Let's protect public health, the environment, and local economies at the same time.

UPSTREAM is helping businesses, communities, and individuals save money and resources while protecting public health and the environment. Please visit our resources page to learn more about our work and the heroes growing the reuse movement every day.

Reuse RESOURCES FOR THIS MOMENT (Covid-19)

We Spark innovative solutions to plastic pollution.

But the problem isn't just plastic. It's really the throw-away culture at the root of plastic pollution and a host of other issues.

So we're building a movement to "make throw-away go away" through innovation, policy and culture change. And we want you to join us in changing the world.

Million

Population of cities with reusable foodware ordinance campaigns

Million

Annual visitors to venues transitioning from single-use to reuse through UPSTREAM's Throw-Away-Free Places

Restaurants

Now throw-away-free thanks to UPSTREAM's Indisposable Communities

Heroes

Creating solutions to plastic pollution profiled in our podcast and video series

MILLION

Population of cities with live reusable foodware ordinance campaigns

Join the movement

MILLION

Annual visitors to venues transitioning from single-use to reuse through UPSTREAM's Throw-Away-Free Places

Save money and the environment

RESTAURANTS

Now throw-away-free thanks to UPSTREAM's policy work

Start your campaign today!

HEROES

Creating solutions to plastic pollution -profiled in our podcast & video series

Send us your story

Introducing The INDISPOSABLE
VIdeo Series

Click here to see all episodes

As Featured in

"Of all the organizations I work with regularly, UPSTREAM is the one that most inspires me."

Kelly Kryc, Conservation Director, New England Aquarium

What We Do

Business Innovation

We help businesses innovate out of single-use to reuse and engage their customers around why it matters, and why it's better.

Policy

We help community leaders pass reuse ordinances that make sit-down dining disposable-free and pave the way for reusable to-go.

Culture Change

We tell stories of the pioneers and innovators going throw-away-free and we partner with them on campaigns to make single-use history.

“UPSTREAM has been instrumental in helping the global plastic pollution movement scale, and has consistently helped focus the conversation on real solutions.”
‍
‍Anna Cummins, Co-Founder, 5 Gyres Institute

The Indisposable Podcast

Explore Episodes

The Safety and Future of Reuse

An expert panel discussion on COVID transmission and how reuse businesses protect public health

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Black Lives are Not Disposable

UPSTREAM stands with #BlackLivesMatter.

Greenpeace Recycling Report: Plastics recycling isn’t working, but this creates new opportunities for reduce and reuse

Plastics recycling isn’t working, but this creates new opportunities for reduce and reuse

Plastic Exposed and the UNWRAPPED Conference

Learn about Plastic Exposed and the UNWRAPPED Conference in June

UPSTREAM's Origin Story

UPSTREAM was started by a group of activists. The two founders, Dr. Bill Sheehan and Helen Spiegelman, were pioneers of Zero Waste...

“UPSTREAM’s work around the economic benefits of reuse over single-use is essential for me as an entrepreneur.”

‍Mike Martin, CEO, RCup

Learn about food packaging chemicals and micro-plastic threats to human health from leading scientists.

Visit Conference Site

THERE'S A BETTER WAY THAN THROW-AWAY.

we stand with #blacklivesmatter.

Let's protect public health, the environment, and local economies at the same time.

We Spark innovative solutions to plastic pollution.