Scientific Certification Program

Upcycled By

Turn Waste into Value. A science-backed certification for producers who transform overlooked resources into exceptional, verified products.

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From Waste to Wonder:
Science Meets Art

The Analytical Grip
Science
Measurable attributes — vision, odour, taste, tactile. Deductive precision.
Double Grip
The Analogical Grip
Art
Metaphors, analogies and holistic gestalt. Inductive richness.

The Double Grip Method combines science and art to unlock new potential in waste.

At Upcycled By, we redefine possibilities through sustainability. Whether you're buying certified products or producing them, we help you make an impact with exceptional quality and value.

Our core method — the Double Grip Analysis — was developed at Campus Grythyttan, Örebro University, through years of research into how professional tasters evaluate complex sensory experiences. It brings together two distinct cognitive approaches: the analytical (measurable, deductive) and the analogical (metaphorical, holistic).

Together, these two grips allow us to identify with precision which products hold upcycling potential — and how to realise it fully.

Methods developed by Ass. Prof. Anders Crichton-Fock (formerly Herdenstam), PhD · Campus Grythyttan, Örebro University & Prof. Charles Spence, Oxford University

Three Methods.
One Certification.

The Upcycled By certification rests on a triad of scientific methods that together guarantee both the quality and the environmental integrity of every certified product.

Double Grip Analysis
01
Double Grip Analysis
The core methodology. Each product is evaluated along two parallel tracks simultaneously: the analytical — isolating and measuring individual sensory attributes (vision, odour, taste, tactile sensations) — and the analogical — capturing holistic impressions through metaphors, images and personal memory associations.

This dual approach ensures that nothing critical is missed: neither the measurable chemistry nor the lived, human experience of the product.
Science & Art
02
Dialogue Consensus Technique
Individual sensory assessments are brought into a structured group dialogue. Through iterative rounds of sharing and discussion, tasters build a shared vocabulary — moving from personal metaphors to a common understanding of the product's unique character.

This technique, rooted in the reflective seminar tradition, is particularly powerful for identifying the hidden strengths in products that might otherwise be discarded. It connects the product's story to its audience.
Shared Understanding
03
Critical Attribute Technique (CAT)
The final step isolates the decisive sensory and environmental attributes that define the product's unique upcycling potential. CAT identifies which qualities — analytical or analogical — are critical for consumer acceptance and environmental value.

The result is a clear, documented profile of the product's upcycling level (0–4) and a roadmap for optimal use — whether blending, redistribution, repackaging or repurposing.
Actionable Profile
Algorithmic Analysis
What a machine can do
  • Measure chemical compounds, pH, sugar, tannin levels
  • Classify colour spectrum and optical properties
  • Compare datasets against known profiles
  • Calculate consistency across large batches
  • Predict shelf-life from controlled variables
Herdenstam et al., Int'l Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 2022 — Nature versus machine
Double Grip Analysis
What only a trained human can do
  • +Recognise complex odour memories and autobiographical associations
  • +Form holistic gestalt impressions of the whole experience
  • +Generate meaningful metaphors that connect product to consumer
  • +Apply practical wisdom (phronesis) — judgment in context
  • +Determine upcycling potential and optimal use through dialogue
Crichton-Fock & Spence, Journal of Wine Research, 2024 · Herdenstam et al., Int'l Journal of Gastronomy, 2018, 2020
Double Grip Analysis — The Two Registers
Analytical Grip
What can I find?
"What qualities can I discern in the wine?"
  • Visual attributes: colour, clarity, viscosity
  • Olfactory: scent groups, intensity, development
  • Palate structure: acidity, tannin, alcohol, body
  • Flavour elements: fruit, earth, oak, mineral
  • Finish length and quality level
  • High measurability — deductive approach
Analogical Grip
What awakens in me?
"What does tasting this wine awaken within me?"
  • Metaphors: images, parables, personal associations
  • Odour memories and autobiographic impressions
  • Holistic gestalt — the wine as a whole experience
  • Crossmodal correspondences (visual, auditory, tactile)
  • Cultural and emotional dimensions
  • Low measurability — inductive, humanistic approach

What the Seal Means

The Upcycled By seal is a guarantee of three verified commitments — origin, method and environmental impact.

Upcycled By Crichton-Fock — Verified Upcycled Wine Blend

Each certified product carries a unique identifier traceable to its origin, analysis and certification date.

