• Aarya Khandekar

Industrial design sectors generate massive waste streams annually—with textiles alone producing 120 million tonnes and furniture contributing 10.78 million tonnes globally. Despite growing market interest, with the global upcycled fashion market projected to reach USD 16.70 billion by 2032, most creative upcycling remains confined to small-scale, artisanal production. This paper examines how Design for Disassembly (DfD) principles can transform upcycling from craft-based practice to industrial-scale manufacturing. Products such as Fairphone's modular electronics (7-year lifecycle), BMW i3's automotive design (15-year battery lifecycle), Herman Miller's circular furniture (91% recyclable content), and Patagonia's textile recovery systems, demonstrate that DfD implementation achieves higher material recovery rates versus traditional approaches, extends product lifecycles significantly, and reduces carbon footprints. These findings reveal that systematic integration of modular design, reversible connections, material compatibility, and digital traceability enables upcycling to achieve industrial scale, economic viability, and significant environmental impact reduction across multiple industrial design sectors.

Upcycling, Design for Disassembly, Dfd Principles

"Disassembly-Driven Design: Redefining Upcycling in the Age of Circular Manufacturing", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no.c200-c204, January-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601223.pdf

"Disassembly-Driven Design: Redefining Upcycling in the Age of Circular Manufacturing", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no. ppc200-c204, January-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601223.pdf