Emerging Social Movements for Sustainability: Understanding and Scaling Up Upcycling in the UK

Social movements have campaigned for environmental sustainability, most notably in relation to sustainable food production and climate change. Past research on these social movements has paid attention mainly to the relatively well-organised and established initiatives. Less attention has been paid to emerging collective actions by citizens. This chapter therefore aims to provide analyses of one such case, the upcycling movement in the UK, and considers its potential implications. The contributions to knowledge made through research in design for sustainable behaviour, upcycling, and sustainability science are outlined. Challenges for upscaling the upcycling movement are discussed, and further challenges concerning sustainability are raised.