Ocean Conservancy, a US-based non-profit environmental advocacy group, has formed a reusable cup partnership with Green Operations & Advanced Leadership (GOAL).
GOAL is a sustainability-driven membership and support network of more than 55 global members from sports, entertainment, and live event venues, including stadiums, arenas, theatres, and convention centres.
Both parties have announced the ‘Protect Where We Play Tour’, an initiative to diminish the plastic footprint at various venues by implementing a reusable cup programme.
The tour is set to begin at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, US, with Coldplay’s performance on 6-7 June 2025. This effort is expected to prevent one million single-use cups from entering the waste stream.
Bold Reuse, a provider of reuse services, will oversee the reusable cup operations at the participating venues, ensuring the programme’s success and efficiency.
GOAL executive director Kristen Fulmer said: “We’re so excited about this activation because it’s the perfect combination of mission alignment and funding for operational changes.
“We’re grateful for Ocean Conservancy’s collaboration and openness to fund tangible solutions that help facilities implement sustainable change, while also elevating their mission. These are the types of win-win partnerships that enable the positive change that our sports and entertainment industry really needs.”
The initiative is part of a broader movement by Ocean Conservancy, launched this February, to engage sports and entertainment fans in ocean conservation. The Protect Where We Play Initiative utilises the influence of athletes, artists, and events to encourage millions of fans to support the cause.
The body has a longstanding history of combating plastic pollution, notably through the International Coastal Cleanup since 1986. This global effort has mobilised nearly 19 million volunteers and removed 395 million pounds of waste from beaches and waterways.
The organisation continues to advocate for policies to prevent plastic pollution at various governmental levels.
Ocean Conservancy chief brand and communications officer Jenna DiPaolo said: “With 50% of our oxygen coming from the ocean, whether you live on the coast or hundreds of miles inland, the future of your favourite game, concert, or event depends on a healthy, plastic-free ocean.
“By tapping into the joy of what it means to be a fan, we can inspire action and create a global movement that protects our planet for the next generation.”
