The Chicago Bears and Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) launched a reusable cup program on November 10 at Soldier Field’s United Club, bringing one of the first initiatives of its kind to NFL fans. This program, which will be available for the remaining home games this season, provides over 8,000 United Club attendees with reusable cups at no extra cost, promoting environmental responsibility and reducing single-use waste.
In partnership with ASM Global, Levy, and Bold Reuse, the Bears are taking steps to make gameday more sustainable for fans. This initiative also aligns with the Bears' ongoing sustainability efforts, which include programs for oil recycling, water usage reduction, and material recycling.
Fans in the United Club can receive beverages in reusable cups, available in a range of sizes from 9 oz. wine cups to 20 oz. domestic draft beer cups. After enjoying their drink, fans return the cups to designated collection bins. Bold Reuse, a female-owned company and leader in reusable packaging systems, then collects, cleans, and sanitizes the cups, preparing them for reuse at the next event.
Paul Neurauter, Senior Vice President of Operations & Sustainability for the Bears, expressed the team’s enthusiasm for this pilot program. “We are thrilled to partner with Keurig Dr Pepper and Bold Reuse in supporting a gameday reuse program in the NFL,” he said. “As we broaden our sustainability efforts, we are excited about the impact this program will have on reducing single-use plastic waste that is generated on gamedays.”
This pilot program is part of the Bears’ broader commitment to environmental stewardship. Over the past several years, the Bears have introduced various initiatives to minimize waste and conserve resources, including the recycling of materials, water conservation, and oil recycling. “With the participation and support from our entire organization, we’ve implemented numerous successful initiatives across our Halas Hall campus,” said Zack Bero, Manager of Building Services at Halas Hall. “This pilot is a perfect opportunity to expand our focus to Soldier Field and engage with our fans on gameday.”
The reusable cup initiative aligns with Keurig Dr Pepper’s ongoing mission to promote a circular economy and reduce waste across the U.S. Monique Oxender, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at KDP, highlighted the importance of collective efforts in sustainability, noting, “Collective action is essential to creating viable solutions. Partnering with the Bears and Bold Reuse on this program provides an opportunity to explore and scale reusable packaging models.”
