Sports stadiums are a place where fans gather to support their favorite teams and enjoy the thrill of the game. However, one aspect of the stadium experience that often goes unnoticed is the environmental impact of the disposable cups and utensils that are used to serve food and drinks. These items, while convenient for fans and stadium staff, can have a significant impact on the environment if not properly disposed of¹.

Disposable cups and utensils are typically made from plastic, which is not biodegradable. This means that when these items are disposed of in landfills, they can take hundreds of years to break down². Even when they do break down, they often turn into microplastics, which can harm wildlife and potentially end up in the food chain³. Additionally, when disposable cups and utensils are not properly disposed of and end up as litter, they can harm wildlife and damage natural habitats.

Another issue with disposable cups and utensils is that they are often used only once before being thrown away⁴. The production and disposal of these items requires significant amounts of energy and resources. The use of disposable cups and utensils at sports stadiums can contribute to the depletion of natural resources and the production of greenhouse gases⁵.

While disposable cups and utensils may be convenient for fans and stadium staff, their environmental impact cannot be ignored. To reduce the environmental impact of disposable cups and utensils at sports stadiums, we are calling on stadiums to:

1. Switch to biodegradable or compostable alternatives made from materials that can break down more quickly and are less harmful to the environment.
2. Implement recycling programs to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
3. Encourage fans to bring their own reusable cups and utensils to the stadium by offering discounts or incentives.
4. Educate their staff and fans about the environmental impact of disposable cups and utensils and the importance of proper disposal and recycling.

Sports stadiums around the world have already begun phasing out single-use plastics. At Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, the beer at Super Bowl LIV was served in recyclable aluminum cups⁶. As well, Germany has made reusable cups mandatory in sports stadiums. As soon as the Bundesliga's season begins, stadiums must ensure that the catering operations they contract must offer reusable cups at the same price as disposable ones, or face legal action⁷.

As sports fans, we can also do our part by bringing our own reusable cups and utensils to the stadium and properly disposing of any disposable items we use. Together, we can work to reduce the environmental impact of disposable cups and utensils at sports stadiums.

Sign this petition and ask stadium owners to take action and reduce the environmental impact of disposable cups and utensils.

More on this issue:

1. Jaime Mishkin, OneGreenPlanet (2017), "6 Million Tons of Single-Use Plastics Get Thrown Out Every Year! Here’s How You Can Stop This Waste."
2. Conserve Energy Future, "Environmental Impact of Plastic Cutlery and Some Affordable Solutions."
3. National Geographic (2023), "Microplastics."
4. Courtney Lindwall (9 January 2020), "Single-Use Plastics 101."
5. The Sustainability Consortium, Arizona State University and University of Arkansas (2021), "Disposable Dishware and Utensils."
6. Patrick Kulp, Adweek (23 January 2020), "Super Bowl Stadium Will Serve Beer in 50,000 Recyclable Aluminum Cups."
7. Olivia Gerstenberger, DW (18 January 2023), "Bundesliga: Reusable cups mandatory in stadiums."