Case
Sustainable solutions for sporting events
Company
City of Copenhagen
Category
Sustainable solutions, food and beverages
Partner
Confederation of Danish Industry, PARKEN Sport & Entertainment, Sparta Atletik & Motion
Services
Eight-week innovation challenge, matchmaking
The case
In recent years Copenhagen has hosted a large number of international sporting events, such as the swimming European Championship, the ice hockey World Championship and the handball World Championship. At the same time, by adopting the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the City of Copenhagen is pursuing a highly ambitious environmental policy. Consequently, as of 2020, the City of Copenhagen banned the use of disposable plastic cups to serve beverages at major events.
How we helped
In collaboration with the involved partners we conducted an eight-week innovation challenge, where seven different companies were tasked with developing a sustainable alternative to disposable plastic cups for use at sporting events.
The project kicked off with a joint event introducing the companies to the challenges associated with catering sport. A behind-the-scenes visit then took place at the DHL Relay and PARKEN Sport & Entertainment to view the facilities and to continue talking about stumbling blocks with the organisers and participants. During the project it was possible to test ideas and a new biodegradable paper cup was tested at the annual DHL Relay.
The project resulted in PARKEN Sport & Entertainment and Sparta Atletik & Motion entering into development collaborations with various companies to further develop and test new solutions.
“Abena’s participation has resulted in more than just Abena becoming a supplier to the Confederation of Danish Industry’s C40 event. The championship has also provided new opportunities to collaborate with another exciting organisation that would also like to act more sustainably – Sparta, a Danish athletics club.”
Eva Tansem Andersen, Head of Development, Abena
