Gloucester Rugby has achieved another first for sustainability and has gone completely carbon-neutral on the reusable cup system used at the Kingsholm Stadium for the 2021-22 season.

We have enlisted the support of Event Cup Solutions who launched the ONE Planet ONE Chance® Reusable Cup System - a fully managed, sustainable reusable cup system which completely offsets the carbon emissions from transporting and washing cups via a UK tree planting project.

The solution was introduced to Gloucester Rugby by Freemans Event Partners who provide the complete bar service for the club. Freemans Event Partners are the first company in the UK to introduce the solution to a sporting venue.

John Freeman, Bars Director at Freemans Event Partners commented, “We are excited, not only by the fact the solution is completely carbon neutral which fits perfectly with both Freemans Event Partners and Gloucester Rugby’s environmental goals, it also works perfectly for Freemans Event Partners as we benefit from the full on-site service provided by Event Cup Solutions.”

“The ONE Planet ONE Chance range of reusable cups, all of which carry a clear message ‘REUSE ME & RETURN ME,’ means venues and operators do not have the capital cost of purchasing their own cups. Instead, they rent our cups, all of which carry a generic environmental message, which will be used time and time again,” said John Reeves, Director of Event Cup Solutions.

Reeves added, “We are delighted to have Freemans Event Partners and Gloucester Rugby on board, once again demonstrating they both take their environmental responsibilities seriously by actually doing something which truly makes a difference. Utilising the ONE Planet ONE Chance Reusable Cup System at the Kingsholm Stadium in season 2021-22 will result in Event Cup Solutions planting over 120 trees at a UK-certified tree planting project managed by carbon-offsetting specialists SQSTR.”

“SQSTR are delighted to be in partnership with Event Cup Solutions who are transforming the sustainability of event cups. Utilising the ONE Planet ONE Chance Reusable Cup System already reduces the carbon involved in supplying cups for an event but, with the aid of SQSTR’s carbon offset platform for businesses and individuals, Event Cup Solutions are able to make any event’s cups 100% carbon-neutral” said Harry Simpson of SQSTR.

Simpson added, “Freemans Event Partners and Gloucester Rugby should be congratulated for a progressive outlook on sustainability, and we look forward to working together this season to ensure such a great sporting institution can be sustainably managed.”

Gloucester Rugby’s recently appointed Director of Sustainability, Richard Weller added, “Sustainability is a key focus for us as a Club. We are proud to be the first Premiership Rugby Club to achieve a carbon neutral status in respect of our reusable cups. When the opportunity was presented to us by Freemans Event Partners and Event Cup Solutions it felt like the perfect fit in our bid to become more sustainable.”

With consumers asking for more environmentally sound solutions, the ONE Planet ONE Chance® Reusable Cup System encourages behaviour change, providing clear direction on how the customer can help make the programme a success.

“We want to help customers at venues and events and make it easy for them to return their cups,” Reeves continued. “Our cups are not fan cups or souvenir cups - we want them back to be used time after time, and we believe that by taking that further step and planting trees right here in the UK, customers who visit Gloucester Rugby will play their part and ensure they have a great time, enjoy their day at the Kingsholm and, importantly, they don’t take their cups home.”

Better still, our fans can take their support one step further and donate their cup return to the Gloucester Rugby Foundation. Find out more about the Gloucester Rugby Foundation’s work here.

Event Cup Solutions is a sister company of Event Hire UK and has its headquarters in Walsall, West Midlands. With four regional distribution centres and wash facilities in each, ECS provides the most environmentally-sound solution, all of which is managed in-house by our experienced and dedicated team.

Gloucester Rugby goes for carbon-neutral reusable cup system

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