Learn

Blog

All the latest ideas and news from Upstream’s thought leaders and partners. 

EPR, Business Matt Prindiville EPR, Business Matt Prindiville

3 Takeaways from Circularity 22

Upstream CEO Matt Prindiville just returned from GreenBiz’s Circularity Conference. It was a sold-out 3 day affair with more than a thousand sustainability professionals from virtually every consumer brand, plus representatives from the rest of their value chain. Here are three valuable takeaways from the conference.

Read More
EPR, Policy Matt Prindiville EPR, Policy Matt Prindiville

EPR: it’s not just for recycling anymore

Even though Extended Producer Responsibility has in theory been about creating a circular economy for packaging, in practice, the only goals that have been applied in legislation so far are recycling targets. The effect has been increased recycling where EPR systems are in place, but no actual reduction in the generation of packaging waste. We can change this.

Read More
EPR, Policy Matt Prindiville EPR, Policy Matt Prindiville

Which comes first? Extended Producer Responsibility or Deposit-Return?

With big brands signaling support for extended producer responsibility (EPR), deposit-return systems (DRS), and – most recently – reuse/refill, opportunities have opened up to pass policies and build infrastructure to transform how we consume products. But with these commitments come competing ideas around vision, strategies and tactics – and about which policies should come first, and which should follow.

Read More