01
Origin & Sustainability
The final product is made from 100% "rescued" material — wine, food or other produce that would otherwise become waste. This can include overmatured wines, surplus harvests, by-products of production, or unsellable stock due to labelling or vintage issues.

The producer must document the origin, quantity and reason for risk of waste, along with a commitment to sustainable and traceable sourcing throughout the supply chain.
02
Method & Sensory Analysis
The Double Grip Analysis is applied to the base material by trained assessors. This guarantees that both analytical attributes (measurable sensory qualities) and analogical attributes (holistic, metaphorical character) are documented.

The analysis identifies the product's upcycling level (0–4) and determines which use — blending, repackaging, redistribution or new product creation — maximises both quality and resource efficiency. Only products achieving level 2 or above qualify for certification.
03
Final Product & Environmental Impact
The upcycling process itself is evaluated to confirm that it has genuinely minimised waste and maximised resource use. The final product's carbon footprint is calculated relative to the conventional alternative.

The certification seal is issued when all three criteria are met. It is renewed annually and subject to re-assessment if production methods or sourcing change significantly.

For Everyone
in the Chain

Wine Producers & Importers
Environmental Responsibility
The certification verifies that 100% of the wine or food product used is upcycled, highlighting the producer's commitment to reducing waste and promoting resource reuse.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
By maximising the base material's qualities without new resource extraction, producers demonstrably lower their carbon footprint — a clear, quantifiable benefit for environmentally conscious markets.
Access to Sustainable Markets
Certified products meet the standards of eco-focused retailers and importers, allowing producers to reach more environmentally aware consumers and premium sustainability-positioned market segments.
Resource Efficiency
Through upcycling, producers minimise environmental waste and align with circular economy principles, showcasing efficient use of resources and reducing the environmental impact of production.
Retail & Consumers
Supporting Waste Reduction
Choosing certified products allows consumers to actively back initiatives that reduce waste and promote a circular economy — turning a purchasing decision into a direct environmental action.
Minimised Environmental Impact
Each purchase has a minimised carbon footprint, as the product maximises existing resources rather than relying on new extraction, processing or production.
Transparent, Eco-Friendly Choice
The certification assures consumers of the product's sustainability, providing a clear, reliable and scientifically verified indicator of its low environmental impact — not just a marketing claim.
Engagement in Sustainable Consumption
Buying certified products empowers consumers to actively support responsible, eco-friendly brands, aligning their spending with their environmental values and contributing to systemic change.

From Analysis
to Certification

Three steps bring your product from potential to certified. Each stage builds on the previous, ensuring no aspect of quality or environmental value is overlooked.

01 — Analysis
Consultation
We begin by understanding your product, your waste challenge and your goals. Handling your waste wine, food or other material with expert care, we perform an initial assessment using the Double Grip Analysis to identify upcycling potential.
Identifying critical attributes & upcycling potential
02 — Classification
Classification
Assessment of the product's potential upcycling level (0–4) using both analytical and analogical criteria. We map the product's qualities, limitations and ideal use cases to create a detailed upcycling profile.
Level 0–4 · Analytical & Analogical
03 — Certification
Certification
Guarantee for environmentally optimised use of the initial waste product. Certified products receive the Upcycled By seal, a traceable certificate and inclusion in our producer network — signalling verified sustainability to retailers and consumers worldwide.
Verified · Traceable · Renewable

20 Years of Research

The Double Grip Analysis is not a startup claim. It is the result of two decades of continuous empirical research — from the first dialogue seminars in 2003 to peer-reviewed applications in upcycling, crossmodal communication and robotic cultivation.

