken from zippers that tend to break quite a lot.

I am shocked that you have not spoken about the “re-use” element of circular economy. Recycling the packaging waste is not a solution; we need more and more re-usable packaging.

@thePlum

2 жыл бұрын

No kidding! That's one of the key components to truly circular economy

@repentoryouwilllikewiseper8741

2 жыл бұрын

Repent to Jesus Christ “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

@s3tione

2 жыл бұрын

Not just reusable packaging, but repairable products. How much stuff is thrown out because repair is made impossible by design. "Chuck it out and by a new one" is the motto when near anything breaks.

We don't talk about this major issue enough

@soraiya2065

2 жыл бұрын

It is incredible, isnt it? Perhaps its not discussed, because then we'd have to deal with how much we consume. We have to consume to keep the economy going.

@GB-vh9td

2 жыл бұрын

@@soraiya2065 Yes I agree...

I really enjoyed this video as this topic interests me a lot. I was expecting to see Sweden featured here, as they are actually the country I always think of first on this topic. I thought they had found a way to combine both trash and recycling and use it all for renewable energy. No?

And once again targets the consumer with an updated "carbon footprint" , instead of targeting industry.

@epicchocolate1866

2 жыл бұрын

and why are gasoline and plastic products produced ? For consumers you numbskull

Thank you for sharing this. Now I know that If I visit Taiwan for The States, if I hear the ice cream truck, it's not the ice cream truck lol.

Theres interesting reasearch from ETH Zürich, stating trash incineration being a great potential point of carbon capture, as a huge part of energy for it is co2 concentration. In burning gases this is much higher. Since organic things (wood, food etc) are also burned, negative carbon effects can be achieved.

If science is that reliable we should be able to predict problems and prevent them.

@arturoalvarezdelatorre9366

2 жыл бұрын

the problem is that preventing problems is not profitable most of the time :/

I really appreciate KZread videos for giving us chances to learn more about variety of things in our community ❤

Im the average consumer - i don't care about zero waste, all I care about is how much something costs. If it's more expensive to buy recycled then I'm not interested, only when it becomes cheaper and more convenient than throw-away then I'll become more green.

So amazed to what I can see in this video. Thanks for sharing this its very interesting

The world 🌎 needs more recycling ♻️ plants 🏭! Everything can be recycled ♻️, up-cycled 🔄, and composted 🍂🌱. It’s about changing the mindset and thinking 💭 that everything is “raw materials” that can be creatively re-utilized. Corporations and brands need to reduce their unnecessary packaging.

Superb!!

Informative and impressive 👍

Great amount of Inspiration 🙏.

Wonderful report. I'd love to know where I can shop for upcycled products on line. Be well and thank you.

We should act smart not hard. I applaud the amazing effort that led to the invention of that AI powered machine. We should consider that as a backbone to boost recycling outcomes!

Agriculture economies were zero waste. Urbanisation in big and small cities create waste. Also responsible is the trusts like the plastic bottles use multinationals.

To clean all this trash requires a lot of energy, and water. I would probably refrain from using water, and instead look to waterless ways of cleaning this garbage, with maybe solar/wind powered UV lights. I think a lot of these can be turned into 3D printing tubing.

So much of my waste comes from food packaging. I don't know what I can do to cut down on that. I take public transport. I bring my own containers when I take out food. I barely buy any new clothes.

Thank you for this great change

what is the web app? Very curious to look at it

This is a great role model for all of us.

So basically no, having one tech guy get a free ad is not the same as a sustainable future. Kinda gaslighty. Our addiction to plastic is a shadow addiction to carbon.

@leonal522

2 жыл бұрын

It's not about recycling at all. This video is made to promote Taiwan's independence. 5:30 Sneaky BBC: Taiwan is not a country, not as recognized by the UK gov't at least.

thanks!

📌 Thank you for this informative video. We are currently experiencing the greatest transfer of wealth ever recorded in world history . People who invest now have probably made the best decision in life. Investment is the future!!

@harrisvangeest5134

2 жыл бұрын

Have been making losses trading myself .... I THOUGHT trading on demo account is just like trading the real market .. can anyone help me out or at least advice me on what to do ?

@cylvanosepchook4092

2 жыл бұрын

I literally want to wake up one morning to discover my portfolio is above $60k.

@joachimmilberg2313

2 жыл бұрын

@@harrisvangeest5134 I will recommend you stop trading on your own if you keep losing and start trading with a professional.

@stevenwalker2117

2 жыл бұрын

The mentorship from a professional coach should definitely be the first step taken while trading.

@joachimmilberg2313

2 жыл бұрын

Speaking of guide,I would advice you reach out to Juan Antonio Landa. she is my guide,she’s really the best at what she does.

Is Zero waste possible? Is this a trick question? Wait in Taiwan you get paid to snitch on your neighbors who don't throw trash properly.

