Dr. Kyungeun Sung, a senior lecturer in product design at De Montfort University, specializes in upcycling and sustainable design, conducting research on enhancing consumer behavior and scaling up niche environmentally significant practices. Highlights of her work include leading international research networks, organizing upcycling festivals, and developing educational interventions to promote upcycling within communities. Her research contributions encompass collaborations across various global contexts, aiming to establish upcycling as a mainstream practice and improve sustainable production and consumption.

1. Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung
Product Design
School of Art, Design and Architecture
Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities
De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
SNU GSES colloquium (27/03/2024)

2. Qualifications and experiences
 BSc in Industrial Design from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and
Technology (KAIST), Korea
 MSc in Strategic Product Design from Delft University of Technology (TU Delft),
Netherlands
 PhD in Sustainable Design from Nottingham Trent University (NTU), UK
 PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education from De Montfort University
(DMU), UK
 Fellow in Higher Education Academy (AdvanceHE), UK
 Product Designer at Samsung Electronics, Korea
 UX Designer and Design Researcher at LG Electronics, Korea
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

3. Current roles at De Montfort University
 Senior Lecturer in Product Design
 Programme Leader for MA/MSc Product Design
 Faculty Head of Research Ethics on the Faculty Research Ethics Committee
 Early Career Academic/Researcher Representative on the Faculty Research
and Innovation Committee
 Reviewer on the Institute of Art and Design Research Funding Committee
 ADH (Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities) Early Career Representative in
Concordat for Researcher Development Task and Finish Group
 ADH contact for research relating to India for India Advisory Board
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

4. External roles
 한국디자인학회 국제분과 이사 (2024-present)
 Technical Programme Committee member of the ICLLCD 2024 (The 3rd
International Conference on Literature, Language, and Culture Development) (2024)
 UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) Interdisciplinary Assessment College (IAC)
appointed member (2023-2025)
 UKRI EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) reviewer
(2023-present)
 Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC) Innovation and
Commercialisation Proof of Concept Scheme Reviewer (2023)
 Italian Ministry for University and Research (MUR) 2022 PRIN Call External
Reviewer (2023)
 UKRI AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council) Peer Review College
appointed member (2022-present)
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

5. SNU GSES colloquium (27/03/2024)
Circular economy and upcycling

6. Circular economy
 Turning goods that are at the end of their service life into resources for others,
closing loops in industrial ecosystems and minimising waste (Stahel, 2016)
 An industrial economy that is restorative or regenerative by intention and
design (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013)
 Realisation of a closed loop material flow in the whole economic system (Geng
and Doberstein, 2008)
 One that is restorative by design, and which aims to keep products, components
and materials at their highest utility and value, at all times (Webster, 2015)
 A regenerative system in which resource input and waste, emission, and energy
leakage are minimised by slowing, closing, and narrowing material and
energy loops which can be achieved through long-lasting design, maintenance,
repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing, and recycling (Geissedoerfer et al.,
2017)
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

7. Source: Stahel, W. R. (2016) The circular economy. Nature, 531(7595), 435-438.

8. Source: https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy-diagram

9. Upcycling
 Creation or modification of a product from used materials, components
or products which is of equal or higher quality or value than the
compositional elements
 Neologism and umbrella concept
 ‘creative’ or ‘advanced’ repair, reuse, refurbishment, redesign, remake, upgrade,
recreation, remanufacture, recycling,…
 Important sub-set of the circular economy
 Alternative consumption (cf. replacement purchase)
 Alternative production (cf. based on virgin materials)
(Sung, 2017)
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

10. Examples and benefits
 Environmental: extending lifetimes of products, components and materials >
increasing material efficiency > reducing solid waste > reducing
industrial energy consumption > lowering GHGs
 Economic: creating jobs (industry) + saving money (households)
 Social: emotional/psychological well-being (households)
(Singh et al., 2019)
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

11. SNU GSES colloquium (27/03/2024)
Upcycling research

12. A review on upcycling

13. Consumer/citizen upcycling
Sustainable production and consumption by
upcycling: Understanding and scaling up niche
environmentally-significant behaviour
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

14. Consumer/citizen upcycling
Sustainable production and consumption by
upcycling: Understanding and scaling up niche
environmentally-significant behaviour
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

