| Dear Anna,
We cannot deeply love anything without becoming vulnerable to loss. And we cannot become separate people, responsible people, connected people, reflective people without some losing and leaving and letting go
- Judith Viorst
I hope you have been enjoying what has been a most kind and temperate June in Central Ohio.
- Doug Calem, CORC Founder and Co-Director |
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| | CORC is Exploring a Community Based Focus |
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We have over 16 Central Ohio coffee shops participating in the Okapi reusable cup circular economy program. To date, we have focused on recruiting individual coffee shops, and the specific Central Ohio neighborhoods they are in has been a secondary concern. We believe a neighborhood-focused reuse effort in collaboration with local organizations could have a big impact. The reuse programs we implement could include both Okapi reusable cups and the reusable carry-out containers Green Bexley is piloting. There also may be grant funding available for this kind of approach.
Many of our participating shops are in higher income areas like Bexley, Clintonville, Grandview, and Worthington. We believe a neighborhood focus should start with a more moderate-income area. Franklinton may be a good fit with its mix of new development and low-income residents. We recently launched Okapi at One Line Coffee in Franklinton, and we are reaching out to possible collaborators like the Franklinton Board of Trade business group. |
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Are you aware of any civic or environmental groups in low-income areas of Columbus that may be interested in partnering with CORC? Please let us know if you do! |
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PR3, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower and scale reuse systems, recently unveiled a global symbol for reuse. Following a global design initiative that aimed to set a standardized symbol for reusable packaging and the reuse movement, the PR3 Global Standard Panel (an alliance of businesses, governments, designers, and NGOs) selected a symbol created by Epigrama Studios, based in Bogota, Columbia. |
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The symbol was designed to inspire action, enable behavior change, encourage adoption, and be recognizable, distinct, memorable, clear, and adaptable. The symbol can be applied to reuse systems (reusable packaging, labels, and infrastructure) and promotional material that meets specific criteria (e.g., packaging that minimizes the number of use cycles, is part of an infrastructure for reuse, such as collection points, facilities to sort, wash, and store the materials, and transport systems to collect and distribute the packaging, etc.).
Read the press release here. Note the list of US companies that currently have reuse systems and infrastructure in place. |
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| | Participate in the Break Free From Plastic Supermarket Audit! |
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Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), a global nonprofit working to achieve a future free from plastic pollution, is inviting us to participate in their brand audit of supermarkets. The audit seeks to gather data so BFFP can hold major retailers accountable for their plastic use.
Supermarkets are key players in the plastic pollution lifecycle. Supermarkets have a huge opportunity to help reduce plastic pollution but currently they have largely avoided responsibility for their role in the crisis. |
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The audit, which has been extended until July 31, targets these retailers doing business in Central Ohio Walmart Costco Target, and Kroger
Audit participants use an online questionnaire to submit data and takes anywhere from 15 to 60 minutes to complete (depending on how many sections your supermarket has).
Read more about the audit and access the online questionnaire here. |
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| | Take Action with The Story of Stuff Project and send a message to FIFA: Reverse the Reusable Bottle Ban at the World Cup! |
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Whether you are cheering on the US Men’s National Team or watching (with slack-jawed amazement) Lionel Messi’s scoring prowess, the 2026 World Cup games are not reuse friendly. FIFA has banned reuse containers from being sold at the World Cup venues in the Canada, the USA, and Mexico. This is pushing fans to buy single-use packaged water from inside stadiums, which is exclusively being sold by major World Cup sponsor Coca-Cola (the world’s #1 plastic polluting brand, per multiple BFFP brand audits).
Health is a major concern, with spectators worried about extreme summer heat and dehydration, as well as harmful microplastics in single-use plastic bottles. Not to mention environmental concerns, of excessive waste and plastic pollution.
Fans should have access to affordable water, without microplastics and wasteful packaging.
The World Cup is supposed to bring people together. But no one should choose between staying hydrated, creating more plastic waste, or paying whatever price is set inside a stadium. Spectators should be able to prioritize their own health, while cheering on some of the best athletes in the world.
Can you send a message to FIFA's executives? Read more and join the Story of Stuff Project to take action. |
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| FIFA will sell you this reusable bottle but you can’t bring it into the venue to watch a World Cup game! |
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| | Reuse Saves Lives
Reuse Saves Money
Reuse Creates Jobs |
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| Copyright (C) 2026 Plastic Reduction Project. All rights reserved.
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