About

Overview

Upstream drives change toward a robust and enduring reuse economy, with a vision of living in a regenerative, circular, equitable world where people and the planet are treated as indisposable and communities thrive without waste.

Upstream’s vision for the reuse movement

Upstream is guided by a vision of the better alternative: systems which are regenerative, circular, and equitable.

Reuse is a climate change solution. Reuse beats single-use by every environmental measure.

Reuse is economic and workforce development. It creates safe, green, local jobs and keeps resources circulating locally while building community wealth.

Reuse is a sound business practice and $168B market opportunity. It facilitates access to new markets, drives innovation, and saves production and procurement costs.

Reuse is a justice solution. We must account for the intersectionality between the systems built around waste and the devastating effects of those systems on social, economic, and environmental justice.

More reuse means more joy. A circular economy increases human touch points and a sense of well-being and connectedness. Reuse takes care of people and the planet.

In all our work, we are guided by our values, which we call the 5 “C”s:

  • We are keen futurists and joyful problem-solvers. We not only see what is happening now and where the movement needs to go, we map an evidence-based path and make it so. We focus on solutions.

  • We are friend-makers. We work together with organizations making reuse the norm. We seek out and invite others to co-create the future we all want. We celebrate and amplify others’ successes.

  • We know we have a lot to learn from others and each other, so we seek out experiences and perspectives different from our own. We work to share with one another and align on common ground. We practice accountability, clear and consistent communication and feedback, and compassionate, open listening.

  • We recognize the importance and necessity of incorporating equity and justice values into our work. We prioritize the voices and identities that have been underrepresented within our organization’s decision-making, leadership roles, and the wider movement. We also firmly believe that building the new reuse economy is itself inherently a social, economic, and environmental justice (EJ) movement.

  • We bring our whole selves to work while maintaining a healthy life/work balance. We are focused and driven to do what’s essential while recognizing what can wait and keeping urgency and stress in check. We acknowledge that we are all humans who desire a happy and passionate workplace, and we approach each other with respect, compassion, ease and kindness.

Upstream’s Carbon Footprint

At Upstream, we know that reuse is a climate solution, but reuse alone cannot solve the climate crisis. If we are to see our way through to a robust and enduring reuse economy, we must take responsibility for our climate impact in as many ways as possible. As a remote team, our primary carbon output is due to travel for speaking engagements, planning retreats, and our on-the-ground implementation work at the Grand Canyon. 

Our commitment 

  • We calculate carbon impact when considering each speaking and travel opportunity, weighing it against the influence we could have in accelerating and normalizing reuse. 

  • We try to identify speaking opportunities in or near the cities where our thought leaders live.

  • We hold in-person team retreats once per year, locating them in hubs where a majority of team members live. 

  • For the trips we decide to prioritize, we calculate the carbon footprint and the offset fee via Atmosfair. We then contribute that money toward our pass-through funding program for reuse coalitions. The more we bolster local coalitions and help them strengthen their presence, the less future need there will be for national and international groups to travel. 

Upstream’s carbon impact in 2024: 22.6 Tons

We will provide quarter-by-quarter updates throughout 2025.

Key Project Initiatives & Publications

  • colorful bowls and saucers

    Reuse Wins Report

    Why reuse wins for people and planet, every time.

    Learn more
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