20+
Years of continuous research
9
Peer-reviewed journal publications
3
International research institutions
1
Doctoral thesis · KTH, 2011
Foundation — 2003–2011
2003
ICCAS Conference · Bournemouth & Örebro
The professional language for wine tasters: improving communication by dialogue method
Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam), Hammarén, Ahlström & Wiktorsson
Origin of the method
2004
Licentiate Thesis · KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Sinnesupplevelsens estetik: vinprovaren, i gränslandet mellan konsten och vetenskapen
Anders P.F. Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam)
Art & science borderland
2009
Journal of Wine Research · Vol. 20 (1), pp. 53–84
The professional language of wine: perception, training and dialogue
Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam), Hammarén, Ahlström & Wiktorsson
First peer-reviewed publication
2011
Doctoral Thesis · KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Den arbetande gommen: vinprovarens dubbla grepp, från analys till upplevelse
Anders P.F. Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam)
The Double Grip fully defined
Empirical Validation — 2017–2020
2018
Int'l Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science · Vol. 13, pp. 78–89
Sommelier training: Dialogue seminars and repertory grid method in combination as a pedagogical tool
Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam), Nilsen, Öström & Harrington (Örebro + Washington State University)
Analogical training proven effective
2020
Int'l Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science · Vol. 20, 100210
Breaking the silence: A pilot study investigating communication skills of sommeliers and chefs after analogical training
Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam), Nilsen & Öström · Örebro University
Communication gains documented
Expansion & Application — 2022–2024
2022
Int'l Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science · Vol. 29
Nature versus machine: A pilot study using a semi-trained culinary panel to perform sensory evaluation of robot-cultivated basil
Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam), Kurtser, Swahn & Arunachalam · Örebro University
Human judgment vs algorithmic production
2022
EuroSense Conference · Turku, Finland
Re:wine the world — A multisensory food rescue project aiming critical consumer attributes & cross-modal communication
Anders P.F. Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam) · Örebro University
Food rescue & upcycling — method debut
2023
Frontiers in Psychology · 14:1190364
Using crossmodal correspondences as a tool in wine communication
Crichton-Fock, Spence & Pettersson · Örebro + Oxford University
Crossmodal consumer communication
2023
Frontiers in Psychology · Vol. 14
Enhancing the design of wine labels
Crichton-Fock, Spence, Mora & Pettersson · Örebro + Oxford University
Applied to visual & label design
2024
Journal of Wine Research · Vol. 35 (2), pp. 139–159
The imitation game — exploring the double-grip analysis for creating analog wines
Crichton-Fock & Spence · Örebro + Oxford University · DOI: 10.1080/09571264.2024.2310307
DGA applied to upcycling — certification foundation
2024
Future Foods · Vol. 9
Consumer perceptions and preferences for urban farming, hydroponics, and robotic cultivation
Califano, Crichton-Fock & Spence · Örebro + Oxford University
Method extended to full food system
2024
Gastronomiska Akademiens årsbok · Carlsson Bokförlag
Sommelierens estetiska hantverk: Vinprovning som aristotelisk kunskap i handling
Crichton-Fock & Scander
Aristotelian framework published — episteme · phronesis · techne

The Core Papers

Key peer-reviewed publications directly underpinning the Upcycled By certification methodology.

The Double Grip — Foundation & Upcycling
Journal of Wine Research · 2024
The imitation game — exploring the double-grip analysis for creating analog wines
Crichton-Fock & Spence
Vol. 35 (2), pp. 139–159 · DOI: 10.1080/09571264.2024.2310307
Int'l Journal of Gastronomy · 2018
Sommelier training: Dialogue seminars and repertory grid method in combination as a pedagogical tool
Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam), Nilsen, Öström & Harrington
Vol. 13, pp. 78–89
Journal of Wine Research · 2009
The professional language of wine: perception, training and dialogue
Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam), Hammarén, Ahlström & Wiktorsson
Vol. 20 (1), pp. 53–84 · The method's first publication
Analogical Training & Communication
Int'l Journal of Gastronomy · 2020
Breaking the silence: A pilot study investigating communication skills after analogical training
Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam), Nilsen & Öström · Örebro University
Vol. 20, 100210 · DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgfs.2020.100210
Frontiers in Psychology · 2023
Using crossmodal correspondences as a tool in wine communication
Crichton-Fock, Spence & Pettersson · Örebro + Oxford
Vol. 14, 1190364 · DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1190364
Human Judgment vs Algorithmic Production
Int'l Journal of Gastronomy · 2022
Nature versus machine: Sensory evaluation of robot-cultivated basil affected by mechanically induced stress
Crichton-Fock (publ. as Herdenstam), Kurtser, Swahn & Arunachalam · Örebro University
Vol. 29 — Human DGA vs algorithmic cultivation
Future Foods · 2024
Consumer perceptions and preferences for urban farming, hydroponics, and robotic cultivation
Califano, Crichton-Fock & Spence · Örebro + Oxford
Vol. 9 — Method extended to urban food systems
Upcycled By seal
The Double Grip Analysis was originally developed in Anders Crichton-Fock's (formerly Herdenstam) doctoral dissertation "Den arbetande gommen" (KTH, 2011) — one in a chain of research going back to 2003. It has since been validated across multiple disciplines: sensory science, cognitive psychology, food technology and hospitality management, in collaboration with Örebro University, Oxford University, KTH and Washington State University.

