Downcycling

Material recovered from waste and reprocessed into a raw material for manufacturing, such as polymer granulate produced from post-consumer or post-industrial plastic. The quality and consistency of recyclate determine whether it can substitute virgin material in demanding applications.

Recycling by physical processes such as shredding, grinding and re-melting or re-compounding, without breaking the polymer down chemically. Thermoplastics can often be re-melted into new products, whereas thermoset composites typically yield ground filler or short fibre fractions for lower-grade uses.

Recovering the energy content of waste that cannot practically be recycled, typically by incineration with heat and power generation or by co-processing in cement kilns, where composite waste can also contribute mineral content to the clinker. In the waste hierarchy it sits above landfill but below reuse and recycling.

An economic model that keeps products and materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, remanufacture and recycling, in contrast to the linear take, make, dispose model. In materials specification it drives requirements for recycled content, design for disassembly and credible end-of-life routes.