Keurig Dr Pepper and Chicago Bears Announce Reusable Cups Pilot Program

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): The Chicago Bears and Keurig Dr Pepper announce the launch of a groundbreaking reusable cup program, marking the Chicago Bears as one of the first NFL teams to pilot a reusable cup program of this nature. The innovative initiative will bring reusable cups to the United Club at Soldier Field at no additional cost to fans, starting with the Bears’ matchup against the New England Patriots on Nov. 10 and continuing through the remainder of the season.

The Chicago Bears and KDP are collaborating with ASM Global, Levy and Bold Reuse, to implement this sustainability practice for Chicago Bears fans at Soldier Field. The partnership underscores a commitment to enhancing sustainability efforts during Bears gamedays, reducing waste and promoting environmental responsibility among fans.

“We are thrilled to partner with Keurig Dr Pepper and Bold Reuse in supporting a gameday reuse program in the NFL,” said Paul Neurauter, Senior Vice President of Operations & Sustainability. “As we broaden our sustainability efforts, identifying solutions that foster a more sustainable approach to our gameday operations is a priority for the Chicago Bears. Through this partnership, we are excited about the impact this program will have on reducing single-use plastic waste generated on gamedays.”

“We’ve learned that collective action is critical to finding viable solutions to complex environmental challenges like the advancement of a circular economy,” said Monique Oxender, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Keurig Dr Pepper. “We’re proud to team up with leaders like the Chicago Bears and Bold Reuse to pilot this program at Soldier Field and learn more about scaling reuse models in the U.S.”

The Bears will launch the groundbreaking sustainability program in the esteemed United Club during Bears home games, starting this week (Sun., Nov. 10). Available at all vendor locations within the United Club, the reusable cups have a range of sizes, including 9 oz wine, 16 oz Premium Draft Beer, 16 oz junior soda, and 20 oz Domestic Draft Beer cups.

At no additional cost, fans will receive a reusable cup from the concession stand and return it to a marked collection bin when finished. From there, janitorial and environmental services will collect the cups, and Bold Reuse will be responsible for pickup, cleaning, sanitizing and returning the cups prior to the next event.

Bold Reuse, a female-owned and operated company, is a global leader in reusable packaging systems. The expansion into Soldier Field will be its first location in Illinois. This pilot program targets over 8,000 United Club members per game and represents a significant step forward in the expansion of Chicago Bears’ sustainability efforts, bringing innovative measures directly to Bears fans to enhance the gameday experience. The Bears have placed a premium on sustainability, including implementing programs such as oil recycling and conversion, water usage reduction and material recycling.

“With the participation and support from our entire organization, we’ve implemented numerous successful initiatives across our Halas Hall campus,” said Zack Bero, Manager of Building Services at Halas Hall. “This pilot is a perfect opportunity to expand our focus to Soldier Field and engage with our fans on gameday.”

The reusable cup program is the newest of KDP’s longstanding partnerships that have amplified its efforts to improve recycling infrastructure, engage consumers on proper recycling behaviors in communities across the U.S. and develop product and packaging innovations. The shared goal of the pilot is to apply learnings on logistics and reuse behaviors to future cross-industry collaborations that can potentially scale reuse opportunities. The Chicago Bears and KDP are proud to launch this pioneering program and are excited to continue to grow sustainability efforts in the future.

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com