We are a leading change agency for reuse.

We’re driving change toward a robust and enduring reuse economy by normalizing reuse, growing and supporting the reuse industry, and ensuring a supportive policy environment.

Reuse in Action

Reuse FAQs

You asked, we responded! This page is an ongoing labor of love and collective thinking, intended to capture the common themes, quandaries, and questions that arise in Upstream’s Reuse Solutions Network meetings. For those working on-the-ground in the reuse movement, so we don’t keep reinventing the wheel.

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Featured

IFCO is rewiring fresh food logistics thanks to revolutionary new technology

"This will be a complete game-changer in the reusable packaging industry. We are enabling our crates to communicate with each other and the cloud without any fixed external infrastructure required from retailers or growers, and this is something no other pooler is doing at the moment." -Christopher Trixl

Digital-first Reuse Infrastructure is "Commercially Inevitable”

The reuse industry has struggled with every brand wanting bespoke packaging, creating operational fragmentation that prevents scale. CLUBZERØ solves this through a standardized range of reusable packaging SKUs informed by major brands.

Reusables.com Awarded Patent for Tap-to-Reuse™ Technology, Deposit-Free Container Tracking System

New technology eliminates operational barriers preventing widespread adoption of sustainable packaging in mainstream retail.

Reuse Tech Attracts Major Investors in Europe

That Single-Use Coffee Cup Could Be on the Way Out: Cities and venues are looking for the best ways to get consumers to return cups instead of throwing them away. (Image: Wall Street Journal)

What’s Hot in Reuse Technology?

More reuse tech stories

Featured

The Other 3 Rs: Recognize, Respect and Reward

Across North America, an unrecognized labor force is cleaning up communities, reducing municipal costs, raising recycling rates — and has potential to raise return rates for reusables, too.

Beyond the Bin: How Events Can Build the Infrastructure for a Reuse Economy

In February, 2026, Upstream CEO Crystal Dreisbach presented the keynote address at EnviroCentre’s 2026 “Connecting the Dots on Greener Events” symposium in Ottawa, Ontario. Watch the full presentation or read key highlights.

Why Policy Matters for Reuse Service Providers

Throughout 2025, Upstream facilitated a multi-stakeholder dialogue series centered around reuse service providers (RSPs). With input from partner nonprofit organizations and government staff, RSPs worked together to coalesce around a set of policies that best support the growth of their sector.

Reframing Reuse as a Business Opportunity

Businesses are missing a critical chance to lead. Now is their time to lean into the inevitable future of packaging and seize a priceless branding and marketing opportunity.