Upcycle Hawaii
Upcycle Hawaii LLC is a Hilo, Hawaii-based manufacturer that handcrafts consumer goods from reclaimed plastics and marine debris using proprietary heat-and-pressure fusing techniques, selling direct-to-consumer online and at local markets to environmentally conscious consumers and Hawaii residents and visitors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersHilo, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Upcycle Hawaii does
Upcycle Hawaii LLC is a Hilo, Hawaii-based manufacturer that produces handcrafted consumer goods from reclaimed post-consumer plastics and marine debris. The company was founded by Mattie Mae Larson, an environmental science graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and operates a production studio on the Big Island where two proprietary material processes are used: a heat-and-pressure fusing technique that bonds layered shredded plastics into sheet material (used for zipper pouches, wallets, magnets, and earrings), and a plastic appliqué method that melts colored plastics onto clear substrates for decorative effects. A secondary line, Melted Marine Debris, incorporates rope and net fibers recovered from local beach cleanups, melted together with post-consumer packaging waste to create lighter, fiber-infused material for keychains, earrings, bookmarks, ornaments, and luggage tags. Manufacturing is described as low-energy and zero-waste, with scraps from pouch and wallet production reprocessed into magnet material.
The business sells almost entirely direct-to-consumer through a Shopify storefront, supplemented by in-person sales at Hawaii craft markets, pop-ups, and live events. Pricing per unit ranges from $12 (clearance earrings) to $42 (large zipper pouches), with most products priced between $16 and $38. A recurring revenue stream runs through a Patreon community at $5 per month, and digital gift cards ($5–$100, never expiring) provide a secondary transaction channel. The company tracks and publishes landfill diversion data starting January 2018 and ships both domestically (flat $5 economy within the US) and internationally. Upcycle Hawaii is privately held, founder-owned, bootstrapped, and has raised only a single $10,000 Nav small business grant in April 2021. Reported employee count is 1–10.
Upcycle Hawaii firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Upcycle Hawaii
- Legal name
- Upcycle Hawaii LLC
- Website
- https://upcyclehi.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Upcycle Hawaii LLC is a Hilo, Hawaii-based manufacturer that handcrafts consumer goods from reclaimed plastics and marine debris using proprietary heat-and-pressure fusing techniques, selling direct-to-consumer online and at local markets to environmentally conscious consumers and Hawaii residents and visitors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Upcycle Hawaii industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recycled Material Accessories & Sustainable Handmade Goods
- NAICS
- Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (326199)
- SIC
- Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Costume Jewelry & Novelties (3960), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Material Reuse & Upcycling Services (Non-recycling Transformation) (EUAIANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Recycled-Content Plastic Packaging (rPET, rHDPE, rPP) (IMALAMAC)
Keywords
Where Upcycle Hawaii is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hilo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Upcycle Hawaii business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales (E-commerce): One-time purchase of upcycled products including fused plastics, melted marine debris items, zipper pouches, wallets, earrings, keychains, luggage tags, magnets, bookmarks, and bring-your-own cutlery sets. Sold directly through Shopify storefront.
- Patreon Subscription: Monthly subscription model starting at $5 per month supporting the business and providing community membership benefits.
- Gift Cards: Prepaid gift cards available in denominations from $5 to $100 with no expiration date.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fused Plastic Magnets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Melted Marine Debris Keychains |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Luggage Tags |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Earrings |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Credit Card Wallets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bring-Your-Own Cutlery Sets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Zipper Pouches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bookmark/Ornament/Sun-Catcher |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shipping |
| Subscription | Monthly | Patreon Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Upcycle Hawaii product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Upcycle Hawaii manufactures and sells handcrafted accessories, jewelry, and functional items made from 100% reclaimed post-consumer plastics and recovered marine debris in its Hilo, Hawaii production studio. Its two core material lines are Fused Plastics (using heat and pressure to fuse layered reclaimed sheet plastics, including a plastic appliqué decoration process) and Melted Marine Debris (using rope and net fibers collected during local beach cleanups, melted together with post-consumer plastics). Products are sold direct-to-consumer via a Shopify storefront, supplemented by Hawaii live events and a $5+/month Patreon community.
