FAQ
Our frequently asked questions below might be of help. If you don’t find the answer you are looking for, don’t hesitate to either call on 01642 917 490, or drop us a message via our contact page.
Our Company
Event Cup Solutions is an award-winning British company which provides a consultation service and the only UK solution for the complete replacement of single use cups at sports stadia, concert venues, arenas, big events and festivals, through our range of reusable cups and food-to-go containers. Our service includes the complete delivery, collection, wash & storage service of the best range of reusable cups and food-to-go containers. Event Cup Solutions is also part of the wider eventhireGroup – a group of award-winning companies supplying different sectors within the UK live events industry.
A: We have a team of around 35 full-time staff, many of whom have years of experience in the events and hospitality sector. Some of our team are carbon-literate, whilst all our staff undertake the Eco Learning Hub’s CPD-accredited ‘Hospitality Sustainability’ Course as part of their induction and ongoing training, to ensure that our principles are embedded into the core of our operations. Our experts are well-placed to provide you with a full consultation service around moving your event, stadium or venue towards a more sustainable future through reusable cups and food-to-go containers.
A: Our HQ & wash centre is in Middlesbrough in the North East of England, and we also operate regional wash centres in Oldbury (West Midlands), Manchester and East London. These strategically positioned facilities enable us to service sports stadia, music venues & arenas and festivals with the fewest miles travelled in the industry, helping to minimise our carbon footprint. Visit our contact page to view specific location details.
A: We partner with sports stadia & venues (football, rugby, cricket, golf, horse racing & motorsport), music arenas & venues, and festivals across the country. We also work alongside bar operators, leading beer brands and hospitality venues. Furthermore, we also provide a contract washing service for similar companies already operating in this sector.
A: Yes. Each of our regional locations has state-of-the-art industrial wash facilities, designed specifically for the cleaning and drying of reusable cups. These Meiko iQ conveyor washers are some of the most water & energy efficient machines in the industry, and are powered by 100% sustainable energy. We have the ability to be able to handle in excess of 100 million cups per year.
A: If you are a brand already supplying a client in the sector, but need washing facilities, then we can help. Our service can include collection from the venue, washing, drying, storage and delivery back to the venue on a regular, ongoing basis, if required.
A: If a company or product is ClimatePartner certified, it means that the relevant greenhouse gas emissions have been calculated, reduction targets have been defined and implemented, climate projects have been financed, and the whole climate action strategy has been transparently communicated. All five steps are made transparent through the ClimatePartner certified label and the corresponding climate-ID page. This is beneficial to you as you can have confidence in the transparency of our green credentials, and our ongoing commitment to become net-zero.
Products
A: Aside from the growing concerns around single use plastics and how these are disposed of, the EU Directive on Single Use Plastics has legally binding consumption reduction targets for food & drink containers, that mean each country in Europe has to reduce the amount of single-use used. This means that additional taxes are being introduced to increase the cost of single use and drive more people towards sustainable, reusable solutions.
A: We offer polypropylene pints, half pints, 2 pint cups, wine ‘glasses’ and champagne flutes, along with polycarbonate pints and half pints, all of which are made in the UK. We also offer a reusable coffee cup with paper lid which is insulated, meaning the drink stays hot, but the outside of the cup stays cool to touch. All of our cups are 100% reusable and recyclable.
A: Yes, we are the only provider in the UK to offer a complete reusable solution that eliminates the need for single use in food and drink packaging. Our range of food containers can be delivered at the same time as our hot and cold cups, providing you with a hassle-free, one-stop-shop solution.
A: Our cups are made from polypropylene (300+ washes) or polycarbonate (500+ washes). Polypropylene is opaque (ie semi-transparent), whilst polycarbonate is transparent, and so has the look and almost-feel of glass, yet is still plastic and so complies with H&S regulations at big events.
A: Yes they are, and we know exactly where all of our cups & food-to-go containers are made. We can then re-introduce this material back into manufacturing a variety of different products.
A: Whilst souvenir cups provide a memento of the event for your visitors, in reality the chances of it being reused are slim, as it’s more likely that this souvenir cup will sit in a cupboard at home, gathering dust. Experience also shows that reusable cups branded with an event or company logo are at least four times more likely to be taken home than identical, non-branded cups. We want our clients to say “NO!” to souvenir cups.
