Stadium cups: why reuse is the winning play for venues, fans, and the planet
Why stadiums are moving on from single-use
Stadiums serve tens of thousands of drinks per event. That scale magnifies three realities:
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Single-use cups are expensive to buy, bin, and haul away.
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Landfill and litter harm brands and community trust.
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Regulations are tightening on disposable plastics, making status-quo risky. In NSW, for example, polystyrene foodware and several single-use plastic items are already banned, with compostable plastics also subject to restrictions. WA goes further by banning non-compostable cups and other items.
Proof it works: real stadium and major-event examples
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Australian Open 2025: Thousands of sturdy reusables replaced single-use across Courtside Bar and Garden Square, with simple return points and no deposit for patrons. Early feedback showed fans adopted the system easily.
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Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium: Running since 2019, now using more than 40,000 reusables on a typical matchday. That’s operational scale with fan acceptance.
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Wembley precinct: Nearby hospitality switched to reusables on event days and match nights, cutting waste and improving customer experience.
The takeaway: when venues make return easy and communicate clearly, reuse scales smoothly, and fans get on board.
The business case: reuse saves money where it matters
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Lower total cost of ownership vs disposables over a season, especially when you factor in waste hauling and bin-handling labour.
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Short payback periods are common when cup loss is controlled and washing is optimised. Our own lifecycle explainer shows how quickly reusables beat single-use at volume.
What good looks like: a reuse-ready stadium system
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Cup design that’s built for operations
Durable, stackable, comfortable to drink from, and fully recyclable at end of life. Choose materials such as PP that can be recovered back into food-grade streams to close the loop. -
Collection points you cannot miss
Set clear return stations at exits, bars, and high-traffic nodes. The AO trial shows that intuitive drop-points remove friction for patrons. -
Deposit or no-deposit?
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Deposit models drive returns and are well proven in Europe and supported in Australian policy thinking.
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No-deposit can work with good comms and plenty of staffed return points, as seen at AO 2025.
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On-site or off-site washing
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On-site is ideal for high-frequency fixtures.
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Off-site works for mixed schedules or multi-venue operators. Either way, tight logistics protect your loss rate and payback.
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Data and reporting
Track return rates, loss, and wash cycles, plus bin-weight reductions and cleaning costs. This is how you prove ROI to finance and sustainability teams.
Why Grounded Goods stadium cups
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Australian-made, B Corp, female-led manufacturing that aligns with venue ESG and local procurement goals.
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Closed loop by design. Our PP cups are built to be reused at scale, then recovered and recycled through known streams.
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System-smart ergonomics. We have designed cups specifically for stadiums that are durable, comfortable in hand, easy to stack, and easy to count.
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Brandable for sponsors and campaigns without compromising wash performance.
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Circular partnership mindset. We work with your reuse provider, caterer, or facilities team to design a system that fits your operations.
Policy tailwinds you can bank on
States continue to restrict single-use plastics, with bans covering polystyrene foodware and key disposable items. Reuse positions venues ahead of regulation and reputational risk while cutting waste costs.
Getting started: a simple rollout plan
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Pilot one stand or one concourse for 2 to 3 fixtures.
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Measure: return rates, bin contamination, vendor feedback, and fan sentiment.
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Iterate collection layout and signage.
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Scale to whole-of-venue with sponsor support to underwrite expansion.
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Close the loop with end-of-life take-back.
Quick FAQ
Will fans keep the cups?
Some will. Deposits help, and clear return points reduce loss. UK stadiums have shown retention can be controlled with good comms and logistics.
Can compostable or “self-destructing” single-use cups solve it?
Bioplastics are restricted in several states, and so-called self-degrading options do not replace a proven closed-loop system for food-safe recovery. Prioritise durable reusables with reliable collection and washing.
What about hygiene and speed at bars?
Reuse programs at major events and clubs demonstrate that they can match or even surpass disposables once staff are trained and stacking is optimised.
