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Scottish Event Campus Eliminates Single Use Plastic Cups At Live Events
The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow has announced that it will eliminate single use plastic cups at live events by introducing reusable so-called Stack Cups.
The move will save the campus two million cups per year and reduce its carbon footprint by 1,500 tonnes in the next 10 years, according to the announcemennt.
Stack Cups will be introduced for the first time at Planet Earth II, running this weekend, March 27, at the OVO Hydro. They will be used in seating areas, while compostable versions will be in use throughout the rest of the venue.
The adjacent SEC Armadillo will also use the cups for the first time at Ru Paul’s Drag Race, March 31.
The removal of all single use plastic cups marks a “key part of the SEC’s journey towards net zero by 2030 as part of its wider sustainability strategy,” the announcement states.
See: Scottish Event Campus Makes Food Offering More Sustainable Ahead Of COP26
This includes a sustainable food initiative championing local suppliers and reducing food waste to below 1%, and a move towards attaining Greener Arena Certification for the OVO Hydro and SEC Armadillo, as previously reported.
The Stack Cup initiative is supported by OVO Hydro sponsor OVO Energy, as well as SEC Food, and A.G.Barr. The partnership will create five jobs at Stack Cup’s centre in Glasgow.
Fans pay a £1 deposit for a Stack Cup at the bar, when ordering their drink, and swap it for a clean one on their next order. At the end of the night, they can either get their deposit back or place their cups in a collection bin to donate the deposit, which the SEC will use to support its environmental and charitable initiatives.
The SEC’s director of live entertainment Debbie McWilliams said, “The SEC is committed to working towards a greener future for live events, and the removal of single use plastic cups in the OVO Hydro and SEC Armadillo is a huge step forward in our sustainability journey.”
She pointed out, that, aside from the above mentioned environmental benefits, the new cups will also have “a positive impact on fans’ experience, as they are convenient and easy to carry. It’s never been easier to get on board with making live events more sustainable.”
Colin Banks, head of sponsorship & partnerships at OVO Energy, added, “Removing single use plastic cups in the OVO Hydro is a significant step in an ongoing journey with The SEC and we’ll continue to work together to identify practical ways in which to make low impact live events the norm for Scotland’s home of live entertainment.”
The 14,000-capacity OVO Hydro is expected to welcome over one million visitors this year thanks to a busy schedule of shows, with over 10% more events programed for 2022 than in an average year. Fans will be treated to an array of A-list stars, including: Kevin Bridges, Billie Eilish, Diana Ross, Queen and Adam Lambert and Dua Lipa.