Philly Unwrapped Prevention First Policy Working Group Launches to Advance Reuse in Philadelphia
The Philly Unwrapped Prevention First Policy Working Group launched earlier this month, bringing together a cross-sector group of practitioners, advocates, and community leaders focused on one shared goal: reducing single-use waste at its source and building viable pathways for reuse in Philadelphia’s food system.
Philadelphia’s current waste strategy remains heavily oriented toward cleanup and diversion. This working group is focused upstream—examining how policy, procurement, and agency alignment can support waste prevention as a core function of city operations. Early efforts include mapping where authority already exists, identifying institutional barriers, and developing policy approaches that are both practical and scalable within the city’s current constraints.
The group is also looking closely at how to ensure that any transition to reuse is equitable, economically viable for businesses, and grounded in the realities of how systems actually function on the ground.
This is a space for people who want to engage seriously with the policy, economics, and infrastructure required to move from a single-use system to a reuse-based one.
We welcome those interested in contributing to this work to join the working group or connect with the broader Philly Unwrapped Coalition.
We rely on donations from our community. Your contribution keeps this work possible. Donate to help prevent single use plastic in your community today.