Upstream Announces Community & Activist Winners, Most Innovative Finalists of The Reusies® 2024
Fourth Annual awards program returns, presented live at Circularity 24 in Chicago
Media Contact:
press@upstreamsolutions.org
Social: #TheReusies; LinkedIn; Instagram
NEW YORK April 4, 2024 - Upstream, a leading change agency for reuse, today announced the Most Innovative Reuse Company finalists, as well as the Activist and Community of the Year winners of The Reusies® 2024.
The Reusies is a groundbreaking awards program that champions the heroes making reuse a reality by uplifting their stories and providing them with meaningful support. The Reusies received applications from over 100 innovative startups, environmental activists and community leaders that are helping to grow the reuse movement across the US and Canada.
This year’s program returns in person to GreenBiz’s Circularity 24 conference in Chicago on May 23, with a video recording available afterwards. The program will be hosted by Bryan Lewis, Program Manager and head of the Emerging Leaders program at GreenBiz. Speakers and presenters will include thought leaders of the reuse movement and past winners including GL Genco, CEO of Generation Conscious and Upstream CEO Crystal Dreisbach.
“Now in its fourth year, The Reusies has grown to be more than just an awards show – it’s a platform to highlight solutions, an inspirational spark to encourage innovation and collaboration, and a resource to help the reuse movement grow,” said Crystal Dreisbach, who, years prior to joining Upstream, was recognized as the very first Activist of the Year winner in 2021. “I’m thrilled to see this year’s group of reuse communities, activists, and businesses leading the way with their transformative, innovative, and impactful work to make reuse the norm.”
“The Reusies has grown to be more than just an awards show – it’s a platform to highlight solutions, an inspirational spark to encourage innovation and collaboration, and a resource to help the reuse movement grow.”
Community and Activist Winners
This year's recipients for Community and Activist of the Year were chosen by a panel of experts and influential voices across the plastic pollution and climate movements. They were awarded with both monetary rewards and valuable in-kind prizes. The Activist awardees will be featured during a special livestream event scheduled for Tuesday, April 23, 2024. You can secure your spot by registering here.
The Community of the Year winners are:
With honorable mentions to Chippin’ In and the City of Terrebonne.
The Activist of the Year winners are:
With honorable mentions to John Charles Meyer and Marta Young.
Most Innovative Finalists announced
Finalists for the Most innovative Reuse Company in Food & Beverage, Consumer Packaged Goods and Fashion & Apparel were selected by thought leaders across various industries – and winners will be announced live, in-person at Circularity. These outstanding finalists exemplify pioneering organizations who are advancing reuse with forward-thinking models and scalable solutions.
The finalists for Most Innovative Reuse Company are:
Consumer Packaged Goods: Green Gooding, Cabinet Health, and Good Filling
Fashion & Apparel: Pact Group, rax, and Coblrshop
Honorable mentions go to Fizz Now in Food & Beverage; Bee Wild Outside and Lime Loop in Consumer Packaged Goods; and Helpsy in Fashion & Apparel.
"We are delighted to again serve as venue host for The Reusies as it continues to evolve and grow,” said Jon Smieja, VP of Circularity at GreenBiz. “We are pleased to work closely with Upstream to showcase even more reuse innovation at Cricularity 24 this year."
Most Innovative award winners will be selected by a combined panel of judges and public voting. Judges include:
Thom Almeida, Lead, Circular Economic Systems, World Economic Forum
Yinka Bode-George, Founder & CEO, Sustain our Future Foundation
Patrick Duffy, Founder, Global Fashion Exchange
Heather Hogan, Executive Director, Ocean Plastics Leadership Network
Danielle Holly, Lead, North America, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Roger McClendon, Executive Director, Green Sports Alliance
Jon Smieja, VP of Circularity, GreenBiz Group
Mary Jo Snavely, Director, Private Sector Engagement, World Wildlife Fund
The Reusies will be presented live at GreenBiz’s Circularity 24 in Chicago on May 23, and will include profiles on the finalists and winners, award presentations, special guest appearances and a panel discussion of reuse leaders across different industries.
A recording of the show will be available afterwards at www.TheReusies.org and Upstream’s YouTube channel.
Category-exclusive sponsorship, advertising opportunities and brand integrations are also available. For more information, email TheReusies@upstreamsolutions.org. For press inquiries, contact press@ustreamsolutions.org.
Promotional partners of The Reusies 2024 include:
About Upstream:
Upstream is a US-based non-profit and leading change agency for the reuse movement in the US and Canada. They accelerate the transition from our current throw-away economy to one that is regenerative, circular and equitable by normalizing reuse, growing and supporting the reuse industry, and creating an enabling policy environment for reuse.
Some of their offerings include several reuse networks & forums for policymakers, community groups, and businesses; transformational partnership opportunities for corporations to transition to reuse; and storytelling platforms including The Indisposable Podcast®, Indisposable Live®, and The Reusies®.