Manchester, 8 February 2024: Co-op Live, the UK’s largest music-first entertainment venue, continues its drive to become Europe’s most sustainable arena by announcing a partnership with Event Cup Solutions, the company behind the ONE Planet ONE Chance® Reusable Cup System, the official supplier of reusable cups to the venue when it opens in April.
As part of the five-year agreement, and in line with Co-op Live’s ambition to be one of Europe’s most sustainable arenas, Event Cup Solutions will provide the venue with unbranded, reusable cups through the ONE Planet ONE Chance® Reusable Cup System. This rental-based system uses generically branded cups that can be reused multiple times across numerous sites.
Co-op Live will feature designated collection points around the venue where visitors can return their reusable cups, which will be taken off-site to be washed and repacked at Event Cup Solutions’ new, state-of-the-art wash centre. Set to be launched in April, and located just eight miles from Co-op Live, this facility has the capacity to wash, dry and repack in excess of 50 million cups each year. The centre’s proximity to the venue will minimise emissions generated by the transport of the cups, and its opening will provide an additional boost to the local economy through job creation.
Co-op Live’s decision to select reusable cups for the venue follows a recent industry report by LIVE, Hope Solutions and Julie’s Bicycle, which demonstrated that when used more than three times, reusable cups have a lower environmental impact than single-use cups. When used 75 times, reusable cups create 87% less emissions than 75 single-use cups.
Reusable cups are just one of several measures that Co-op Live is implementing to ensure that sustainability is at the heart of the venue’s design. Key features include locally sourced construction materials, the installation of air source heat pumps, solar panels, and rainwater recycling. The arena will also be zero waste to landfill.
Gary Roden, Executive Director and General Manager, Co-op Live, said: “By having sustainability at the core of what we do, Co-op Live is setting a new example to arenas around the world. Alongside our other climate-focused features, using recyclable cups is a simple and obvious way to significantly reduce our waste. Partnering with Event Cup Solutions sees us working with one of the most innovative, climate certified and forward-looking companies in the industry who will play a massive role in helping us achieve our sustainability objectives.”
John Reeves, Director of Event Cup Solutions, said: “We are incredibly proud to be working with Co-op Live to bring this unique venue to fruition. Since we launched in 2019, we have been committed to educating visitors at a host of UK venues about the environmental benefits of reuse and are thrilled that we will be playing an integral part in helping Co-op Live achieve its sustainability goals. Over the past four years we have operated within many music venues, sports stadia, and festival sites to encourage visitors to return our sustainable ONE Planet ONE Chance® reusable cups to convenient collection points located throughout the venues. We measure our success on cup retention and helping venues minimise their emissions and boost their green credentials.”
Co-op Live, a joint venture between Oak View Group and City Football Group, will revolutionise the UK’s live music scene. When it opens in April 2024, Co-op Live will be the country’s biggest and best arena. The innovative bowl design, state-of-the-art acoustics and exclusive hangouts will ensure an intimate and exciting experience for fans. In line with and supporting Co-op’s core brand values, the venue’s ‘Gigs that Give Back’ will generate at least £1 million annually for the Co-op Foundation to support causes on a local and national scale, including delivering on its new youth-led strategy.