15. Consumer/citizen upcycling
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung
Sustainable production and consumption by
upcycling: Understanding and scaling up niche
environmentally-significant behaviour

16. Consumer/citizen upcycling
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung
Sustainable production and consumption by
upcycling: Understanding and scaling up niche
environmentally-significant behaviour

17. Consumer/citizen upcycling (UK vs. West)
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

18. Consumer/citizen upcycling, PA, longevity

19. Design for behaviour change
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

20. Interventions for scaling up upcycling
International Conference on Resource Sustainability (icRS 2021)
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

21. Interventions for scaling up upcycling
International Conference on Resource Sustainability (icRS 2021)
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

22. Sustainable Production and Consumption by Upcycling
Dr Kyungeun Sung
Interventions for scaling up upcycling
International Conference on Resource Sustainability (icRS 2021)

23. What’s next
 Country-specific data analysis: Australia, Germany, UK, Canada, USA
 Bigger sample (e.g. over 5,000)
 Random selection of the representative population
 West vs. East; West and East
 Contextualised vs. data aggregation
 Other theories and models (and factors)
 Social psychology vs. social practice theory (behaviour vs. practice)
 Why vs. how / what
 Waste streams and upcycling outcomes
 Proper study for the links between upcycling, PA, and product longevity
 Other behaviour change frameworks
 Measuring the impact of varied interventions
 Implementing interventions locally and nationally – prototyping and piloting
 …
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

24. Upcycling in businesses

25. Upcycling in
businesses

26. Upcycling in businesses
Challenges and opportunities for scaling up
upcycling businesses: textile and wood upcycling
businesses in the UK
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

27. Challenges and opportunities for scaling up
upcycling businesses: textile and wood upcycling
businesses in the UK
Upcycling in businesses
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

28. Upcycling in businesses
Sustainable Production and Consumption by Upcycling
Dr Kyungeun Sung

29. Upcycling in businesses
Sustainable Production and Consumption by Upcycling
Dr Kyungeun Sung

30. Upcycling in businesses
Sustainable Production and Consumption by Upcycling
Dr Kyungeun Sung

31. Upcycling in businesses (UK vs. world)
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

32. Upcycling in businesses (UK vs. world)
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

33. Upcycling in businesses (UK vs. world)

34. Upcycling in businesses

35. What’s next
 Addressing top 2-3 key global challenges and opportunities with action research
(e.g. prototyping, piloting, monitoring)
 Improving material provision – supply chain improvement
 Waste management with AI
 Awareness raising activities
 Longitudinal study on regular training, community events, traditional media, new
media, etc.
 Production innovation – scalable ideas, concepts, technologies, etc.
 Best practice – business models, products, supply chain management, etc.
 …
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

36. Upcycling design and education
Innovative design solutions for scaling up
upcycling SMEs
 Products; services; PSS; policies;
regulations
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

37. Upcycling design and making internships
Frontrunner Internship 2021-2022
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

38. Upcycling design and making internships
Frontrunner Internship 2021-2022
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

39. Upcycling design and making internships
Frontrunner Internship 2022-2023
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

40. NPD for upcycling and the circular economy
 2022-2023: DMU HEIF (Higher Education Innovation Funding) for 'New Product
Development for Upcycling and Circular Economy', £1
1,086
 https://npd4ce.our.dmu.ac.uk/
 Radical innovations for electronics with multiple components and mixed materials so
that they can be upcycled and comply with CE principles

41. NPD for upcycling and the circular economy
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

42. NPD for upcycling and the circular economy
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

43. NPD for upcycling and the circular economy
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

44. NPD for upcycling and the circular economy
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

45. How to understand and teach upcycling in the
context of the circular economy
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

46. How to understand and teach upcycling in the
context of the circular economy
Design research for upcycling, circular economy and net zero
Dr Kyungeun Sung

47. What’s next
 Replicating the NPD4CE project to different product categories
 Scaling up the NPD4CE project to a regional or national level involving multiple
sectors
 Involving industry partners – design with stakeholders
 Competitions and collaborations between different universities in the UK and beyond
 Continuous Delphi to finalise the teaching and learning materials for understanding
and teaching upcycling in the context of the CE
 Open source digital resources (e.g. document, video)
 …
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

