Home of England rugby tackles plastic pollution with new biodegradable Lyfecycle cups
Traditional plastic pint glasses will be a thing of the past at Twickenham Stadium, which has announced the use of new ‘self-destructing’ plastic cups.
Launching their ‘Define Your Legacy’ campaign, the home of England rugby has teamed up with Lyfecycle – created by British innovators Polymateria – to tackle issues of sustainability, specifically to do with the damages caused by plastic pollution in the sports industry.
Polymateria’s breakthrough plastic technology is designed to be recycled but, crucially, if the material escapes refuse streams, it will return to nature within two years, leaving behind no microplastics or toxins.
All that is left behind is an earth-friendly wax that becomes a part of the natural cycle of life.
The breakthrough product is already making waves in the packaging industry, with leading UK manufacturer Polybags recently expanding their market-leading eco packaging range with various product ranges featuring Polymateria’s biotransformation technology.
Now the 82,000-capacity venue in south-west London – the world’s largest rugby stadium – has become the first major sports venue to turn to the innovative new products, as they seek to improve their sustainability and that of attending supporters.
Managing Director of Twickenham Experience Nils Braude said: “We’re constantly looking at new innovations and ideas that help us in our responsibility to build a more sustainable future for the next generation.
“Working with Lyfecycle enables all our guests to feel good about their visit to Twickenham, knowing that with every cup, they’re taking an actionable step towards solving one of the biggest environmental problems of our time.”
Polymateria CEO Niall Dunne said: “Our mission is to stop plastic on land before it reaches the oceans. Through visionary partners like Twickenham, our Lyfecycle time-controlled self-destructing cups show how recycling and biodegradation can work together, something previously not thought possible.
“To prove this, we’ll recycle cups used at Twickenham throughout the year and turn them into legacy items like benches and unique jewellery. On the current path, 450 million more tonnes of plastic will reach our oceans by 2040 so we must act now.”
Images courtesy of Twickenham Stadium.