A: You can do both. However, from experience, we find that reusable products work best when hired.
A: Yes – Event Cup Solutions is the owner and operator of the award-winning ONE Planet ONE Chance Reusable Cup System. This is the UK’s first – and only – carbon-neutral reusable cup system, and is the complete solution for festivals, arenas, stadia and big events. Our generic eco-branded ONE Planet ONE Chance cups help to reinforce positive user behaviour at your event, encouraging visitors to not take the cups home, and returning their cups for use at other events. This unique reusable cup system includes the supply, washing, on-site management, collection, ‘binfrastructure’ and even full marketing support to ensure that the reusable cup system at your event is a complete success.
Pricing & Payment
A: We charge on a pence-per-unit basis. Depending on location and quantities, we can very quickly give you a competitive quote, based on your specific event, festival, stadium or venue requirements.
A: We have low minimum order quantities and, as we are using generic cups, we can deliver a solution to you at realistic prices. The best thing to do is complete the enquiry form or give us a call on 01642 917 490.
A: We accept bank transfer, and also company PO.
A: A 10% deposit is invoiced at the time of booking confirmed. 80% is payable 7 days before the start date of the event. The balance is invoiced within 7 days of the event end date and payable within 30 days. Any tote boxes returned with ECS cable ties unbroken above the 90% deposit rate are not charged for.
A: At the end of each event, we count any crates which have the cable ties still in place and advise your team as to the quantities. We have a simple reconciliation form which details total cups/crates delivered, total cups/crates returned for washing, total cups/crates unused…all of this allows us to calculate our losses.
General
A: You can’t have failed to notice the media campaigns around the damage caused to the environment and our oceans by single-use plastic. A truck load of plastic waste enters the oceans every single minute because our global waste system cannot cope with the volume we are producing.
Climate change is happening because of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) generated by human activity. Climate change represents the biggest threat to our planet, to the human race and to wildlife. The average temperature of the planet has increased by 1.5°c in the last 200 years, and we are on course for a further 2°c temperature increase by 2100. Unless immediate action is taken, this will cause irreversible devastation, sea level rise and acidification of oceans which will result in flooding and extreme weather patterns causing massive disruption to human life. Our use of resources is at an unprecedented rate, and our way of life leads to the production of unsustainable levels of waste.
Switching to a sustainable reusable solution to replace single-use packaging is a positive contribution to reducing GHG emissions and ultimately being kinder to our planet.
A: Yes, there most definitely is. Countries around the world, including the UK and the EU have proposed and passed various legislations to discourage the use of single-plastics, imposing taxes and other levies along with extended producer responsibilities. Therefore, reusable cup systems offer a sustainable and affordable solution to this. We’d be delighted to talk to you about this legislation in more detail – just call us on 01642 917 490.
A: Yes they are, and on an ever-increasing level. Recent research shows that 83% of festival-goers expect the festivals they attend to be tackling their environmental impact, and 24% of festival-goers say that they would be more likely to attend a particular festival if its carbon footprint was demonstrably lower than another. Therefore, by embracing a reusable system, you are not only helping the environment, but you are also encouraging more visitors by the ever-increasingly eco-conscious visitor.
A: Ultimately, we want to be part of your team and so our marketing team will be happy to work with you and provide support if you need it. It’s free, and all part of the service! Once you have agreed the commercials of your deal with our sales team, our marketing team will contact you for a virtual ‘onboarding’ meeting to discuss joint PR, social media activity and content creation.
A: Yes. We actively encourage you to use the ONE Planet ONE Chance branding as part of your pre-show communications about the reusable cup system, whether this is in press releases, on your social media channels or on your website, for example.
A: Why not follow us on your favourite social media channel for all our latest news, products and eco tips. Or, you might want to sign up to receive our regular blog via our website.
A: Simply pick up the phone and call 01642 917 490 or drop us a line via our website. We’ll get in touch with you to arrange a consultation, at which point we’ll also be able to show you some samples of the reusable cups & food-to-go containers that we can offer for your venue, festival or stadium. We can also arrange to send you some samples in the post upon request.
