FAQs

Chart-Reuse by Upstream® is the industry’s first foodware reuse analytics platform. This transformative tool allows food service companies to calculate and manage their shift from single-use to reuse at large scale venues and campuses across North America.

If you’re working for and operating a food service company, then you know that much of institutional and fast casual dining—and virtually all takeout and delivery—happens using disposable food serviceware. And all those takeout containers, bags, boxes, condiment packets, plastic utensils, cold and hot cups and lids, and napkins add up. Nearly 1 trillion disposable food service products are used each year in the United States. The shift away from single-use and the throw-away economy is about more than reducing waste. Chart-Reuse can help measure the climate, financial, and waste impact of implementing a reuse system. For more information, read our Reuse Wins report, and visit our case studies page for examples of Chart-Reuse in action.

If you work for a Food Service Company, Reuse Service Provider, Reuse Coalition, Non-Profit Organization or in the Government and Public Sector, Chart-Reuse can help you make the case for switching to a reuse system by calculating the climate, financial and waste impact.

Chart-Reuse is free for non-profits and volunteer groups. Contact us for more information.

After signing up, all you will need is an inventory of your current disposables and an idea for what you want to phase out. Contact us if you’d like us to walk you through the process.

Upstream is continually looking for partners and collaborators. Contact us if you are interested in sponsoring the project, want to try it out, or simply want to learn more.

Upstream’s Wash Hub Map is a great starting point!