Policy Resources

EPISODE 172: Organizers in states where it is challenging to pass policy are still doing good work to reduce plastic waste and encourage reuse. Plastic Free MKE shares the story of their success.

Episode 171: Preemption laws—or “bans on bans”—can make it hard for localities in more conservative states to pass plastic reduction and reuse policies. Learn insights & workarounds from on-the-ground advocates in FL, CO, and MT.

Episode 166: Christiana Dujardin, lead analyst for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s groundbreaking report, Unlocking A Reuse Revolution - Scaling Returnable Packaging, shares insights & takeaways on designing a returnable packaging system that can compete across the board with single-use.

Episode 165: A recording of the summer Reuse Solutions Network meeting, which dives deep on the interrelation between single-use plastic, climate change, environmental justice, and a just transition to reuse.

Episode 164: How passion, persistence, and good data can go a long way in creating change—with Yayoi Koizumi, founder of Zero Waste Ithaca and co-founder of BYO-US Reduces.

Episode 161: What are the magic ingredients to scale reuse? Learn insights from the nonprofit, reuse business, policymaking, government funding, and corporate perspectives.

Episode 160: Inspiring Berkeley High School students Sophie Horvath and Joshua Swift-Rawal share their journey in advocating for reuse at their school and beyond.

Episode 158: Behind the scenes at the INC-4 meeting in Ottawa, plus what’s next for an international agreement to reduce plastic pollution.

photo: Benjamin Von Wong

Episode 155: The town of Banff was among the first in Canada to pass a comprehensive single-use item reduction bylaw. Hear from Environmental Coordinator Carla Bitz about the grassroots efforts that spurred the journey to passing this policy, plus successes and challenges along the way.

Episode 154: Reusable LA co-leaders Emily Parker and Alison Waliszewski share some key insights about advocating for Reuse for Onsite Dining and other reuse policy within their community.

Episode 153: The audio version of Upstream’s Feb 15, 2024 livestream all about how to properly define reuse in policy—and why it’s important to distinguish between returnable vs. refillable packaging.

Episode 152: How compostable are bioplastics really? The answer: it depends. Learn more from Dr Lisa Erdle of the 5 Gyres Institute.

Episode 151: Perpetual is working to bring reuse to everyone by collaboratively designing reuse systems in mid-side cities across America.

Episode 150: More on navigating the challenges and opportunities in moving toward a new reuse economy built on principles of equity and justice for all.

Episode 149: A candid discussion on an equitable vision of a new reuse economy and aligning on how we talk about a Just Transition toward non-toxic reuse - a Reuse Solutions Network recast.

Episode 148: Executive Director of Plastic Free Restaurants John Charles Meyer returns to update us on progress made and lessons learned in funding foodservice establishments to switch to reuse.

Episode 147: Reuse Seattle collaborators McKenna Morrigan and Moji Igun share the inspiring story of the coalition’s growing success since we first chatted with them.

Episode 143: Judy Hilton, co-author of the recent groundbreaking report Making Reuse a Reality, dives deep on the paper’s findings and its implications for the Global Plastics Treaty.

Episode 141: Learn about how bottle bills work, how they catalyze reuse, and recent policy wins across the country, from the expert panelists on our latest installation of Indisposable Live®.

Episode 138: For the first episode in our series on reuse in schools, three high school students join us to share their perspectives as young leaders in the movement.

Episode 134: Recorded at Circularity 23 in June, an engaging panel discussion on the successes, challenges, opportunities and collaboration needed to enact the vision of a new reuse world.

Episode 128: Jess Zeuner, Program Specialist at World Wildlife Fund, discusses how WWF is helping companies translate plastic reduction commitments into measurable change.

Episode 122: Jules Bailey, President and CEO of the Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative, explains how the co-op serves as a steward of the state’s nationally recognized bottle bill—and how such a service can be a model for the New Reuse Economy.

Episode 120: As reuse gains momentum, experts explore how to build strong EPR policies for a just transition to a circular economy that prioritizes reuse.

Episode 115: Research, resources, and lessons learned from the Berkeley Reuse Ordinance, with Martin Bourque at The Ecology Center and Jessica Heiges at UC Berkeley.

Episode 112: Tiza Mafira, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Indonesia Plastic Bag Diet Movement, discusses recent successes and challenges.

Episode 105: If you missed our Indisposable Live panel, Envisioning the New Reuse Economy, catch the audio version of this engaging discussion here.

Episode 104: Ocean Plastics Leadership Network Founder Dave Ford walks us through the big picture ideas and strategies that are needed to bring about reuse solutions on a global scale.

EPISODE 98: The World Economic Forum plays a key role connecting the dots of the Reuse Movement around the world. Poonam Watine delves into WEF’s work in providing resources to scale reuse and innovate solutions across the value chain.

EPISODE 97: The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Marta Longhurst discusses the groundbreaking Plastics Pact Network, which connects national and regional initiatives worldwide to collaborate on solutions towards a circular economy for plastic.