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To our friends and UPSTREAM solutioneers,

It'd be an understatement to say that 2020 has met us with a lot of challenges. But for us, that doesn't mean it's time to throw our hands up and walk away from solving the world's problems. And since you're here co-creating a better way than throw-away with us, we know this isn't the case for you either.

More than ever, 2020 has shown us that the old ways weren't working. The need for better solutions keeps calling us together.

We've adopted a word recently to describe this solutions-focused community: "solutioneers." 

Being a solutioneer means turning every challenge into an opportunity.

It means that we're not going to get lost focusing on the problems. 

It means that we are ready, open-minded, and committed to turning this well of challenges into a world of solutions. And because we know solutions need to involve us all equitably, it means moving forward together.

This week, we're excited to share content and resources from solutioneers in our community. 

• How do we go from band-aid fixes to long-term solutions? Learn more about our Director of Business Innovation and her career path toward reuse solutions in our latest blog, Samantha Sommer & her journey to become a Solutioneer. 

• We also wanted to hear about solutions across the UPSTREAM community, so for our latest episode on the Indisposable Podcast, we passed the mic to YOU. Tune into Plastic-Free Solutioneers and learn how everyday heroes are making a difference from Colorado to Canada to New Hampshire.

• And why stop there? Do you have a story to inspire more actionable solutions? Reach out to us at info@upstreamsolutions.org - our ears are always open!
   

To a better way together,

Brooking, Erin, Eva, Julie, Lauren, Matt, Miriam, Samantha, Vanessa & the rest of the UPSTREAM team

Dear UPSTREAM Solutioneers,

Despite the many challenges among us, we know that momentum for change is building more than ever right now. We know that wherever we are headed, we are stronger together. And in our ecosystem of activism, none of our steps or actions are separate. 

So this week, we are honored to connect you to game-changing environmental leaders who  keep us moving toward the change we want to see. And we invite you to keep showing up and imagining what's possible with us.

FROM THE FRONTLINES

• We want to thank everyone who participated in our livestream last week on Racial Justice & Environmentalism. It's not easy to engage in discussions around racial equity in any sector, but you did the work to show up, ask questions, and look ahead. Learn more about the problems and solutions of intersectional environmentalism from our Together & Inseparable event and SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel to stay connected.

BEHIND THE SCENES

• Ever wonder how to create change in the corporate sector? When Starbucks announces a straw ban or Coke announces a refill pilot, who are the activists driving that change? Learn more about Using Shareholder Pressure to Get Big Brands to Clean Up Plastic Pollution with Conrad MacKerron from As You Sow on our latest guest blog.

IN EVERYDAY LIFE

• When we eat out, we're used to our food and flatware being wrapped in and served on throw-away plastic junk. But this is no longer  the case at Lincoln Academy High School in Newcastle, Maine. Meet the chef who took the trash out of the cafeteria, and share these practical solutions with educators in your community.

We all want to solve the world's problems, and a lot of us are discouraged right now. But the more we come together, the more opportunities we can create for a better way. No matter how challenging things get, now is the time to keep showing up, and we are here for it. And we're grateful that you are, too.

In perseverance and hope,

Brooking, Erin, Eva, Julie, Lauren, Matt, Miriam, Samantha, Vanessa & the rest of the UPSTREAM team

Dear Solutioneers,

Well, it's our month - welcome to an unprecedented Plastic Free July!

Not only is the reuse movement picking up momentum again, but for the first time, the world can't ignore how a system that treats our resources, health, and lives as disposable - is just not working. And now, we have an entire month to invite others to imagine what's possible when we co-create a new normal together. 

So let's get started.

• THE VISION: This week, we're expanding our vision on Jumpstarting the New Normal: Return to Better. Learn more about how we can "stop business as usual" and create a better way together.

• THE DARE: Sure we want a #NewNormal - but can we dare to dream it? Join the culture-hacking story wizards of Dancing Fox in transforming what seems impossible into what's inevitable in our guest blog feature this month, Impossible is a Dare.

• THE DOING: We're still stockpiling resources for your family, community, and business to stay safe and sustainable! Check out our Reuse Resource page for updated resources about reuse during COVID, including expert videos and reopening guidelines curated by our friends at Oceanic Global. 

Learn something? Share something! Let's keep the momentum going for a solutions-focused #PlasticFreeJuly.

Onward and ahead,

Brooking, Erin, Eva, Julie, Lauren, Matt, Miriam, Samantha, Vanessa & the rest of the UPSTREAM team

Dear friends,
 

As we work through challenges within the reuse movement and as a broader society, it is also important to take time to celebrate progress. Together with YOU - we're still showing there's a better way than throw-away. 

