We believe there’s a better way - where we get what we want without all the waste.
Where people take pride in the steps they and their community have taken to reduce throw-away packaging. Where businesses partner with community leaders to provide healthy, nutritious food served in reusable cups and containers. Where we have way more fun innovating new ways of experiencing and delivering the bounty of human creativity than the limited throw-away model that stifles our imagination.
Throw-Away-Free Places
Remember smoke-free places? We’re taking it to the next level. Imagine if you could get what you want without all the waste.
Throw-Away-Free Communities
Forgot your cup? We’ve got you covered. Imagine if all coffee shops and restaurants had reusable cups and to-go boxes.
Throw-Away-Free Living
Throw-away is so yesterday. Join the movement to make reuse the new norm.
Plastics Exposed
Ever heard of BPA? That’s just one of thousands of toxic chemicals found in plastic.
Wonder what the best alternatives are to the worst plastic products? Read our report.
Are you ready to #breakfreefromplastic? We helped create and are co-leading the U.S. movement.
Want to impact plastic pollution AND climate change? Support UPSTREAM's Throw-Away-Free work. We need to make throw-away yesterday and reuse the new normal. Reuse beats single-use every time.
In all cases, when you minimize unnecessary throw-away packaging, you cut both carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. If you replace one disposable cup a day for one year with a reusable mug, you prevent: 23 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, 281 gallons of water usage, 16 pounds of solid waste, and one tree from being chopped down. (Franklin Associates Report, 2011).
Just imagine the benefits from moving millions of meals throughout the country from throw-away to reusables.