48. SNU GSES colloquium (27/03/2024)
Current projects

49. International Upcycling Research Network
 https://iurn.our.dmu.ac.uk/about-iurn/
 https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=AH%2FW007134%2F1
 UKRI AHRC Research Networking grant (AH/W007134/1): £42,787
 Project duration: 01/06/2022 – 31/05/2024
 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
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

50. International
Upcycling
Research Network
International Upcycling Research Network
58 network members from 20 countries of five continents: (i) Botswana, Ghana, Kenya,
Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe in Africa; (ii) Brazil, Canada, Chile,
Columbia, Costa Rica, and USA in America; (iii) Hong Kong, India, and South Korea in
Asia; (iv) Australia; and (v) Germany, Sweden, and UK in Europe

51. International Upcycling Research Network
Upcycling station: a
drop-in event as part
of the LCB Depot
Takeover of the
British Science
Festival 2022
(n>150)
(16/09/2022)
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

52. International Upcycling Research Network
Upcycling seminars:
Africa (Sep, 2022);
Asia (Oct); the
Americas (Nov);
Australia and Europe
(Jan, 2023)

53. International Upcycling Research Network
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung
Interpretive
Structural
Modelling (ISM)
study on global
challenges/opport
unities for
upcycling (online:
15&20/09/2022)
(offline:
02/06/2023)

54. International Upcycling Research Network
UK upcycling
networking (n=21)
(24/02/2023)
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

55. International Upcycling Research Network
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung
Kenyan Shibori workshop: A collaborative Shibori workshop between Birmingham City
University (BCU) (Elizabeth Burton as a leading person) and Kirinyaga University in
Kenya (Dr Sophia N. Njeru as a key collaborator) (16&29/01/2024)

56. International Upcycling Festival 2024
 Aim: showcase the network activities and outcomes, expand the network, and engage
businesses and consumers for direct impact
 Day 1 on Thursday 1
1th April 2024 (9am-5pm) at DMU: academic presentations and
discussions
 Day 2 on Friday 12th April 2024 (12pm-9pm) at LCB Depot: 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
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

57. International Upcycling Festival 2024
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung
https://upcyclingfestival2024.our.dmu.ac.uk/

58. International Upcycling Festival 2024
https://upcyclingfestival2024.our.dmu.ac.uk/programme-and-speakers/

59. International Upcycling Festival 2024
https://upcyclingfestival2024.our.dmu.ac.uk/day-2-programme/
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

60. International Upcycling Festival 2024
https://upcyclingfestival2024.our.dmu.ac.uk/day-2-exhibition/

61. Upcycling for everyone
 https://upcycling4everyone.our.dmu.ac.uk/
 DMU QR Funding for Participatory Research: £3,984.
 Project duration: 10/2023 – 07/2024
 Project duration: 10 months
 Background: Creating positive personal and collective beliefs is paramount to
behaviour change when it comes to upcycling at home. Community events are known
to be an effective intervention for raising awareness and changing beliefs and
practices.
 Purpose: The project aims to further our knowledge of how to get everyone involved
in upcycling at household level in the UK, and to test art and design-based
interventions (i.e., community events) to promote upcycling behaviour.

62. Upcycling for everyone
 Objective 1: to understand opportunities and barriers to upcycling at home
 Objective 2: to identify and co-create appropriate and effective art and design-based
interventions (i.e., community events)
 Objective 3: to deliver the interventions and measure the impact
 Objective 4: to disseminate the exemplary participatory research project widely

63. SNU GSES colloquium (27/03/2024)
Other research activities

64. International Upcycling Symposium 2020 and
edited book with Springer
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

65. Special Issue of Sustainability 2021
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

66. Net Zero Conference 2022 and edited book with
Routledge  https://netzero2022.our.dmu.ac.uk/conference/
 https://www.routledge.com/Research-Journeys-to-Net-Zero-Current-and-
Future-Leaders/Sung-Isherwood-Moalosi/p/book/9781032462097#
 UKRI Open Access funding £10,000
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung

67. Thank you 
Dr Kyungeun Sung
Senior Lecturer in Product Design
Programme Leader for MA/MSc Product Design
Faculty Deputy Head of Research Ethics
De Montfort University
Gateway House, Leicester, UK
Email: Kyungeun.sung@dmu.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)1
16 207 8498
Website: https://www.kyungeunsung.com/home
Upcycling Research
Dr Kyungeun Sung