War on Single Use Plastic partners with Uber One during Big Bash events

December 21, 2024

With a goal to reduce the amount of single-use plastic cups at major sporting events, Sydney-based social enterprise - War on Single Use Plastic (WOSUP) - has entered into a sustainability partnership with Uber’s membership program, Uber One, during the Big Bash events.

The win-win partnership targets selective Big Bash matches in Sydney, involving use of WOSUP reusable and innovative aluminium cups for participating drinks served at ENGIE Stadium during Sydney Thunder games.

From 21st December 2024 to 13th January 2025, Big Bash fans who scan WOSUP cups at Sydney Thunder games will enjoy access to Uber One offers, including a four-month free membership trial (for new users) and 50% off their first 3 rides.

The partnership is expected to divert approximately 495kg of single-use waste from landfill and deliver a total carbon reduction of 45 tonnes of CO₂-e (or about 11.25 tonnes per game). It follows successful results of the first Australian Football League (AFL) sustainability partnership between WOSUP and the GIANTS, embedding reusable WOSUP cups during the club’s 2024 home games at ENGIE Stadium, and during Pearl Jam concerts at the venue.

Uber ANZ Head of Membership Scott Nicholls notes “WOSUP is leading the way when it comes to reusable drinks packaging at major events and, as such, we’re pleased to be able to invest in this campaign, to help them deploy their innovative product during the summer of cricket. We believe the more avenues for Aussies to participate in the circular economy, the better.”

WOSUP Chief Executive and co-founder Martin Salter applauded Uber for “supporting our stand against unnecessary and environmentally-harmful plastic cup use across Australia’s live sport and entertainment venues” adding “Our mission is to reduce global use of 50 million single-use plastic cups a year by 2030 and help sport and entertainment sectors become carbon neutral by 2050 or earlier.

“This partnership with Uber One helps deliver a game-changing solution for venues by incorporating environmentally conscious campaigns for brands by helping them deliver brand-in-hand activations with rights holders in sport.

“It is added proof of our sustainable, commercial model and marks a big step towards winning the war against single-use plastic, and we hope it will serve as an industry-best example for other venues to follow.

“Transitioning to reusable (not just recyclable) products is key to moving from an unsustainable economy to a circular one, keeping in mind that only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled, compared to 75% of all aluminium that remains in active use.”

Salter said WOSUP’s long-running partnership with Australia’s first carbon offset provider, Greenfleet, meant venues that transitioned to reusable WOSUP aluminium cups stood to yield significant environmental benefits. To date, across all activities, the social enterprise has diverted 442kg of plastic waste from landfill; offset 121 tonnes of CO₂-e (the equivalent of 191 trees planted).

Salter added “we want to win the war against single-use plastic and are committed to transparency, evident in our commissioning of an independent, peer-reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA) by Lifecycles, and a comprehensive Climate iQ risk and opportunity assessment report by KPMG.

“These reports underscore the environmental advantages of the WOSUP solution compared to alternatives.”

Since 2023, WOSUP has rolled out its sustainable, fan-first solution in successful trials with The GIANTS, Sydney Showground, Stadiums Queensland, Australian Turf Club, Rugby Australia, and Optus Stadium, with global expansion planned into the UK, US and Japan.

The Sydney-based social enterprise has separately been contracted to provide sustainable service solutions to events including a 12-concert ‘Night at the Barracks’ series in Manly.

In 2024, WOSUP also secured a partnership with James Squire, showcasing a dynamic new ‘sustainability sponsorship’ category via a plug-and-play rewards program built into each cup.

WOSUP co-founder and COO Karl Page added “we believe the live event industry – and more broadly, hospitality in all its forms – has the power to change behaviour for the betterment of all people and our planet, which is why we’re focused on revolutionising a service industry where the greatest impact can be made on reversing our global throwaway culture.”

For more information on WOSUP

12th March 2024 - GIANTS partner with War on Single Use Plastic enterprise in AFL sustainability first

7th November 2023 - WOSUP Chair Andy Marinos says there is ‘no time to waste’ in war on single use plastic

23rd May 2023 - WOSUP’s reusable aluminium cups to be trialled at upcoming Wallabies test at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium

1st July 2024 - Western Australia ban on single-use plastic coffee cups not without controversy

4th March 2024 - Single-use, plastic-lined coffee cups and lids to be banned in Western Australia

1st September 2023 - Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia lead in banning single-use plastics with Tasmania a long way behind

6th July 2023 - ACT Government commences next phase of single use plastics ban

6th February 2023 - Western Australian Government to phase out further nine single-use plastic items

1st October 2022 - Single-use plastic cups for cold drinks banned in Western Australia from today

16th May 2022 - Belgravia Leisure explains move away from single-use plastics

10th March 2022 - ACT Government’s single-use plastics ban expanded to include Manuka Oval and GIO Stadium

22nd February 2022 - 40,000 businesses across NSW to receive extra help in transitioning away from single-use plastics

3rd January 2022 - Western Australia phases out single-use plastics

1st April 2021 - Legislation passed for phasing out single-use plastics in ACT

11th March 2021 - Queensland Government passes legislation to ban single-use plastics

1st March 2021 - South Australia’s ban on single-use plastic starts today

9th November 2020 - Western Australian Government releases new strategy to reduce single-use plastics

26th June 2020 - WISE thanked for eliminating 300,000 single use plastic cups from landfill during FIRE FIGHT concert

3rd February 2020 - ACT takes action to phase out single-use plastic products

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