2022 Impact Report

Dear Friends,

Four years ago, when we started our journey as Reuse Solutioneers, the world looked very different:

• Virtually all consumer brands were skeptical of reuse/refill, primarily focused on recycling and actively opposed extended producer responsibility (EPR) and deposit-return systems (DRS).

• Very few NGOs and institutions were engaged around reuse.

• While there was some interest and engagement on city policy, there were almost no opportunities at the state or federal level.

• There were a small number of reuse service companies operating in North America.

• Communities of color and low-income communities (i.e. those most impacted by the throw-away economy) were excluded from strategic conversations. 

But today, the landscape is changing: 

• Most consumer brands have signaled support for EPR and DRS; and many have now piloted reuse systems in food service, beverage and consumer packaged goods. 

• More and more NGOs are developing reuse initiatives.

• There are big opportunities at the state and federal levels, and lots of interest in city policy.

• There are now dozens of reuse service companies operating throughout North America.

• Increased awareness of the disparities brought on by climate change has created a major shift for organizations and corporations to prioritize equity and justice.

The sea change is that the private sector is now engaged. More than ever, we want to support our community in taking advantage of this new landscape. And we’ve painted a picture for what this could look like. We call it the New Reuse Economy, and it involves working with – and serving – non-profit, government, community and business leaders in making this vision a reality. But we know we’re working to co-create a future that doesn’t exist yet. There has to be ideation, experimentation and alignment around strategies to get us there. 

At Upstream, we will continue to help  leaders ideate, accelerate, and scale circular strategies that create thriving communities and build the reuse service infrastructure of tomorrow. This will require innovators, corporate sustainability officers, NGO staff, community and environmental justice leaders and government officials – all working together to transform how we consume. 

Ultimately, our primary role is to serve our growing community of Reuse Solutioneers – supporting and celebrating their success. In this way, we are orienting our work around listening and learning so we can support through convening, content creation, and catalyzing solutions. We hope you are as excited about this updated direction as we are. And we invite you to join our community of Reuse Solutioneers, stay engaged if you already are, and work with us to co-create a brighter future.

All the best,

Matt Prindiville, CEO & Chief Solutioneer