Product overview
Upcycle Hawaii is a small business that creates handcrafted products from upcycled and reclaimed waste materials in Hawaii. The company operates two primary material/product lines: Fused Plastics (using a plastic appliqué technique where colored plastics are melted onto clear plastics to create unique abstract designs) and Melted Marine Debris (using rope and net fibers from beach cleanup efforts melted with post-consumer plastics). Products are manufactured in the company's production studio located in Hilo, Hawaii using low-energy and zero-waste processes. The product portfolio includes jewelry (earrings), accessories (keychains, luggage tags, wallets, zipper pouches), functional items (magnets, bookmarks/ornaments/sun-catchers), and sustainable alternatives (Bring-Your-Own cutlery sets with bamboo utensils). The company diverts materials from local landfills and sells products directly through their Shopify e-commerce platform, accepting various payment methods including major credit cards and digital payment options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fused Plastic Earrings Handmade earrings made from reclaimed sheet plastics collected from local Hawaii residents and businesses, fused via heat and pressure into layered abstract designs. Available in shapes including Honu (Sea Turtle), Monstera Leaf, Pineapple, Circle Cut-Out, Small Circle, Long Rectangle, and Short Rectangle with .925 Sterling Silver earwires; priced at $38.00.
- Melted Marine Debris Earrings Earrings made from fibers of ropes and nets recovered during local beach cleanups, melted with post-consumer packaging waste. Available in Honu, Monstera Leaf, Pineapple, Circle Cut-Out, Small Circle, Long Rectangle, and Short Rectangle shapes; priced at $38.00.
- Fused Plastic Keyrings Handmade keyrings made from reclaimed sheet plastics using Upcycle Hawaii's heat-and-pressure fusing technique. Available in Honu, Pineapple, Monstera Leaf, and Hawaii Island shapes; priced at $26.00.
- Melted Marine Debris Keychains Keychains (2-2.5 inches) made from fibers of ropes and nets recovered from Hawaii beach cleanups, melted with post-consumer packaging waste. Available in Honu, Pineapple, Hawaii Island, and Monstera shapes; priced at $26.00.
- Fused Plastic Zipper Pouches Water-resistant zipper pouches handmade from reclaimed sheet plastics via heat-and-pressure fusing, marketed as "the world's strongest zipper pouches" and tested for durability over a decade. Available in Small Square ($34), Small Rectangle ($34), Medium Rectangle ($38), and Large Rectangle ($42) sizes.
- Fused Plastic Credit Card Wallet Flexible, waterproof, and durable credit card wallet handmade from reclaimed sheet plastics using heat-and-pressure fusing. Has four pockets (one in middle, two on front, one on back), measures 4" wide x 2.75" tall, and fits 4-6 credit cards; priced at $36.00.
- Fused Plastic Magnets Handmade magnets produced from reclaimed plastic packaging collected from local Hawaii residents and businesses, made by melting multiple layers of shredded plastics together under heat and pressure. Scraps from pouch, wallet, and luggage-tag production are reprocessed into thick material for magnets. Available in Honu, Pineapple, and Hawaii Island shapes with a 2" keychain length; priced at $16.00.
- Melted Marine Debris Luggage Tags Luggage tags made from fibers of ropes and nets recovered during local Hawaii beach cleanups, melted with post-consumer packaging waste. Measure 4" x 2.25" with a 100% recycled polypropylene strap, Velcro and plastic snap closure, and include two paper inserts; priced at $26.00.
- Fused Plastic Luggage Tags Luggage tags handmade from reclaimed sheet plastics collected from local Hawaii residents and businesses, produced via heat-and-pressure fusing; priced at $26.00.
- Bookmark / Ornament / Sun-Catcher Multi-purpose items made from melted marine debris colored by fibers of ropes and nets recovered during local Hawaii beach cleanups. Available in Dolphin (5" x 2.25"), Gecko (5.5" x 2.5"), and Sea Turtle (5" x 5") shapes; function as bookmarks, ornaments, or sun-catchers; priced at $24.00 each.
- Fused Plastic Bring-Your-Own Slide Pouch and Cutlery Sets Water-resistant slide pouch (2" x 7" closed) handmade from reclaimed sheet plastics via heat-and-pressure fusing, designed to hold reusable cutlery and reduce single-use plastic waste. Includes a 5-piece bamboo cutlery set with fork, spoon, knife, straw, and chopsticks; priced at $38.00.
- Upcycle Hawaii Gift Cards Digital gift cards redeemable on upcyclehi.com, available in $5, $10, $15, $20, $25, $40, $50, and $100 denominations, delivered via email and never expiring.