In Brazil we recycle something like 23%/25% of our plastic, 69% of paper and 97,4% of metal (like soda can).

If you wait long enough like a billion years, everything is zero waste.

I'm really happy with how Taiwan stepped up their game. I hope they can continue to pre as we've their independence against China so innovation like this can continue to thrive.

my question: how much technology and costs and resources to change such trash (plastic bottles...) to those building materials?

The idea of ​​recycling waste into raw materials was back in the 60s and 70s! Namely, MY GRANDFATHER, who was a professor in the physical and chemical industry, designed and built a working prototype of a waste recycling system. And, he realized that it was not enough just to develop, it was necessary to introduce this system first into the heads of the leaders of the country of the USSR. My grandfather became a deputy and tried to promote this project! - What happened next? And he was "sent by the forest" and kicked out of the CPSU party! After 91 years, my grandfather, in order to at least live on something, in order to somehow recoup the costs of developing this waste recycling project, went to Korea to sell for dollars. in 2010, he died from poisoning with mercury vapor or other metals that were found in his office. I congratulate! (sarcasm) I know what I'm talking about and what I can be proud of. And I have every right to report what happened after the fact. Thanks!

Discussing waste without discussing affordability is pointless . High affordability is guaranteed to produce large landfills

Creative solutions are the only way to go

How come folks never talk about plasma systems for transforming waste?

Nice video.

The editor sure had a lot of fun putting this one together, hahah

hay quá Phúc ơi, nổi cả da gà luôn nè, thấm vào từng mạch máu

I think these ideas are not solutions. Firstly because they are not decreasing the production of plastics, secondly, they are not decreasing plastic trash, these are just dislocating trashfield's plastic into your home. The bricks could replace clay bricks. The cieling could replace cartboard cieling. The main problem for me with these is the flameability and the fumes of the firing plastics. A house fire of a plastic bricked house is far more poisonous and enviromentally problematic than a normal house's, also its mire flameable.

Wall-E was onto something

Technology based solutions are picking up pace. But we need to update the knowledge about natural degradation of plastics.

It is a long and difficult way to get to the most optimal and balanced line between consumption and sustainability. Two things that in my opinion are like oil and water but right now corporations have control of most of the "democratic" system in the world and any attempt to regulate consumption will be blocked with a very wealthy wallet. It is just very sad that there is not any other narrative of the power of individuals to change the serious path we are heading to. The change will be possible just when the regulations are in place to make these changes happen. I think.

You still cannot recycle energy and recycling is an energy hog. REDUCE and REUSE Must be top priority but that is not a profitable option to keep the growth economy running.

Politicians see young entrepreneurs as a threat why is that? You may ask

could you document the carbon foot print of recycling? and compare uprecycling to downrecycling

Why is Arthur so inspirational

I like recycling, problem though may arise when you mix in together waste materials. They leave emissions which can make people sick who use them for work or even live close to them. One thing we need to force companies to do, is have them make the formulars they use for their plastics marked on the products using said plastics. So that when it comes to recycling, plastics of the same type could be merged in the recycling process.

@kinngrimm

2 жыл бұрын

If that wouldn't happen, a regulation would need to restrict to less plastics types be used alltogether.

Reusing waste is only part of the solution, like the guy said we need to make 'lifestyle changes', that means reducing single-use products and packaging, paying more for products that will last longer and being conscientious when we dispose of our waste. But then what about the fact that governments give our recycling away to countries that just dump it? Personal cha ges arent enough, literally everything needs to be changed.

Zero emissions, zero covid, zero dust, zero interest rates, zero plastic. Zero is like a new sales pitch.

This is the direction we need to be heading in

As someone whole deals with waste everyday international from hazardous to general, people just don’t care.

Are there companies in the U.S. recycling waste like this?

Zero chance the American consumer, and the US political situation will ever tackle its waste issue

10:00 - Great...in theory. It also means he spends an inordinate amount of time thinking about it, and thats not something most people are willing or even able to do.

If people want the world to have no trash. Making a profit should be the last thing considered in the equation

This is speech is kind cool, but there is a problem it not address: charging big companies. Most of the global waste is not generated (since I know) by people, most of it is produced by big companies and these same companies usually (to do not say always!) ask consumers to "make better" about their trash. Come on! This is hypocrisis in the highest level possible. If we want to help the planet to be more clean, we need to change the whole process, instead of just blaming the consumers.

@kvm1992

2 жыл бұрын

They want us to live in a paternalistic society where there is no autonomy. Trying to shove the nonsense down our throats.

There is no silver bullet. That much is true. Upcycling doesn't work though. It is nearly impossible or much too complicated to separate all the different materials in most products. Then you can do it only so often. Besides, I don't want to live in a plastic box nor do I want to wear plastic shirts etc.

