About 12 million plastic cups are used at major stadiums each year

About 12 million plastic cups used at Australia’s top 30 major stadiums each year could be replaced with reusable cups, according to a new WWF-Australia report.

WWF-Australia used analysis from WOSUP, or War on Single Use Plastic, to show how stadium reuse systems could cut waste.

Those 12 million cups can end up in landfill, oceans and waterways, where plastic can remain for hundreds of years.

Malene Hand, WWF-Australia’s No Plastic in Nature Policy Manager, said footy finals and rock concerts produce millions of cups that people use once and discard.

Hand said, “Stadiums provide a closed-loop environment to test and scale reuse systems, but we need federal and state governments to provide the right regulations and incentives.”

ENGIE Stadium reusable cup trial

The report highlights a partnership between WOSUP, Sydney Showgrounds and the GWS GIANTS.

At home games at ENGIE Stadium, the GIANTS became the first AFL club to replace single-use plastic beer cups with reusable aluminium cups from WOSUP.

Since the switch in 2024, ENGIE Stadium has kept more than 208,000 plastic cups out of landfill.

The same change has also prevented 2,290 kilograms of plastic waste, according to the WWF-Australia report.

An NSW EPA-commissioned survey at a GIANTS match in May 2026 found 97% of fans supported reusable cups at sporting and music events.

Hand said other sporting clubs and major events, including the Brisbane Olympics, could copy the model with the right infrastructure and fan engagement.

She said, “Paris raised the bar on reuse at the Olympics, providing reusable cups and containers to spectators. Brisbane now has the chance to build on that momentum.”

Deloitte report on packaging targets

Meanwhile, Deloitte compiled the report and warned Australia cannot recycle its way out of the plastic crisis.

Australia missed its 2025 National Packaging Targets, and the biggest challenge was the goal to recycle or compost 70% of plastic packaging.

Plastic packaging volumes also continue to rise across Australia.

According to Australian Government estimates cited in the article, more than 12 million tonnes of new packaging could enter the market each year by 2040.

That figure would be up from 7 million tonnes in 2022-23.

As a result, WWF-Australia argues reuse systems can reduce waste before it is created.

NSW has already moved first by announcing a plan to scale up reuse and trial reusable cup systems in stadiums and other venues.