Let’s recycle
WHAT IS RECYCLING?
Recycling is the process by which a material that has already fulfilled its original function is collected, sorted, and transformed so it can be used again as raw material in a new product.
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According to specialized international organizations, recycling is part of a broader resource and waste management strategy aimed at reducing the extraction of virgin raw materials, lowering energy consumption, and minimizing the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle.
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However, recycling does not automatically mean reducing environmental impact. The process involves transportation, energy consumption, loss of material properties, and, in many cases, limitations on how many times a material can be effectively recycled.
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For this reason, specialized institutions agree that recycling should be understood as a tool, not an absolute solution, and should always be evaluated alongside other factors such as durability, reparability, reusability, and material traceability.
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Sources and references:
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United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
European Environment Agency (EEA)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
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Recycled, recyclable, and durable are not the same
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Recycled:
A recycled material is one that comes partially or entirely from waste that has already been used.This describes its origin, not its real environmental impact or long-term performance.
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A product made from recycled material can still have:
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high energy consumption,
a short lifespan,
no possibility of repair,
or quickly end up as waste again.
Recyclable:
A recyclable material is one that could technically be reprocessed at the end of its useful life.​
This does not guarantee that it will actually be recycled. For that to happen, the following must exist:
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adequate infrastructure,
available industrial processes,
economic viability,
and collection and sorting systems.
Many recyclable materials are never recycled in practice.
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Durable:
Durability refers to the length of time a product can perform its function without needing to be replaced.
Various specialized organizations agree that extending a product’s lifespan often generates a lower environmental impact than recycling it repeatedly, since it avoids:
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new resource extraction,
additional industrial processes,
transportation and extra energy consumption.
Why is the difference important?
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Confusing these concepts leads to common oversimplifications:
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assuming that “recycled” automatically means sustainable,
prioritizing material origin over product lifespan,
ignoring factors such as repairability, maintenance, and traceability.
For this reason, recycling should always be analyzed within a broader strategy that considers durability, responsible material use, and the product’s complete life cycle.
Upcycling, downcycling, and conscious decisions
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Not all practices associated with recycling generate the same environmental impact or follow the same technical criteria.
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When reusing materials, it is essential to distinguish between downcycling and upcycling, as each approach has very different consequences for durability, value, and a product’s life cycle.
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Downcycling:
Downcycling occurs when a recycled material loses properties, quality, or functional value with each new use.​
This approach often results in objects with a limited lifespan, difficult repairability, or poor performance, which eventually become waste again.
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Even if the material has a recycled origin, the final outcome may still follow a logic of short use and frequent replacement, without significantly reducing the overall environmental impact.
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Upcycling:
Upcycling seeks the opposite: reusing materials to create pieces with higher value, longer lifespan, and greater continuity over time.​
At Rekithara, upcycling is not understood as an aesthetic solution or a symbolic action, but as a design decision and technical criterion:
Creating objects meant to last, to be used, maintained, and repaired, without losing their function or meaning over time.
Recycling and material compatibility
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When discussing recycling, it is important to clarify that not all materials can be recycled together.
In the case of polymers, effective recycling occurs within the same material family.
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Mixing different types of plastics, resins, or incompatible polymers does not constitute recycling, as it prevents proper reprocessing and compromises mechanical and structural properties.
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These types of mixtures often result in low-quality materials that are difficult to reuse and, in many cases, impossible to recycle again, which contradicts the original purpose of recycling.
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A broader perspective
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For this reason, recycling must be analyzed within a broader framework that considers:
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real material compatibility,
durability of the final object,
possibility of maintenance and repair,
and long-term permanence.
Reducing environmental impact does not depend on how many objects are made from waste, but on how they are designed, how long they last, and whether they retain value throughout their useful life.
Transparency before labels
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Talking about sustainability also means acknowledging limits, decisions, and real commitments—not just desirable outcomes.
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For this reason, various institutions agree that responsible communication should be based on:
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clear definitions,
verifiable information,
and consistent technical criteria.
Sustainability is not proven through labels, but through design decisions, material choices, and long-term use.
Why REKITHARA Matters
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After understanding what recycling is, its limitations, and why greenwashing exists, it becomes clear that what truly matters is not what is said, but the decisions that are made.
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At Rekithara, sustainability is approached through action: how an instrument is designed, which materials are used, and how long it is expected to exist and remain relevant.
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Materials Designed to Last
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We work with materials that retain their properties over time, that can be recycled within their own material family without degradation, and that are built to withstand decades of real-world use.
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Metals such as stainless steel, bronze, and copper are highly recyclable, do not lose performance over time, and tolerate extreme demands without compromising their function.
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Likewise, we use properly seasoned premium woods, selected for their stability, structural behavior, and ability to age well—not for short-term convenience.
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Conscious Design, Not Planned Consumption
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Our instruments are not designed for replacement cycles or to justify constant “upgrades.”
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They are designed to:
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last for generations,
be maintainable and repairable,
retain functional, aesthetic, and musical value over time.
An instrument that does not need to be replaced directly reduces resource consumption and unnecessary waste.
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Precision and Responsible Manufacturing
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Precision in manufacturing is not only a matter of quality—it also has an environmental impact.
A well-designed and well-built instrument:
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reduces waste,
avoids unnecessary replacements,
extends its real usable life.
Every technical decision seeks coherence between material, function, and permanence.
Transparency and Community
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REKITHARA is committed to an open relationship with its community:
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no empty narratives,
no absolute promises,
no hidden decisions or limitations.
We believe that clear information enables more conscious choices, and that an informed community is a fundamental part of any responsible approach.
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A Different Way to Understand Value
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For REKITHARA, value is not about producing more, but about producing better.
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Fewer objects, better designed, built to last and to remain meaningful over time.
That, too, is sustainability.
