The document outlines the first advisory board meeting of the UKRI AHRC-funded International Upcycling Research Network, which aims to facilitate cross-industry and international collaboration on upcycling research over a 24-month period. Key objectives include expanding the understanding of upcycling practices through seminars and collaborative investigations, culminating in an international upcycling festival in 2024. The network collaborates with members from 31 institutions across 5 continents to drive sustainable practices and innovation in upcycling.

1. UKRI AHRC-funded
International Upcycling Research Network
Advisory Board Meeting 1 (07/06/2022)
PI: Dr Kyungeun Sung, De Montfort University | Co-I: Prof Richie Moalosi, University of Botswana

2. Project Summary
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 UKRI AHRC Research Networking grant (AH/W007134/1): £42,787
 Project start: 01/06/2022
 Project duration: 24 months
 Background: Moving from a niche to a mainstream practice could realise
the full potential of upcycling. Despite recent increase in publications,
initiatives and businesses in upcycling, research is still embryonic.
Development of upcycling theory and practices across industries,
disciplines and countries is required for growth.
 Purpose: the world’s first long-term platform to facilitate such cross-
industry, multidisciplinary and international research

3. Aims and Objectives
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 Aim: create positive synergies between various international actors for
collaborative endeavours to understand and promote upcycling
 Two short-term objectives: (i) expand our understanding of current
upcycling research and practices (seminars); and (ii) collaborative
investigation into the global challenges for scaling up upcycling (ISM
workshops)
 Two medium-to-long-term objectives: (i) develop new cross-industry,
multidisciplinary, international collaborative research projects and
initiatives (meetings); and (ii) create the network website as a long-
term platform

4. Network Members
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 Originally suggested in the bid (n=19) / Snowballed now (n=31)
 5 continents and 13 countries
 Africa (original 3): 1 academic (A) and 2 practitioners (P) from
Botswana, Nigeria and Tanzania
 Americas (original 5+ snowball 3=8): 5 As and 3 Ps from Canada,
Chile, Costa Rica and USA
 Asia (3+2 = 5): 2 As and 3 Ps from Hong Kong, India and South Korea
 Australia (2): 2 As
 Europe (5+8=13): 12 As and 1 P from Sweden and UK

5. Timetable of Activities
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 Advisory board meetings online (n=4): Jun 2022 / Feb & Jul 2023 /
Feb 2024
 Kick-off meeting online: Jul 2022
 ISM workshops online (2): Aug/Sep 2022
 Seminar series blended (5): Upcycling in (i) Africa (Sep 2022), (ii)
Americas (Oct 2022), (iii) Asia (Nov 2022), (iv) Australia (Dec 2022),
and (v) Europe (Jan 2023)
 Joint research/initiative meeting online (3): Apr, Jun, Oct 2023
 International Upcycling Festival blended: Apr/May 2024

6. Main Activity 1: ISM Workshops Online (Aug/Sep 2022)
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 Aim: understand interrelated and self-reinforcing challenges in the
global upcycling value chain for scaling up
 Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM): qualitative method used to
structure various factors into a hierarchy and visualise the interaction
between the factors to help decision-makers in tackling these factors
in order (Abuzeinab et al., 2017)
 ISM workshop facilitator: Dr Amal Abuzeinab, DMU
 Factors (challenges and success factors): Sung, K. and Abuzeinab, A. (2021)
Challenges and opportunities for scaling up global upcycling towards sustainable production and
consumption: Literature review. In: Filho, W., Azul, A., Doni, F., Salvia, A. (eds) Handbook of
Sustainability Science in the Future. Cham: Springer, pp 1-19.

