“At Upside, we didn’t add sustainability on top — we built it into our foundation.”
That’s how Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer Wayne Lin described the connection between the company’s mission and its sustainability efforts. Upside, which offers a platform that enables consumers to get cash back on essential purchases like gas and groceries, is guided by the aim to empower both individuals and the businesses they rely on every day.
But according to Lin, the company isn’t just focused on helping people and businesses thrive — it’s equally dedicated to protecting the planet. That’s why the organization has committed one percent of its revenue to sustainability initiatives tied to its areas of operation.
As Upside continues to scale, its environmental efforts will grow along with it, driving its aim to “transform everyday errands into greater change.”
In honor of Earth Day, we caught up with Lin to learn how Upside prioritizes sustainability and hear his advice for like-minded leaders at other organizations.
In what ways does Upside embrace sustainable practices?
We use everyday commerce to empower people and businesses — and to protect the world around us. We’ve committed one percent of all revenue to sustainability initiatives tied to our areas of operation, a pledge we began in 2016 and strengthened further in 2022 by joining the global Pledge 1% movement.
While millions of people use Upside to stretch their dollars and tens of thousands of businesses use it to earn more profit, we do our part behind the scenes to transform everyday errands into greater change.
The Impact of Upside's 1% Pledge
According to Lin, Upside’s one percent pledge will offset nearly 4.5 million metric tons of CO₂. That’s the equivalent of taking 963,000 cars off the road for a year and rescuing more than 3.75 million pounds of food that would otherwise go to waste.
How does sustainability reinforce Upside’s mission?
We use the commerce of today to help our world for tomorrow. Our platform is built to deliver value — financially for consumers and businesses, and environmentally for the planet. That alignment is intentional and central to how we operate.
As our footprint grows, so does our ability to reinvest in carbon offsetting, food rescue and other meaningful impact areas. With our massive financial impact, this model has put us in league with some of the world’s largest companies doing good.
“As our footprint grows, so does our ability to reinvest in carbon offsetting, food rescue and other meaningful impact areas.”
What advice would you give to leaders interested in bolstering their companies’ sustainability efforts?
Start with your business model. The most effective sustainability strategies are the ones that scale with your success.
Our advice: Identify how your company’s operations naturally intersect with opportunities to do good, then build in a mechanism — like a revenue pledge — to turn everyday business growth into long-term impact. Even small, consistent actions can drive meaningful change when they’re embedded into the core of what you do.
