UEFA and PepsiCo promote the circular economy of packaging in the men’s and women’s Champions League final
The goal of this alliance is to achieve zero waste in football matches by 2026
PepsiCo presents its alliance with the Uefa realize zero waste in the Champions League matches by the year 2026 through its Pepsi, Lay’s and Doritos brands. The aim of the initiative is minimize the environmental impact generated by football matches implementation practices circular economy based on three ‘R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle wastewhich will be implemented in women’s final at the PSV stadium in Eindhoven on 3 June and al men’s final at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on June 10.
For the reduction waste, PepsiCo and UEFA will make available fully recyclable glasses, (without plastic and biodegradable fiber) thus reducing single use plastic. According to reuseit will be returnable containers for food and beverages consumed during the match which is the final of Women’s UEFA Champions League this year the first to have this type of packaging. Specifically, it will be made available to fans 52,000 glasses Transparent tanks of 0.40 liters, which will work with a returnable deposit system of 2 euros. Also, Doritos will be served returnable trays.
In the men’s final, PepsiCo partnered with TURN, a reuse system that leverages smart technology to eliminate the use of single-use plastics, to offer 48,000 smart cups, as well as special containers for depositing them. Finally, all PepsiCo product containers provided at events will be 100% recyclable. In addition, the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul will be installed, where the men’s final will be held 220 containers for proper waste recycling after the match.
“As a leading company in the Food and Beverage industry, we want to use our scale to promote a change in the way society produces, uses and disposes of packaging“, he assures Archana Jagannathan, director of sustainability in Europe at PepsiCo. “We are proud to play a key role in packaging management at the UEFA Champions League Finals. Football is an excellent means of promoting positive change on and off the pitchoffering fans an unforgettable experience.”
“THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE”
“We at UEFA are delighted to do so collaboration with PepsiCo continues a implement circular economy practices in these two very important finals. Our goal is to find applicable solutions at football matches of both national associations and different leagues, as well as in European competitions. Through football, we do our part fight against climate change” , he claims Michele Uva, UEFA Director of Social and Environmental Sustainability.
“Our partnership with UEFA gives us an incredible opportunity to do this highlight the importance of recycling and drive change“, he assures Mark Kirkham SVP and Director of Global Beverage Marketing at PepsiCo. “We are excited about the future of this project and want to support UEFA make all Champions League finals zero waste by 2026“.
SUPPORT TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES
PepsiCo also works to support communities through football with initiatives such as Lay repetitiona project realized in collaboration with the UEFA Children’s Foundation which consists of construction of soccer fields by reusing empty containers of Lay’s potato chips.
Before the final, PepsiCo will present a new football pitch in Türkiye designed to minimize environmental impactwith items like grass and padding layers 100% recyclable at the end of their useful life. The Lay’s Replay program also offers access to sports education and training for the younger generation.
PepsiCo has been a member of the UEFA Champions League since 2015. Partnership with UEFA is part of PepsiCo’s comprehensive strategic transformation, PepsiCo Positive (pep+), which places sustainability at the heart of its operations to generate a positive impact on the planet and on people.