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

Matt Prindiville 3/10/21 Matt Prindiville 3/10/21

EPR for packaging: then and now

I believe this will be the year that EPR for packaging moves forward in the United States. The conditions are ripe, and policymakers are engaged and educated around the issues in a way that they weren’t five years ago. It’s going to take a lot of hard work by stakeholders on all sides to get to the finish line. It won’t be easy, but the results will be worth it. Let’s get it done.

Miriam Gordon 2/24/21 Miriam Gordon 2/24/21

Why we need to “Break Free From Plastic” AND embrace reuse

Because the Break Free From Plastic Act does not currently focus on reusables, we organized a working group to develop recommendations for building reusable/refillable requirements into the Act and have been communicating these ideas to the authors of the legislation.

Samantha Sommer 2/18/21 Samantha Sommer 2/18/21

A design sprint with business innovators

UPSTREAM, in partnership with Remark.eco, hosted a one day virtual design sprint in August 2020 using GV Sprint Methodology. Our goal was to develop a scalable, viable model for reusable systems for prepared food and beverage in the COVID era, helping businesses stay open and thriving while also protecting our health and the planet.

Matt Prindiville 1/8/21 Matt Prindiville 1/8/21

Moving forward in America

We must find ways to move forward as a nation and to learn to see each other as neighbors again – to forge a new social contract that seeks to truly lift all people up and to come together on the issues of our time.

Laura Marston 12/8/20 Laura Marston 12/8/20

Reduce, Reuse, Rejoice!

Laura Marston, owner of the reuse and refill store GoGo Refill in Portland, Maine, put together a gift guide for those who want to give more love by giving less waste.

Matt Prindiville 11/25/20 Matt Prindiville 11/25/20

We are all neighbors

Let’s do our best to find ways to reach out and dive deep, to be courageous listeners and common ground seekers, to leave the finger-pointing behind and jumpstart the friendmaking.

Natalie Fee 10/14/20 Natalie Fee 10/14/20

Refill. Putting the power to reduce plastic in our hands

City to Sea, an environmental organisation based in the UK, has been working hard to provide practical solutions to plastic pollution.

Matt Prindiville 10/9/20 Matt Prindiville 10/9/20

Reflections on Racial Justice & Environmentalism

Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali and Miriam Torres brought their invaluable perspective, expertise and advice to a livestream discussion on 9/24.

Conrad MacKerron 10/1/20 Conrad MacKerron 10/1/20

From As You Sow: Using Shareholder Pressure to Get Big Brands to Clean up Plastic Pollution

As You Sow uses shareholder advocacy to press publicly-traded companies to improve their social and environmental practices and policies.

Erin Covey-Smith 1/9/25 Erin Covey-Smith 1/9/25

Reflections on our first Grand Canyon site visit

Our team recently completed its first site visit to the Grand Canyon, where we are orchestrating an unprecedented shift to 100% reuse at all South Rim dining facilities.

Erin Covey-Smith 1/2/25 Erin Covey-Smith 1/2/25

Chart-Reuse case study: Facilitating TRUE Certification

A zero waste consulting firm wanted to monitor the environmental impacts of their clients. A Chart-Reuse case study.

Erin Covey-Smith 12/19/24 Erin Covey-Smith 12/19/24

A Year of Growth and Impact

Celebrating a year of growth and acceleration—and giving thanks to all who helped us get here.

Erin Covey-Smith 12/12/24 Erin Covey-Smith 12/12/24

Key takeaways from the Resource Recycling Conference

Upstream’s first appearance at this conference geared toward waste management professionals and government staff.

Erin Covey-Smith 12/4/24 Erin Covey-Smith 12/4/24

Expanding the conversation

Upstream's Cerise Bridges offers her “notes from the field” after attending a conference about Chicago’s new sustainability law.

Erin Covey-Smith 10/31/24 Erin Covey-Smith 10/31/24

US & Canada Reuse Incentives and Grants Tracker

Upstream's Reuse Funding Tracker monitors incentives and grants that could be used to support projects related to source reduction of disposable packaging and foodware.

Upstream 10/17/24 Upstream 10/17/24

Looking upstream: The linear economy & its social impacts

Reducing resource consumption and improving production processes can develop more resilient, equitable systems that prioritize long-term sustainability for the economy, people, and the environment.

Upstream 10/16/24 Upstream 10/16/24

Reuse & climate: action for governments to take

The importance of embedding reuse into climate action plans—and how measuring consumption-based emissions gives a far more accurate depiction of a municipality’s climate impact.

Upstream 10/10/24 Upstream 10/10/24

Reuse, climate solutions & a just transition

A conversation summary from the summer meeting of the Reuse Solutions Network.

Upstream 10/3/24 Upstream 10/3/24

What is the best way to message reuse?

Messaging strategies and talking points tailored to the four audience types that local advocates commonly target to promote reuse in food service.

Upstream 9/18/24 Upstream 9/18/24

The Conscious Cafeteria Report

A national pilot study on reusable foodware for healthier, more sustainable schools.

Upstream 8/22/24 Upstream 8/22/24

Stories of charting a path to reuse

Three case studies from early adopters of Chart-Reuse, showing how customized data helped them leverage their cause and make the case for reuse.

Erin Covey-Smith 8/22/24 Erin Covey-Smith 8/22/24

Chart-Reuse case study: Aluminum cans versus reusable cups

A reuse service provider wanted to show stadiums the difference in carbon emissions between reusable cups and aluminum cans. A Chart-Reuse case study.

Erin Covey-Smith 8/22/24 Erin Covey-Smith 8/22/24

Chart-Reuse case study: How do you convince high school administrators to switch to reuse?

Students from a California high school wanted help convincing school administrators to replace the disposable bowl used in the cafeteria with a reusable one. With a little purchasing data and Chart-Reuse, we were able to show the impact of switching to reuse.

Erin Covey-Smith 8/22/24 Erin Covey-Smith 8/22/24

Chart-Reuse case study: Advancing Skip the Stuff legislation in Upstate New York

When city legislators required local data to consider Skip the Stuff legislation, a small community organization turned to Upstream for help. A Chart-Reuse case study.

Upstream 8/14/24 Upstream 8/14/24

Putting reuse into practice

Upstream’s vision for reaching the “tipping point” where reuse services become a widespread, cross-sectional, intraoperative industry and an everyday utility.