The Reuse Guide: Sustainable Brands and Organizations Leading the Way

As sustainable and purpose-led businesses and nonprofits continue to tackle the climate crisis, reuse is emerging as one of the most impactful strategies to reduce single-use waste and build circular systems. Reuse isn’t just about eliminating disposables—it’s about creating smarter, scalable solutions that work for people and the planet.

This guide highlights innovative brands and organizations leading the reuse movement across industries like beauty and personal care, food and hospitality, logistics and packaging, home and kitchen, and advocacy and movement building. Whether you’re looking for new vendors and partners, ideas for your next campaign, or just want to support mission-aligned companies, this list is a jumping-off point for innovation and action.

Advocacy & Movement Building

Upstream
Upstream advocates for policy and cultural shifts that support reuse, while also nurturing the growth of reuse businesses. Their resources, case studies, and campaigns help businesses and nonprofits better understand systems-level solutions to waste. As a thought leader in the reuse economy, Upstream is a valuable resource for any organization seeking to go beyond individual product swaps toward systemic change.

Reuse Alliance
The Reuse Alliance envisions a future where reuse is the default, not the exception. They support the development of a reuse-focused economy by advocating for durable product design and responsible manufacturing. Businesses and nonprofits can connect with Reuse Alliance to find collaborators, support policy change, and participate in building a stronger reuse movement.

Surfrider Foundation Ocean Friendly Restaurants
The Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Restaurants (OFR) program recognizes and supports restaurants committed to eliminating wasteful single-use plastics. Through a clear set of criteria—including dining with reusable foodware like plates, utensils, cups, ramekins, and more—OFR helps restaurants adopt sustainable practices that protect the ocean and planet. This growing network of nearly 600 OFRs across the country not only promotes healthier dining choices, but also drives systemic change by inspiring broader plastic reduction efforts. Ideal for restaurants, cafes, and food service businesses, the OFR program provides a simple, impactful framework to make sustainability a core part of operations.

 

Beauty & Personal Care

Last Object
Known for the LastSwab and LastRound, Last Object creates high-quality reusable alternatives to disposable hygiene and beauty products. Their innovative materials offer durability and performance, with products lasting hundreds to thousands of uses. The company’s mission is to eliminate single-use waste while enhancing daily care routines, making them a go-to reference for zero-waste beauty brands or health nonprofits looking to promote low-waste living.

Elate Beauty
Elate offers customizable, refillable makeup palettes and consciously formulated beauty products. Their packaging system allows customers to replace individual items without discarding entire palettes, cutting down significantly on waste. Vegan, cruelty-free, and sustainably sourced, Elate’s products appeal to consumers and businesses that align with ethical and environmentally responsible beauty. Their model is especially relevant for salons, spas, or health-conscious brand collaborators.

Plaine Products
Plaine Products offers personal care items in refillable aluminum bottles, helping eliminate single-use plastics in the bathroom. Businesses can subscribe to refill systems, return empty bottles, and reorder seamlessly. Their sustainable packaging model supports a closed-loop refill system that prioritizes safe, vegan, and non-toxic ingredients. This model not only serves individuals but is applicable to businesses in the wellness, hospitality, and nonprofit sectors aiming to reduce their plastic footprint.

Saalt
Saalt creates premium menstrual cups and discs that are safe, comfortable, and reusable for up to 10 years. Their products significantly reduce the waste associated with disposable period products, and they give back through global menstrual equity initiatives. Businesses aligned with health, education, or gender equity missions can learn from Saalt’s holistic model combining environmental and social impact. Their products are also ideal for sustainable subscription boxes or health-focused retail.

Food, Beverage & Hospitality

Again Again
Again Again is a technology platform that powers reusable container systems tailored to a brand’s operations, products, and customers. Their system supports lending and returning food and beverage containers through a digital interface, making waste-free takeout accessible and scalable. Businesses benefit from container autonomy and brand continuity while reducing single-use waste. Their platform also allows consumers to track their impact and fosters a connected community committed to a circular economy.

LJ Crafted Wines
LJ Crafted Wines is an urban winery and tasting room in San Diego offering small-batch Napa Valley wines served directly from the barrel into reusable wine growlers. Reviving the tradition of refillable bottles, LJ Crafted Wines minimizes the environmental impact of glass production while delivering high-quality wines. Their lightweight, durable bottles use fewer raw materials and provide a protective, oxygen-free environment to enhance wine flavor. Perfect for wine lovers and businesses aiming to reduce single-use packaging, LJ Crafted Wines proves that sustainability and exceptional taste can go hand in hand.

OKAPI Reusables

OKAPI Reusables is a membership-based reusable cup program helping coffee lovers skip single-use waste. For a one-time $10 fee, members can borrow and return barista-approved, dishwasher-safe cups at cafes across Portland, Seattle, the SF Bay Area, and more. With a simple borrow-return-repeat model, OKAPI makes it easy to enjoy your favorite drinks sustainably while supporting a growing network of eco-conscious cafés.