7. Main Activity 2: Seminars Blended (Sep 2022-Jan 2023)
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 Aim: understand current upcycling research and practices across industries,
disciplines, and countries (and discuss potential collaboration)
 Upcycling in Africa (Sep 2022): 3+ speakers for half day
 Upcycling in Americas (Oct 2022): 8+ speakers for two days
 Upcycling in Asia (Nov 2022): 5+ speakers for one day
 Upcycling in Australia (Dec 2022): 2+ speakers for half day
 Upcycling in Europe (Jan 2023): 13+ speakers for two days
 Structure: 20 mins presentation followed by 30 mins Q&A and potential
collaboration discussion per speaker + 10 mins comfort break
 Chairs/facilitators: PI / Co-I / volunteers

8. Main Activity 3: Joint Research/Initiative Meeting
Online (Apr, Jun, Oct 2023)
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 Aim: discuss progress on the development of new joint research or
initiative
 Meeting 1 (Apr 2023): focusing on drafting ideas for data collection
methods or impact activities
 Meeting 2: (Jun 2023): focusing on required resources, logistics, and
coordination of the data collection or impact activities
 Meeting 3: (Oct 2023): focusing on preliminary data analysis and impact
activities outcomes
 Facilitators: PI / Co-I / volunteers

9. Main Activity 4: International Upcycling Festival
Blended (Apr/May 2024)
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 Aim: showcase the network activities and outcomes, expand the network,
and engage businesses and consumers for direct impact
 Day 1: academic presentations and discussions
 Day 2: engaging businesses and consumers for awareness raising,
knowledge transfer, new data collection and networking through a public
lecture series, stakeholder workshops, family-friendly activities
 Installations: Poster presentations, film screening, mini exhibitions, etc.
 Gala dinner: informal networking between advisory board and network
members
 Chairs/facilitators: PI / Co-I / volunteers

10. Outputs
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 An edited book: from the seminar series and the International Upcycling
Festival (provisional title: The forefront of upcycling studies and
opinions: International Upcycling Research Network outputs) with a
world-class publisher
 A conference paper and a journal article: from the ISM workshops
 A report: documenting the processes and outcomes of the network
activities focusing on new joint research/initiatives
 An online website: long-term platform for sustainable collaboration and
networking as well as effective public awareness-raising and education

11. Dissemination and Impact
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 Dissemination: through the network and advisory board members, their
organisations’ internal communication and external marketing, relevant
societies (e.g. Design Society, International Society for Industrial Ecology),
and various social media
 Public engagement: Blended seminar series and the International
Upcycling Festival free and open to the general public
 Beneficiaries: (i) researchers, teachers and students; (ii) upcycling
practitioners and other stakeholders; (iii) environmental charities and
activists; and (iv) policymakers and advisors
 Impact: (i) gaining new knowledge and insights; (ii) identifying potential
collaborators and partners; (iii) applying lessons learned and new
information to their own research, practice, teaching, etc.

12. Grant Use Plan
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 Other directly incurred (£28,915): (i) blended seminar series (£3,250); (ii)
additional in-person meetings in the UK (£2,500); and (iii) International
Upcycling Festival (£23,165)
 Blended seminar series (£3,250): travel and catering for key local
collaborators (£650 per seminar)
 Additional in-person meetings in the UK (£2,500): up to five new cross-
industry, cross-discipline, and international research projects or initiatives
involving UK participants based in the UK (£500 per project)
 International Upcycling Festival (£23,165): (i) travel and accommodation
for participating network and advisory board members; (ii) catering
service; (iii) banners and other printing; (iv) fee for anybody hired (e.g.
artist); and (v) gala dinner

13. Expectations for the Advisory Board
International Upcycling Research Network | Advisory Board Meeting 1
 Attending the advisory board meetings when/if you can (Jun 2022 / Feb &
Jul 2023 / Feb 2024)
 Ensuring appropriate and effective approaches to the planned activities
 Suggesting new, better ideas for higher efficiency and effectiveness
 Promoting the activities and outcomes
 Delivering keynote speeches for Day 1 (academic research) and Day 2
(business practices) for the International Upcycling Festival (IUF) (1-2 per
day)
 Joining the Gala Dinner on Day 1 of IUF
 Optional: being part of the network and participating in other member
activities