Cutting Waste at the Final Whistle

Sport Has a Single-Use Cup Problem

Professional sport in the UK has made enormous strides on sustainability — from solar-powered stadiums to carbon-offset travel programmes. But the concourse tells a different story. The vast majority of UK grounds still serve every drink in a single-use cup, generating tonnes of plastic waste per fixture that goes straight to incineration or landfill.

The good news: this is one of the easiest wins available to any club or venue. Switching to reusable match day cups eliminates the problem at source — without disrupting the fan experience, and often while generating new commercial revenue.

The Environmental Case for Reusable Match Day Cups

Each reusable Stadium Cup replaces hundreds of single-use cups across its lifespan. The environmental savings compound with every fixture:

• Waste reduction: A 20,000-seat ground switching to reusables eliminates approximately 400,000+ single-use cups per season
• Carbon savings: Reusable PP cups have a lower lifecycle carbon footprint than single-use once used more than 3–4 times — our cups are rated for 100+ uses
• Litter reduction: Cup return schemes with 70–85% return rates dramatically reduce post-match litter and clearing costs
• Landfill diversion: At end of life, our PP cups are collected and recycled in a UK closed-loop system

Meeting Governing Body & League Sustainability Targets

The Premier League, EFL, FA, and other governing bodies have published sustainability roadmaps with specific targets around single-use plastic elimination. A reusable cup scheme is one of the most visible and measurable actions a club can take against these targets.

We can provide detailed sustainability reporting — tracking cups in circulation, estimated single-use cups displaced, and carbon savings data — specifically formatted for submission to league sustainability programmes and accreditation bodies.

ESG, Sponsors & Fan Engagement

Sustainability credentials are increasingly a requirement for sponsorship conversations. Brands want to associate with clubs that can demonstrate measurable environmental action — not just statements of intent.

A branded reusable cup scheme delivers three things simultaneously:

1. Measurable ESG progress — tracked, reportable, auditable
2. Sponsor visibility — cup branding delivers 90 minutes of fan engagement per fixture
3. Fan connection — a quality reusable cup becomes a keepsake that fans associate with your club

Several of our club clients have used their reusable cup scheme as the centrepiece of a sustainability partnership with a principal sponsor — the scheme pays for itself while delivering visible environmental leadership.

UK Manufacturing = Lower Carbon

Every Stadium Cup is manufactured at our UK facility. UK production means:

• Significantly lower transport emissions vs imported cups
• UKCA certification without additional testing costs
• Faster mid-season reorder turnaround when you need a top-up
• Full supply chain transparency for ESG reporting

End of Life — Closed Loop Recycling

Our cups are made from polypropylene (PP #5) — one of the most widely recycled plastics in the UK. When cups can no longer be reused, we collect and return them into the PP recycling stream, ensuring nothing ends up in landfill. We also offer a take-back programme for clubs that want to close the loop themselves as part of their sustainability reporting.

Start Reducing Your Match Day Footprint

Whether you're a non-league club looking to eliminate single-use cups from your bar or a Premier League ground building a comprehensive sustainability programme, Stadium Cup can design and deliver a scheme that works for your fixture schedule, your fanbase, and your commercial objectives.