The Rounds
Operating in select U.S. cities, The Rounds delivers natural and organic groceries directly to consumers in a zero-waste, circular delivery model. Customers receive weekly refills and return empty containers on a scheduled basis. With a growing network of local partners, The Rounds integrates convenience with sustainability—making it an ideal inspiration for urban food businesses or nonprofits interested in reducing single-use packaging. Their logistics system shows how local delivery can support reuse at scale.

r.World
r.World provides reusable cup systems for stadiums, festivals, museums, and other venues. Their model includes logistics, washing, and quality control, ensuring reusables are returned, sanitized, and used up to 300 times. With return rates between 94-99%, their systems show that high-volume, high-impact reuse is possible. This is a powerful example for event producers, cultural institutions, and hospitality businesses exploring alternatives to disposable serviceware.

 

Kitchen & Home

Hydro Flask
Hydro Flask promotes reuse through its durable drinkware and food containers, and its #RefillForGood campaign encourages conscious consumer habits. Their trade-in program incentivizes users to return old bottles for recycling while receiving credit for future purchases. With stainless steel products designed for longevity and performance, Hydro Flask is a leader in reusable gear. Businesses in retail, outdoor recreation, and employee gifting can draw inspiration from their circular design practices.

Stasher
Stasher produces reusable silicone bags that replace hundreds of single-use plastic bags annually. Their food-grade silicone and patented sealing technology make them a practical, sustainable solution for food storage, travel, and organization. With custom branding available, Stasher is an ideal partner or vendor for sustainable product lines, gift bundles, or branded merchandise. They exemplify how consumer convenience and environmental values can align.

GoodCups

GoodCups offers reusable K-Cups as a sustainable alternative to single-use coffee pods, helping reduce waste from daily caffeine habits. These refillable coffee filters are compatible with Keurig machines and are made from BPA-, lead-, and DEHP-free materials. Designed for durability and ease of cleaning, they give users an affordable and eco-friendly way to enjoy their coffee without the environmental impact of disposable pods. For businesses or break rooms trying to green their operations, this is an easy switch with big waste-reduction potential.

Ahimsa

Ahimsa creates stainless steel dishes designed by a pediatrician with a focus on children’s health and environmental impact. Founded by Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, a mom and pediatrician, Ahimsa aims to eliminate plastic at mealtimes, replacing it with durable, dishwasher-safe alternatives that don’t leach chemicals into food. Their products are thoughtfully designed to support healthy eating habits in children through portion-friendly designs and supportive guides for families. Beyond the home, Ahimsa also gives back by donating stainless steel dishes to schools and children in need, helping reduce single-use waste in cafeterias. The brand’s name, rooted in the principle of non-violence, reflects its commitment to protecting both children’s health and the planet.

 

Manufacturing, Packaging & Shipping Systems

A SMART MOVE

A SMART MOVE is a San Diego-based moving company offering reusable plastic moving box rentals as a sustainable alternative to cardboard. Their zero-waste, eco-friendly bins make moving easier, faster, and cleaner, while reducing landfill waste. In addition to box rentals, they provide professional packing, moving, and storage services for residential and commercial clients.

Preserve
Preserve is a pioneer in sustainable consumer goods, turning everyday materials like recycled yogurt cups and ocean-diverted plastics into stylish, eco-friendly household products. Their innovative “Gimme 5” takeback program collects #5 plastics and transforms them into new items, closing the loop and fostering a true culture of reuse. With offerings now extending into plant-based compostables and food service products, Preserve’s focus on recycling, reuse, and low-carbon manufacturing makes them a key partner for conscious consumers, retailers, and hospitality businesses looking to reduce waste without sacrificing design or performance.

Returnity
Returnity designs and manages reusable shipping and delivery packaging systems for forward-thinking brands and retailers. Their mission is to eliminate packaging waste by focusing on the systems that make reuse scalable and cost-effective. With custom, durable shipping bags and boxes, Returnity supports use cases such as internal logistics, try-before-you-buy programs, and retail operations. By enabling circular packaging loops, they help businesses cut waste and reduce costs in a practical and sustainable way.

 

Let’s Keep This Movement Growing

These brands and organizations are actively reimagining how we consume, reuse, and reduce waste in our daily lives and business operations. Whether you’re developing a new campaign, rethinking packaging, or looking to partner or support values-aligned companies, these examples offer practical ideas and inspiration.

This is an active and growing list that we’ll continue to update as we discover more leaders in reuse. If you know a brand or organization we should include—or want to submit your own—please email us at hello@nadimarketing.com or contact us here.

Let’s build a more circular world, together.