The Research Group

Rewine The World® is an independent international research platform founded in 2021 by Anders Crichton-Fock (formerly Herdenstam) at Campus Grythyttan, Örebro University.

The group conducts research within wine rescue, sensory communication, sommellierie and culinary science & arts — developing novel methods for how complex food products can be better understood, communicated and preserved. Its work is driven by the questions: how do we identify the full value of what already exists, and how do we communicate it?

The consortium brings together researchers from experimental psychology, sensory science, food chemistry, metabolomics, culinary arts and consumer research. Methods include sensory and chemical analysis, cross-modal experiments, analogical inductive methods and creative design.

Rewine The World® is not affiliated with or managed by Upcycled By. It is an independent research group whose ongoing work in novel sensory methods contributes to the broader scientific field from which the Double Grip Analysis and related methodologies continue to develop.

Founded
2021 · Örebro University, Sweden
Chair
Ass. Prof. Anders Crichton-Fock, PhD
Research Groups
Learning & Teaching in Hospitality, Culinary Arts & Meal Science · Sense Lab — Future Sensory Experiences
Active Projects
AI & Culinary Practices · Nature vs Machine · Sommelier Training & Critical Attribute Techniques · LOMAS
Status
Independent research group — not affiliated with Upcycled By
Advisory Board
Chairman · Founder
Ass. Prof. Anders Crichton-Fock, PhD
School of Hospitality, Culinary Arts & Meal Science · Campus Grythyttan, Örebro University, Sweden
Creator of the Double Grip Analysis. Doctoral dissertation (KTH, 2011): "The Working Palate: the wine taster's double grip." Research focus: combining analytical and analogical sensory approaches for understanding future meals, consumer preferences and food waste reduction. Formerly published as A.P.F. Herdenstam.
Advisory Board
Prof. Charles Spence, PhD
Crossmodal Research Laboratory, Dept. of Experimental Psychology · Oxford University, UK
Experimental psychologist specialising in multisensory design. Founded the Crossmodal Research Laboratory (1997). Author of 1,000+ academic articles and books including Gastrophysics (2017) and Sensehacking (2021).
Advisory Board
Prof. Robert J. Harrington, PhD
School of Hospitality Business Management · Washington State University, USA
Ivar B. Haglund Chair in Hospitality Business Management. PhD in Strategic Management. Former Dean at Nicholls State University. Research: food & wine pairing, beverage innovation, hospitality strategies.
Advisory Board
Prof. Emeritus Ole G. Mouritsen, PhD
Dept. of Food Science · University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Physicist and professor of gastrophysics and culinary innovation. Author of 400+ scientific papers. DuPont Nutrition & Health Science Medal (2016). President, Danish Gastronomical Academy; Director, Taste for Life research centre.
Advisory Board
Prof. Tuulia Hyötyläinen, PhD
School of Science and Technology · Örebro University, Sweden
Metabolomics researcher. Develops high-throughput methodologies using chromatographic methods and mass spectrometry. Expertise in non-targeted and targeted metabolite profiling and unknown compound identification.
Advisory Board
Researcher María Mora, PhD
BCCInnovation, Basque Culinary Center · Spain
Sensory scientist and product developer at the Gastronomy Technological Center. Doctoral research: emotional consumer responses to wine and beer. M.S. in Food Science and Technology.
Advisory Board
MW Tim Hanni
Calyber LLC · Washington State University & Linfield University, USA
First American Master of Wine (1990). 50+ years wine industry experience. Creator of myVinotype.com. Author: "Why You Like the Wines You Like." Called "the wine anti-snob" by the Wall Street Journal.
Advisory Board
Elin Aronsen Beis
Foodloopz · Sweden
President & Founder of Foodloopz. Food waste consultant specialising in sustainable food production and innovative circular solutions. Background in marketing, design and project management.

Our Clients & Friends

🦁
Strange Estate
Upcycled Wine Producer
📸
Fotografiska
Museum & Hospitality
🎓
Grythyttan
Culinary Science & Innovation
🔄
Foodloopz
Food Waste Platform
🍷
Re:Winers
Sustainable Wine
🌿
Underground Winery Sthlm
Urban Winemaking
🦌
Hvita Hjorten
Sustainable Hospitality
🏛
Örebro Universitet
Academic Partner

Want to join the network? Reach out and let's explore what your waste can become.

hi@upcycledby.com

Your Waste Has
More to Give.

Join the producers who are turning overlooked resources into certified, high-value products — and making a verifiable difference to the planet.