Upcycling and Material Value in Functional Art: Recycled Paper and Plastic in Art and Craft Education

Abstract

Sustainability issues and the increasing amount of material waste have encouraged the development of creative approaches to reuse discarded materials, one of which is the practice of upcycling. In the context of art and design education, this practice is not only a way to work with materials but also a way to learn about which materials are valuable. This study seeks to explore the value of upcycling in art and craft education through the process of creating functional artworks. The research uses a practice-based research approach as a method, focusing on the creation of notebooks made from recycled paper and plastic. Data were collected through visual documentation of the process and final product, written reflections from students, and reflective notes from the instructor during the learning process. The findings indicate that upcycling practices transform waste materials into new products and encourage the development of a multidimensional understanding of material value, including function, aesthetics, meaning, and the potential continuity of material life cycles.