World Environment Day is the largest global platform led by UNEP for environmental awareness and action. This year’s theme, #BeatPlasticPollution, highlights the urgent need to reduce plastic waste and shift toward more sustainable practices. At Ticketmaster, we’re proud to work with clients who are driving real change and leading the way in creating greener events. Here’s how some are stepping up to eliminate single-use plastics and embrace innovative, eco-friendly solutions.
♻️ SWG3
In 2023, SWG3 took a big step to improve the sustainability of their events and reduce their waste by eliminating single-use plastic cups (their most significant waste stream) from their gigs and events by introducing reusable Stack Cups to their bars. This has resulted in the avoidance of 27,500 single use plastic cups each month. In 2024, SWG3 replaced the single-use plastic cups that are still used at their high-volume club events with compostable Vegware and recycled plastic rPET cups.
♻️ CO-OP LIVE
There are two things that Co-op Live focus on to reduce plastic.
1. Reusable cups – The reusable cup provides a local solution to serve fans their beer in the most sustainable way possible.
Event Cup solutions are just 7 miles down the road so once the fan has finished their drink they pop them in the bins, where Co-op Live teams collate the cups and Event Cup Solutions wash them and bring them back to the venue for their next event.
In their first full year of opening, Co-op Live used 839,057 cups, saving over 4.2 tonnes of plastic. Each reusable cup they use replaces the need for a single use cup to be manufactured. This saves 5 grams of plastic per cup.
2. No Single use plastic bottles in the venue
From opening, Co-op Live have not allowed single-use plastic drink bottles to be sold in the venue. Instead, they use aluminium cans and dispensed drinks. Wine and spirits are served in cans or poured from glass bottles into their reusable cups or washable serveware.
♻️ SEC
Across their several venues, SEC reduce plastic-use by the following:
- Use of reusable cups in the OVO Hydro; lightweight disposable cups made of recycled plastic are used only for events that are assessed to be high-risk.
- Removal of plastic from staff catering – reusable containers given to all staff, which allowed the SEC to remove plastic water bottles and disposable serveware.
- Notpla packaging is used for visitors to take away food items – these are made with zero bioplastic, coated instead with a seaweed lining.
- Water refill stations are in place along the SEC concourse, encouraging visitors to refill their own bottles rather than purchase bottles of water.
The SEC also have a current project to implement further waste streams, improve contamination levels, and divert more plastic from their general waste stream, as well as releasing event sustainability toolkits to event organisers to limit the use of plastic in their events.
🌱 A Collective Commitment to Change
Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, and our clients are proving that the live entertainment industry can absolutely be part of the solution. By prioritising reusable materials, local circular systems, and education for fans and staff, venues and promoters are actively reshaping how events operate; with the planet, future generations, and long-term sustainability always in mind.
Learn more about this year’s #BeatPlasticPollution movement here and find out how even the smallest changes (across venues, tours, and teams) can make a measurable impact on a greener future.
