Lancashire Cricket Club has detailed plans to introduce a reusable cup system at Emirates Old Trafford.
The move is designed to reduce the club’s plastic waste in 2018 and has been supported by a #TakeMeHome campaign that encourages fans at Emirates Old Trafford to use the cups outside of the ground and share images on social media.
The cups are available for a £1 deposit and will celebrate Lancashire and England cricket with two exclusive designs. Fans will be able to purchase the cups, which depict great moments from Lancashire and England players, from any outdoor bar.
The news has been announced ahead of what promises to be a busy summer at Emirates Old Trafford, with Lancashire set to welcome over 65,000 supporters to major matches at the stadium over the coming months.
Anthony Mundy, operations director at Lancashire Cricket Club, said: “We estimate that we use about 250,000 single-use plastic cups every year, which is something we’re determined to change.
“With major fixtures heading to Emirates Old Trafford, 2018 is the perfect opportunity to introduce the new cups. It’s also a great trial, before rolling the initiative out on a massive scale for the ICC World Cup and Ashes in 2019.”
Fans will also be given the chance to donate their cup at drop-off points around the stadium. All funds will go towards the Lancashire Cricket Foundation.
“This is a really community focused project and the cups can be used by anyone with any drink,” Mundy added. “Whether it’s young children coming to the game, or a long standing Lancashire Member, we’re aiming for all generations to enjoy them, and that’s certainly reflected in the faces used in the designs.”
The cups will be available for the first time on June 24, when Emirates Old Trafford hosts the fifth Royal One Day International match between England and Australia. They will also be available at the Twenty20 match against India on July 3.
Lancashire has teamed up with Green Goblet, a British environmentally friendly company that produces reusable cups for stadiums and festivals, on the initiative.
Green Goblet director Alex Hopkinson said: “The club will benefit from having less clear up and the supporters will benefit by having a sturdier cup to drink out of, meaning less spillage and a cleaner stadium to enjoy.
“The deposit scheme will see supporters pay a £1 cup deposit when they purchase their first drink. Every subsequent drink will be poured into a clean cup. When the supporter has finished drinking, they can either take their cup back to a ‘cup refund point’ to get their deposit back or take their cup home as a souvenir. We’re looking forward to seeing them in action.”
This year’s TheStadiumBusiness Summit is currently taking place at Emirates Old Trafford and concludes later today (Wednesday).
Image: Lancashire Cricket Club
