The group right here at GreenBiz has not been shy about writing, talking and even singing (solely within the bathe) the praises of reusable packaging. If society is to deal with the plastic waste disaster, it’ll take an all-of-the-above answer set with a giant deal with reuse within the packaging area.
We’ve witnessed momentum construct round reuse over the past a number of years in lots of packaging functions. This contains reusable cups at venues, reusable to-go containers, and let’s not overlook the financial juggernaut that’s the reusable water bottle. I may write an Atlantic Journal-length piece on why the water bottle phenomenon has gone too far, however I’ll put it aside for one more time.
As a result of reuse is such an necessary piece of our round future, we’re excited to companion with nationwide nonprofit Upstream once more in 2024 to convey The Reusies to Circularity 24 in Chicago. The Reusies are an award ceremony honoring the individuals, communities and organizations bringing reuse options for client packaging and merchandise to the world at giant.
“Now in its fourth 12 months, The Reusies has grown to be extra than simply an awards present — it’s a platform to focus on options, an inspirational spark to encourage innovation and collaboration, and a useful resource to assist the reuse motion develop,” stated Crystal Dreisbach, chief government officer at Upstream.
Previous winners have included game-changing innovators and people working to make reuse the truth of their communities. Some highlights of winners and finalists from previous Reusies embody:
- Reuse Seattle: The 2023 winner of the “Constructing Reuse” award brings reusable meals and beverage container options to town’s companies and residents. Its imaginative and prescient is for a handy, related, interoperable and standardized community of reuse techniques all through town.
- Thrilling: The 2022 “Vogue & Attire” award winner is a BIPOC-owned firm with a mission to rewrite the secondhand purchasing narrative, placing marginalized voices on the forefront. It helped digitize native, impartial thrift shops throughout the U.S. and is offering extra sources of income for classic retailer homeowners whereas additionally offering a second lease on life for clothes.
- Era Acutely aware: The 2023 winner for innovation in “Client Packaged Items” constructed a zero-waste, zero-water infrastructure to finish hygiene insecurity whereas diverting tons of waste. Their plastic-free refill stations distribute accessible, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, biodegradable laundry detergent sheets.
- Jacqueline Omania: The 2022 finalist for the “Activist” award is a grade faculty trainer in California’s Berkeley Unified College District. Omania has been educating her college students about reuse for a few years and helped move the groundbreaking Disposable Free Eating Ordinance in Berkeley.
If you already know of somebody working to make change by reuse, nominations for the 2024 Reusies are open by Feb. 29. Nominations are being accepted and awards will probably be given out for communities, activists and progressive reuse corporations.
