Allianz Stadium, London – Allianz Stadium has taken a significant step in establishing a benchmark for sustainable sporting events by piloting the UK’s first plastic-free drinks carrier during the England XV vs. France XV rugby match on 21 June 2025. This innovative carrier, designed in the form of a rugby ball, was developed by Notpla, the Earthshot Prize-winning packaging pioneers, in direct collaboration with Allianz Stadium’s catering and operations teams.
This launch represents yet another milestone in the ongoing partnership between Allianz Stadium, Levy, and Notpla. Together, they have successfully introduced seaweed-based, home-compostable food and drink packaging solutions into live stadium operations at an impressive pace and scale.
Real-World Innovation Through Collaboration
The new drinks carrier was meticulously co-designed with specific attention to the challenges of matchday service. Key factors such as speed, stackability, and ease of disposal were prioritized, resulting in a carrier that biodegrades naturally, similar to a fruit peel. This innovation complements Allianz Stadium’s broader sustainability initiatives and builds on the venue’s previous UK-first trial of Notpla’s seaweed-based chip forks during the 2024 Guinness Six Nations.
Tangible Impact Achieved
Through its collaboration with Notpla, Allianz Stadium has successfully replaced over 100,000 single-use food and drink packaging items, including 50,000 in the past year alone. This initiative has effectively eliminated more than 86 kilograms of plastic at the source. Consequently, the stadium has also avoided nearly 1 ton (974 kg) of CO₂e emissions. With the introduction of the new drinks carrier and additional packaging innovations on the horizon, the positive impact is set to expand.
Quotes
Gary Cargill, Director of Catering Services, Twickenham Experience Limited at Allianz Stadium:
“We’re proud to work with innovators like Notpla to deliver practical, visible steps towards a more sustainable matchday and event experience. This new drinks carrier is just one more example of how these changes, delivered at scale, can make a big difference for our fans and the planet.”
Pierre Paslier, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Notpla:
“Working directly with the team at Allianz Stadium has allowed us to design and deliver true packaging innovation at speed. This kind of collaboration – with a venue willing to lead and a caterer committed to action – is how we make plastic-free stadiums a reality and really tackle the problem of single-use plastics head-on.”