NFL Stadiums Adopt PepsiCo's Reusable Cups Initiative for Bolder Sustainability Efforts
PepsiCo, San Francisco 49ers, and Bold Reuse Introduce Reusable Cups at Levi's Stadium
PepsiCo, in partnership with Bold Reuse and the San Francisco 49ers, has launched a new initiative to introduce reusable cups at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. This marks the first reusable cup project for PepsiCo with an NFL franchise.
The reusable cups initiative, which was first introduced during a preseason game on August 9 in premium club areas at Levi's Stadium, is part of a citywide consumer campaign in California. According to the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners, major brands are expected to offer reusables for foodservice packaging, supported by regional reverse logistics infrastructure and a citywide consumer campaign, by 2026.
Bold Reuse, a company specialising in reusable packaging solutions, has expanded its footprint this year to NFL stadiums, including Soldier Field in Chicago, where it is working with Keurig Dr Pepper. This deployment at Levi's Stadium also marks a first for Bold Reuse in the state of California.
PepsiCo's reuse initiatives are not limited to partnerships with NFL franchises. The company is testing reuse initiatives despite dropping its formal packaging reuse target earlier this year. Bold Reuse has partnered with Cafe2U in Portland to use RFID technology to better track the lifecycle of reusable cups, and is piloting RFID technology with Avery Dennison in Portland for the same purpose.
Reuse is now part of PepsiCo's broader packaging goal, ensuring 97% of primary and secondary packaging in key markets is recyclable, compostable, or reusable. Burgess Davis, chief sustainability officer for PepsiCo North America, stated that advancing reuse requires collaboration and a systemic shift to make the reusable option the most convenient and accessible option for consumers. Davis also mentioned that initiatives like this can provide important insights into how a shift to reusable options can become a reality at scale while having an immediate impact in reducing waste.
The reusable cups initiative at Levi's Stadium is not limited to foodservice packaging. It aims to eliminate tens of thousands of disposable cups across the 49ers' 10 home games this season. The partnership marks a significant step towards a more sustainable future for sports events and foodservice packaging.