Reverse Vending Machines to buy back from the consumer paper, plastics, glass, cloth, metals (like cans, aluminum, copper wire, etc.), light bulbs, etc. may help keep the dumpsite free of toxic or non biodegradable wastes, waste foods are usually thrown down the drain anyway (but that can be recycled too)...

Can't the smoke be filtered and the soot be used in concrete mix or something? In India recycled plastic is melted and mixed with asphalt for making new roads.. Also incentives are given to those who produce biodegradable bags plates spoons etc from sugarcane fibres/bagasse Books hv been made from sugarcane husk for over 2 decades now

I have a solution! First we go back to metal, wood and glass. As was done prior to mass plastic usage. Only have plastics for medical/emergency use. Or only where absolutely needed. Supermarkets should sell out of bulk bins as much as possible. With customers bringing their own reusable bags/containers. Would reduce food waste as well- Only buy what's needed. Developed countries waste too much food. Create a Space Elevator to send garbage to the Sun. Sling shot the garbage bales, with the help of Earth's gravity. The Sun's gravity will pull it in and incinerate it. That's my idea to get a handle on the plastics. It's humanity's responsibility to NOT destroy our home (Earth). Already micro plastics are being found in our blood! OUR BLOOD! Just think about all the medical issues it will, or already has caused. Will plastics be our end? Maybe.

Wow really rare to have a positive piece on China by the economist..

Not possible. There will always be some waste.

You can make diesel from plastic.

Interesting

No! It’s called “Heat Sink”... There’s also entropy..!

A great idea

All over the Third World, one man’s waste is another man’s treasure.

It really amazes me about how the garbage turn into something useful.

👌🏾I want to work with this guy in 🇰🇪

What is this background music? Feel like I'm watching a 90s infomercial

It's possible. Restaurant owners went to jail for illegally dumping their putrid used cooking oil, today companies buy the used cooking oil to recycle it into usable products. The carbon problem will be solved once somebody has cracked a scalable & affordable solution to pull the carbon out of the atmosphere to be made into a product, my prediction is that they'll do it too well and the plants will begin to suffocate. Meat farms will go out of business once cell cultured meat is cracked, they'll go out of business due to how subsidized the meat industry is. Right now we don't have commercial product but publicly traded companies are working toward sterile mass produced cell cultured meat that would end the horrors of the meat industry while eliminating food recalls. Once we start seeing a trickle of cell cultured meat on the shelves there will be the "fry war" equivlant of cell cultured meat where companies races to perfectly replicate traditional meat to market the product as a superior version over their competitors. My prediction is that in 20 years feed lots & male chicken chick grinders will go the way of dial up.

It should not depend on the individuals shopping behaviour, but on regulations. The bulk of consumers simply go for best return on investment in their daily lives, and that's not the cleanest way of living.

I have seen quite a lot of recycling solutions yet not any (as I remember) for segregation at household and national levels.

That dog revolving round n round (4:08) resembles our global leaders efforts in handling any crisis…..who often fool us by pointing to a chimera of utopian world which they never succeed in reaching…..but rather spins round and round.

I am a little bit proud of our recycling!!! However, we have a seriously air pollution problem from scooters and garbage.

0:25 produce plastic. They are actually the reason of polution

In my opinion every company should have a tax trash or where ever you named, where they pay in the same proportion that produce waste or, pay a tax and be assigned to studies about how turn into enable the junk that they produce.

Everything manufactured could be recycled. The ratio of manufacturing should be equal or close to equal, in order for a zero waste goal to be possible. I believe that, because nature proves this. Without ppl destroying ecosystems, nature proves sustainability is based more off of the ability to recycle than the ability produce. With that said/typed, whatever a company manufactures, that co. should recycle!!!

Don't they know anything? Guaranteed if they made it law that everything must recycled upcycled this wouldn't be an issue. When I go to the store or shop on the internet, I don't say "which product can I get that produces the most waste?" They need to stop shifting the blame on the consumer and blame the producer.

even material body goes back to dust from where its built by food that grows in dirt . waste is not waste as long as its turns to from what it was . . there always will be waste though .

Put a price on garbage high enough to make sure it is recovered and reused.

My ~2010 NIKE soccer jersey (USA MNT, Red) was 100% recycled....but it didn't feel near as nice or cool as my Greece MNT jersey from Adidas Yes, it was "recycled" but I paid the cost every time I wore the jersey, or more pointedly, every time I didn't wear the jersey just because of how the fabric felt (and retained a lot more heat than my Adidas jerseys)

@czdaniel1

2 жыл бұрын

Guess "duh," of course, it was hotter because plastic bottles get recycled into the fibers used for low-value thermal insulation in walls. Anyways, based on my singular experience here, _"made from recycled plastic"_ is def not a selling-point for fabric

Some of the stock footage was a bit much...

Ban fashion and gadget marketing on internet

Upcycle every waste!

I am quite surprised and happy to see Taiwan featured in the Economist videos besides about us being invaded by China or about semiconductor🤣