Do you know the difference between recycling, upcycling, and downcycling?

Recycling, Upcycling, and Downcycling are all part of the circular economy — which means the lifespan of a product (like a paper notebook) starts with its creation and ends with its disposal — but we can influence this to some extent. :) And in a positive way. All of these processes help prevent waste by reusing already used items, but each in a different way.

Recycling

is a well-known term, and we believe many of you recycle. We can recycle materials like paper, plastic, metals, and glass. Although recycling is definitely positive and necessary, it is actually the least impactful of these processes. Recycling ensures that a product is processed and turned into something new.

For example, if you recycle a notebook, the waste company collects the paper and sends it to a facility that breaks it down into small fibers, which are then mixed with other paper to make new paper. :)

Important: Wet or greasy paper cannot be recycled. If you put it into the recycling bin, you risk contaminating the rest of the paper. Also, glossy paper cannot be recycled because it’s coated with plastic.

TIP: A common myth is that egg cartons and toilet paper rolls cannot be recycled — but that’s not true. :) Our recycling technologies are constantly evolving and improving, so these materials, which were once truly unrecyclable, can now be safely placed in the blue recycling bin.

Recycling at Be Nice? Absolutely! All the products we make are from recycled materials.

Upcycling

is when you take something you no longer use and transform it into another useful item. For example, turning used paper into confetti, or repurposing an old dust cloth as a doormat instead of buying a new one.

Upcycling at Be Nice? We do upcycle — we try to make use of everything we produce, and so far, we’re succeeding. :) Our latest example is the new Upcycle collection, which came about completely by chance from scraps of our 365 Baťa SOBĚ collection. It includes a Sketchbook and a Notepad for ideas.

Another example are creative sheets from the 2023 calendar, which we distributed as gifts in 2024, or bookmarks made from paper scraps.

The last term is downcycling,

which means repurposing an item in a way that lowers its value, but you avoid buying something new. For example, using a cardboard box as a protective surface when painting — instead of throwing the box away and buying a special mat for the table.