This week, we saw signs from across the country that reuse is still a priority - and key to building the future we want to see:

• In California, Governor Newsom decided to reinstate the plastic bag ban after a 3 month rollback due to coronavirus concerns. 

• Meanwhile, while many states pushed their bag-ban plans down the road, Vermont is holding steady with their plan to ban plastic bags statewide on July 1.

• And as further proof that reuse is safe during COVID, UPSTREAM & Greenpeace partnered to put out a statement with over 115 signatures from health experts, which is being covered widely by media like Grist, San Francisco Chronicle and The Guardian. 

Gains like these come about in large part thanks to the momentum and resources we have been building and will continue to build - and we are deeply grateful for the role you play in this ongoing journey. 

All the very best, 

Matt, Julie, Vanessa, Miriam, Samantha, Eva, Lauren, Erin & the rest of the UPSTREAM team

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

If you aren't following us on Instagram, follow us now! One of our next 100 new followers will be entered to win an UPSTREAM reusable produce bag.  

To our existing followers, don't fret! Share something from our social media toolkit to your Instagram feed and tag @upstreamsolutions and you'll get a chance to win, too.

We will notify our winners by direct message on Thursday, July 2nd.

Dear UPSTREAM friends and Solutioneers: 

No matter the times, it always feels good to connect and come together as a community. So we are grateful to be coming to you today with inspiration, resources and thoughts to share. 
 

• "If you're not having fun, you're not able to persevere through the challenges," says Madhav Malhotra, who created The Plastic Shift with his friend and fellow high school student Ayleen Farnood - driven by concern and curiosity to learn about plastic pollution, its roots, and the solutions. They share more about their fruitful - and fun! - journey on the Indisposable Podcast.

• Ever wondered what the differences are between "downstream" and "upstream" solutions? Bottom line: we''re trying to focus on just solutions which last, like replacing throw-away systems with economically and environmentally sustainable ones. And we've got a new platform of curated resources where you can find solutions to help make throw away go away. Check it out on our Instagram #linkinbio at @upstreamsolutions - and start following us if you're not already.

• Black. Lives. Matter. We've said it before and we'll continue to say it until the truth of the statement is reflected in the actions of our nation. Breonna Taylor's life mattered; George Floyd's life mattered; Walter Wallace's life mattered - and all the Black lives that came before and were ended too soon due to the injustices in our country, matter. Our hearts are with the communities in Philadelphia today and we're committed more than ever to keeping racial justice central as we seek to co-create a better way for all.

Have a safe, happy, low-waste Halloween - and please VOTE, for people and the planet. 

All the best from your friends at UPSTREAM,

Brooking, Erin, Eva, Julie, Matt, Miriam, Samantha, Vanessa & the rest of the UPSTREAM team

Dear UPSTREAM Solutioneers,

With everything going on in the world right now, you may be feeling small and powerless. We get it. But we also know that there's a lot we can do. And our collective buying power is one thing that can help change the conversation when it comes to plastic pollution. 

You don't have to be a billionaire to be heard. Businesses and corporations care where and how we spend our pennies, and this week, we're focusing on steps the average consumer can take to get them to step up when it comes to reuse. 

ON THE BLOG: One impactful way to tell food service businesses that you care is to support those who accept or offer reusable food and beverage containers - from refilling your water bottle, to refilling your coffee cup, lunchbox, groceries and even cleaning products and toiletries. City to Sea has an app for that, and founder Natalie Fee is here to tell you all about it in "Refill. Putting the power to reduce plastic in our hands." 

ON THE PODCAST: You, too, can be an "investment activist." You don't have to be a high roller on the stock market for publicly traded companies to hear your voice. Conrad MacKerron of As You Sow explains to our own Matt Prindiville the concept of shareholder advocacy, giving even minor shareholders an opportunity to put pressure on big brands to clean up plastic pollution. Tune in, and then read more about the success of shareholder advocacy on Conrad's blog post. 

Whether you're refilling on the go, engaging as a shareholder, making a donation, or showing the world you care about reuse in any number of other ways - thank you. Even if your actions feel small, together, we got this, and we will create a better way than throw-away.

All the very best,

Brooking, Erin, Eva, Julie, Lauren, Matt, Miriam, Samantha, Vanessa & the rest of the UPSTREAM team


P.S. Of course, one last small step you can take to bring about big change - this one without spending a penny - is to vote.  ??

Justice for people and the planet are not separate movements.

Join us LIVE to discuss racial equity in the environmental movement, building relationships with communities of color and indigenous groups, and uplifting marginalized voices in policy and funding decisions.
 

