Climate, Plastics & Reuse

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the window for limiting global warming to relatively safe levels is rapidly closing.

Immediate and unprecedented action from every country will be necessary in order to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels.

However, there are many political, economic, and behavioral challenges that will need to be overcome.

Today’s “throw-away” economy has significantly contributed to the 90% increase in global carbon emissions since 1970. Food systems generate 34% of greenhouse gases caused by human activities. Transport, packaging, retail, processing, consumption, and end-of-life disposal make up 29% of the emissions created by food systems - while food packaging alone accounts for 5.4% of all food system emissions.

The data is clear: Reuse must play a key role in addressing climate change. View Upstream’s Climate, Plastics, and Reuse Toolkit below to learn more about how reuse can be a solution to our climate & plastics problems, and what organizations, governments, and individuals can do to be a part of the movement.