Thank you to our partners for helping us honor the solutions and heroes of reuse.
“The Oscars of the Reuse Movement.”
The Reusies 2021 received 500+ million media impressions. Explore some of the press coverage below.
Press Release
Learn all about The Reusies™ National Reuse Awards™ 2021 live awards show.
The Reusies Panel Discussion
Watch extended cuts of the panel discussion from the Awards Show moderated by Danni Washington and featuring an all star cast of panelists.
The Indisposable Podcast: The Reusies Series 2021
Be inspired The Reusies™ 2021 partners, finalists, and winners as they share their journeys and insights into the bright future of the Reuse Movement.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 National Reuse Awards™ The Reusies™!
Activist of the Year: Crystal Dreisbach
"I found myself looking around and thinking, 'No one is doing the work that will make real systemic change.' Then I realized I was the one I was waiting for!" Crystal founded Don’t Waste Durham and has since created GreenToGo, Bull City Boomerang Bag, and The ReCirculation Project. She helps lead their policy work on single-use bags and serviceware and, in 2020, co-founded the Reuse Systems Alliance made up of 35+ reuse companies around the world. Crystal uses her activist platform to build awareness and catalyze action by running workshops and giving talks to a wide range of audiences. "Change is made by demonstrating that new, better ways are possible!"
Most Impactful Community Leadership: Reusable LA
Reusable LA is a coalition of organizations working to reduce plastic pollution in Los Angeles to safeguard public health, communities, and environment. They use legislative advocacy, outreach, and community engagement to promote reuse and refill in Los Angeles and reduce waste from single-use plastic products and packaging.
Reusable LA has taken a leadership role in promoting reusables through policy advocacy with campaigns like #SkiptheStuff and ensures its tools and resources reach LA’s diverse communities. The coalition also serves as a model for other communities to replicate, leading with mindful collaboration, strategic partnerships and by amplifying community voices to increase the adoption of reuse alternatives.
Most Innovative Reuse Company: Rheaply
Rheaply’s Asset Exchange Manager (AxM)™ combines an asset management system with an online marketplace that enables organizations to manage and transact physical assets more effectively. The platform measures and eliminates the need to procure new products, curbing waste in the process. Through this technology, Rheaply is solving resource gaps and supply chain inefficiencies to allow businesses, suppliers and consumers to co-exist on a secure reuse network.
Fan Favorite Reuse Company: Plaine Products
Plaine Products is working to make the world less trashy with its reusable aluminum containers for hair and body care products. The bottles are made to be durable so they're not damaged when customers ship them for refilling. They're also easily cleaned so they're safe to use multiple times over.
Honorable Mentions.
Here are 12 organizations we wanted to recognize who are innovating and pioneering reuse in different business sectors and communities.
Most Innovative Reuse Company
Dishcraft Robotics, New market innovator
r.Cup, Large-scale event innovator
LimeLoop, Mail order innovator
Returnity, Mail order innovator
Dispatch Goods, Take-out/Delivery Innovator
Sparkl Reusables, Take-out/Delivery Innovator
In Good Company, Emerging Innovator
Fill It Forward, Technology Innovator
Loop, Consumer Goods Innovator
Most Impactful Community Leadership
Bedford 2030, Most Impactful Community Leadership
Bainbridge Island Zero Waste, Most Impactful Community Leadership
The Panelists.
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Benjamin Von Wong
Benjamin Von Wong's work lies at the intersection of fantasy and photography and combines everyday objects with shocking statistics. It has attracted the attention of corporations, like Starbucks, Dell, and Nike, and has generated over 100 million views for causes like ocean plastics, electronic waste, and fashion pollution.
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Danni Washington
Danni Washington is fierce, focused, and on a mission. As a world-renowned television host and science communicator, Washington is the first African-American woman to host a nationally broadcast syndicated science television series. She is presently the host of The Genius Generation podcast.
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Elizabeth Segran
Elizabeth Segran is a senior staff writer at Fast Company magazine, where she covers fashion and sustainability. She is also the author of The Rocket Years: How Your Twenties Launch the Rest of Your Life. She received her Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley and her B.A. from Columbia University.
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Bridget Croke
Bridget leads external affairs including investor partnerships, industry partnerships, communications and special projects at Closed Loop Partners. She has spent the last 20 years building movements to help drive a more sustainable economy – from the local food movement to the circular economy.
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Matt Prindiville
Matt is CEO of Upstream and a recognized thought leader within the plastic pollution community, advising the United Nations Environment Program on their plastic pollution strategies. He is one of the founders of the global Break Free from Plastic Movement and the founder of the Cradle2 Coalition and Make It Take It Campaign.
The Judges.
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Ashima Sukhdev
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Benjamin Von Wong
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Danni Washington
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Elizabeth Segran
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Lauren Singer
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Presenting Sponsors.
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Upstream sparks innovative solutions to plastic pollution by helping people, businesses and communities shift from single-use to reuse. For us, the problem isn’t just single-use plastic. It’s single-use itself and the current “one-way, throw-away” model for getting us what we want and need. But we know there’s a better way than throw-away, and we’re focused on ideating and accelerating it through business innovation, policy and social impact campaigns.
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Closed Loop Partners is a New York-based investment firm comprised of venture capital, growth equity, private equity, project-based finance, and an innovation center focused on building the circular economy.
The Talent.
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Kori Withers
Kori Withers is an American singer/songwriter who is best known as the daughter of the late American singer Bill Withers and his wife, Marcia Withers. She is also known for her work on Scrum (2021), Still Bill (2009) and Booker T & Special Guests: Sound the Alarm, Live at the El Rey (2013).
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Michael Franti
Michael Franti is a rapper, musician, poet, activist, documentarian, and singer-songwriter, known for his participation in many musical projects, most with a political and social emphasis. His most recent album with his band Spearhead is Work hard and Be Nice.
Get Involved.
Has The Reusies inspired you to do more in the reuse community? Join us!
Community Coalitions
Upstream seeds and supports community coalitions to develop reuse policies and infrastucture. Join - or start - a coalition in your area today!
National Reuse Network
The National Reuse Network is a movement of activists and innovators creating a world without toxic, single-use food and beverage packaging. Join leaders across the US working to promote reuse and reduce single-use food and beverage packaging.
Opportunities for Reuse Entrepreneurs
Are you a Reuse entrepreneur looking to partner with investors? Connect with Closed Loop Partners to explore the possibilities.
Support for food service operators
Upstream’s Business Innovation program is here to help your business or venue shift from single-use to reuse in ways that cut costs, eliminate waste, protect the public and planet's health, and build local resiliency. Are you ready to make the switch?
Reuse Wins
Upstream’s groundbreaking report Reuse Wins shows how a new reuse economy is emerging to replace the use of single-use products in food service.
Become a Solutioneer
Join Upstream’s community of reuse revolutionaries. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn – and subscribe to The Indisposable Podcast.
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