Our panelists:
 

Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali, Vice President of Environmental Justice, Climate, and Community Revitalization, The National Wildlife Federation 

Miriam Torres, Program Manager, Resources Legacy Fund

Letise LaFeir (hosting), UPSTREAM Board Member
 

Dear Solutioneers, 

As different as the summer of 2020 has been, we hope this message finds you safe and well. 

This month, we invited our friends on Instagram to share their stories for a chance to join us on the Indisposable Podcast. We thank everyone who entered and are excited to congratulate Mladen Gajic, Jess Blasko, and Ryan Cope as UPSTREAM's Plastic Free July Solutioneer storytellers! Be sure to subscribe and tune in to the podcast on iTunes or Spotify to be inspired by everyday people doing extraordinary things.

Typically, Plastic Free July covers social media feeds with turtles and ocean plastic photos to raise awareness about marine pollution. And as much as we adore our beaches, the state of our coasts is only part of a much bigger problem. So to close out this month, we're spotlighting the stories that the environmental movement has largely ignored - those of the people.

• As a grassroots organizer for 10 years, Yvette Arellano has bridged her work from the streets of Houston to the decision-making table of an international movement. Learn more about the gap between environmentalism and environmental justice, as well as the opportunities for intersectionality, on our latest blog, Why the planet needs us to care about each other.

• Plastic production and pollution disproportionately impacts communities of color, and we can't solve this crisis without their voices. Watch the latest video from the Break Free from Plastic's campaign for a Just Recovery featuring Briann Moye, Environmental Justice organizer for OnePA.

• The only way to sustain a movement is to share it. Keep listening to the stories from impacted communities and sharing their voices so we can continue working on better ways for a brighter tomorrow.

This Plastic Free July hasn't been like any before it, and we're grateful to have shared it with thought leaders and change-makers like you.
 

Stay safe, hydrated, and hopeful,

Brooking, Erin, Eva, Julie, Lauren, Matt, Miriam, Samantha, Vanessa & the rest of the UPSTREAM team

To our friends & supporters,
 

Plastic Free July is a month-long invitation to look at where we can replace single-use stuff. So let's talk about what we can do now, and how we can do better tomorrow. This week at UPSTREAM, we're focused on uplifting sustainable systems in our everyday lives, and we want to hear your ideas, too.

• Want to turn the tap off the flow of plastic at home? Check out how Lindsey McCoy's small business is helping thousands build a better way than throw-away with refillable systems for toiletries and bath products. Learn more, and be sure to check out Plaine Products with promo code UPSTREAM for 20% off your order.

• How are our current systems impacting the world at large and marginalized communities the hardest? Check out Break Free From Plastic's latest video on why sustainable systems are vital for a Just Recovery.

• We want to hear from you! Do you have an innovative business plan, vision, or start-up to get rid of single-use stuff? You could be the next guest on our Indisposable Podcast! Learn more about our Instagram contest running through the end of the month - there are just two more weeks to enter!

We believe in a Just Recovery that treats our future as indisposable. And we're excited to #buildabetterway together. 

Here's to a plastic-free future,

Brooking, Erin, Eva, Julie, Lauren, Matt, Miriam, Samantha, Vanessa & the rest of the UPSTREAM team

Dear friends,
 

The recent outpouring of solidarity with Black Lives Matter by environmental groups across the country shows that we are waking up to the deep-rooted racial inequities in our society. And as part of the environmental community, we acknowledge that UPSTREAM needs to show accountability for why it has taken so long for us and others to do so.

We invite our friends and partners to join us in exploring the historical inequities within environmental organizing, so that we may work on dismantling them together.

This week.

• Join us for a candid conversation with UPSTREAM's Brooking Gatewood & Matt Prindiville, From White Environmentalism to Anti-racism on the latest episode of the Indisposable Podcast. We discuss the issues and realities around white bias and why so many environmental groups - including UPSTREAM - continue to be primarily staffed and led by white people, and how we must do better.

• We also encourage you to dive into this work more deeply with our latest blog, For environmental groups to be anti-racist, we must come to terms with the past. We need to understand the roots of these oppressive structures in order to break them down and work together to build a better way.

We are grateful to the environmental organizations and activists who have stood up in solidarity with Black people in this critical moment. The road will be long to fully integrate anti-racism within our work and personal lives, and we thank you for joining us on this challenging yet critical journey.

With hope and solidarity,

Brooking, Erin, Eva, Julie, Lauren, Matt, Miriam, Samantha, Vanessa & the rest of the UPSTREAM team