[Courtesy of Samsung Electronics]
While recycling mainly focuses on collecting waste materials and simply turning them into new product materials, upcycling is the process of creating new values by transforming discarded materials into more valuable products. Samsung has earlier showcased portable eye-testing devices created by upcycling its Galaxy smartphones. The upcycled devices were provided to Indian hospitals to treat patients with vision impairment.
Samsung said in a statement that the company will award a total of 18,000 pounds to the top three teams at its design contest titled "Re:Create Design Challenge." A total of 10,000 pounds would be given to the winner and 4,000 pounds each to two other teams. Regardless of nationality and profession, anyone can take part in the event. The application deadline is July 19 and prize winners will be announced in October.
"Samsung believes in the power of creativity, and our future needs to be protected and transformed through meaningful and sustainable innovations," Samsung's corporate design center head TM Roh said in a statement on June 1. "We hope this competition provides a spark that leads to impactful change for all of us."
Upcycling is rapidly gaining momentum among domestic companies. In October 2021, South Korea's automaker Hyundai Motor presented 12 different apparel items such as track jackets and sweatshirts through its upcycling fashion project called "Re:Style 2021." BTS garnered worldwide attention in September 2021 when members delivered an inspirational speech at the United Nations General Assembly, wearing a suit made with recycled fabric produced by Kolon FnC, a fashion and lifestyle wing of South Korea's fabric maker Kolon Group.
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