Quantifiable outcome
- Landfill diversion tracking since January 2018 with documented environmental impact data
Companies that use Upcycle Hawaii
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Upcycle Hawaii technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature4 records
Upcycle Hawaii partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Upcycle Hawaii competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bureo: Bureo upcycles end-of-life fishing nets (marine nylon/net debris) into consumer products (skateboards, sunglasses, swimwear) — directly comparable to Upcycle Hawaii's melted marine debris product line and circular-economy value proposition.
- 4ocean: 4ocean recovers ocean plastic and converts it into branded bracelets, apparel and accessories sold DTC. Like Upcycle Hawaii, it ties a consumer-goods catalog to a measurable marine debris removal story.
- Preserve (Recycline / Preserve Brands): Preserve makes toothbrushes, tableware, and personal-care items from recycled plastics (including #5 plastics) through a Gimme 5 take-back program. Closely comparable as a recycled-plastic consumer-products manufacturer with circular-economy positioning.
Emerging players
- Pela Case: Pela makes compostable/bioplastic phone cases and accessories marketed on sustainability. Comparable because it sells environmentally focused accessories DTC with a strong impact story, though it uses plant-based rather than upcycled inputs.
- The Plastic Bank: Plastic Bank operates collection/recycling infrastructure that converts ocean-bound plastic into Social Plastic feedstock for partner brands. Comparable as an upstream player in the recycled-plastic supply chain Upcycle Hawaii depends on.
- Tiny Tags: Handmade artisan jewelry/accessories brand sold DTC and via craft markets with a similar founder-led, made-in-Hawaii (or Hawaii-adjacent) positioning. Comparable on product type, channel mix (DTC + craft fairs), and small-batch premium pricing.
Broad incumbents
- Adidas x Parley: Adidas and Parley convert intercepted marine plastic into footwear and apparel at massive scale. A relevant comparable on the marine-plastic-to-consumer-goods axis and on brand-driven sustainability marketing, but operates at incumbent scale rather than artisanal.
- Patagonia: Long-established sustainable/responsible apparel and accessories brand with deep environmental storytelling and recycled-material product lines. Comparable on sustainability branding and circular-economy positioning at a vastly larger scale.
- Allbirds: Sustainability-positioned consumer brand selling everyday products with eco-inputs (wool, eucalyptus, recycled materials) at premium DTC prices. Comparable on sustainability-led brand storytelling and DTC premium pricing.
Regional players
- Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii: A Hawaii-based nonprofit running beach cleanups whose recovered debris (rope, nets, packaging) overlaps with Upcycle Hawaii's feedstock. Comparable as a regional ecosystem partner and competitor for Hawaii-based sustainability brand affinity.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Upcycle Hawaii social profiles
Digital presenceUpcycle Hawaii financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Upcycle Hawaii leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Upcycle Hawaii funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Upcycle Hawaii M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Upcycle Hawaii
What does Upcycle Hawaii do?
Upcycle Hawaii manufactures and sells handcrafted accessories, jewelry, and functional items made from 100% reclaimed post-consumer plastics and recovered marine debris in its Hilo, Hawaii production studio. Its two core material lines are Fused Plastics (using heat and pressure to fuse layered reclaimed sheet plastics, including a plastic appliqué decoration process) and Melted Marine Debris (using rope and net fibers collected during local beach cleanups, melted together with post-consumer plastics). Products are sold direct-to-consumer via a Shopify storefront, supplemented by Hawaii live events and a $5+/month Patreon community.
Is Upcycle Hawaii a public or private company?
Upcycle Hawaii is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Upcycle Hawaii founded?
Upcycle Hawaii was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Upcycle Hawaii based?
Upcycle Hawaii is headquartered in Hilo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Upcycle Hawaii make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (E-commerce) is the primary driver. The others are patreon Subscription and gift Cards.
Who are Upcycle Hawaii's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bureo, 4ocean and Preserve (Recycline / Preserve Brands). Emerging players are Pela Case, The Plastic Bank and Tiny Tags. Broad incumbents are Adidas x Parley, Patagonia and Allbirds. Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii is listed as a regional player.
Does Upcycle Hawaii have an API?
No public API is recorded for Upcycle Hawaii.
What industry is Upcycle Hawaii in?
Upcycle Hawaii's product category is Recycled Material Accessories & Sustainable Handmade Goods. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIANAJ, Material Reuse & Upcycling Services (Non-recycling Transformation), with a secondary code of IMALAMAC, Recycled-Content Plastic Packaging (rPET, rHDPE, rPP). Its NAICS code is 3261 and its SIC code is 3089.