Upstream is a US-based non-profit driving change toward a robust and enduring reuse economy in the US & Canada by normalizing reuse, growing and supporting the reuse industry, and ensuring a supportive policy environment. Our work lies at the nexus of plastic pollution, climate change, and environmental justice.

Reuse is an impact investment opportunity

Capitalizing on a robust, enduring economy

Re-routing funding for solutions

Millions upon millions of dollars are currently invested in what people falsely believe to be full solutions to the problem of single-use waste and plastic pollution. Recyclable and compostable packaging are great in theory, but in practice they are fraught with problems and do not provide the full solution to all the problems caused by single-use.

Recyclable Packaging

  • Most ends up in landfills

  • Subject to market volatility 

  • Often down-cycled (especially glass & plastic)

Compostable Packaging

  • Most ends up in landfills, producing methane gas

  • Takes more resources to create

  • Much contains PFAS

Reuse service for foodservice, beverage, and consumer goods is a burgeoning and in-demand new industry. Reuse is an economic engine for our country and a solid way to build community wealth and resilience in the face of new challenges.

The impact/infrastructure relationship

Reuse infrastructure—the wash facilities (i.e., buildings) and the equipment (vehicles, dishwashing machines, etc.) that make the collection, wash, and redistribution logistics of reusable packaging possible—has a high upfront expense. Only when reuse infrastructure exists is reuse possible and everyone can benefit. This is very similar to the solar industry. The benefits and cost savings with the solar industry happen over time after the initial capital investment.

The Opportunity: Reuse in Sports & Entertainment Venues

Upstream is accelerating the adoption of reuse by stadiums and arenas as a means to catalyze the buildout of the infrastructure in metro areas.

Arenas and stadiums check three of the most important reuse boxes – volume, return, and reach – exposing millions of people to reuse every day and normalizing it as part of our everyday lives.

Once a stadium or arena decides to go reusable, they become an anchor contract for a reuse service provider. The reuse service provider can take an LOI or forward service contract to the bank to build out the infrastructure to accommodate the volume in that metro area. 

Once the infrastructure exists, every other sector in that metro area – schools, hospitals, grocery stores, local producers – can access reuse services at the cost that works for them, because the economy of scale has been established. 

Green Sports Alliance: Ripe for Reuse

The Green Sports’ Alliance’s membership is made up of 100% of sports teams and venue operators in the United States. They help their members understand how they can positively affect people and the environment, and they guide them to more positive actions and operations. If we look only at the membership of the Green Sports Alliance, Reuse Service Providers servicing those venues have only captured a small slice of the Green Sports Alliance’s total market.

95% of the market is using single-use.


Over 300 venues which are members of the Green Sports Alliance represent the uncaptured market share.

$40M investment = 12 new markets in 3 years

Investment in reuse service providers represents catalytic capital

Investment in reuse unlocks the market's potential, establishing the infrastructure that creates a flywheel effect for sustainable growth without requiring proportional ongoing investment. Catalytic capital in the amount of $40M would allow for 36 venues to shift to reuse, lending exponential impact of reuse infrastructure in 36 metro areas that could then service schools, restaurants, and shops.

The impact of investing in 12 new markets / 36 new venues

This represents only 12% of the Green Sports Alliance member market that is ready for action.

Upstream Policy Institute, Inc. (DBA Upstream®) is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation, with tax ID #43-2038678. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.