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Rip City Reuse

770,180 single-use cups diverted from landfills.

The Problem

Event & sports venues generate excessive single-use waste from concessions. The Portland Trail Blazers have for a long time led the charge for a greener NBA. Faced with external changes to local waste management, impending net zero guidelines from the NBA and increased pressure from fans to reduce the environmental impacts of game days, they needed a solution to reduce waste in the arena.

The Bold Solution

The Portland Trail Blazers and their concessionaire partner, Levy Restaurants, selected Bold Reuse to spearhead the Rip City Reuse program. This first-of-its-kind initiative involved the introduction of reusable foodware at Moda Center’s Club Level concession stands, setting a new standard for the industry. Following the success of the reusable foodware pilot, the Trail Blazers and Bold Reuse launched the first-of-its-kind stadium-wide reusable cup program for alcoholic beverages laying the foundation for reuse at sports venues.

To kick off the program, the Trail Blazers:

✅ Integrated reuse into their larger vision—”To blaze trails toward winning championships on and off the court.”
✅ Identified internal champions and collaborated with key stakeholders.
✅ Developed a cost/impact analysis to gain leadership buy-in.
✅ Launched a pilot program to test feasibility and scale potential.
✅ Partnered closely with Bold Reuse to refine logistics and operations.Scaling Up for SuccessFollowing a successful pilot, the

Trail Blazers expanded to a full-scale reuse program with Bold Reuse, setting a new standard for sustainability in sports. How they did it:

✅ Selecting and procuring a durable, high-quality reusable product.
✅ Preparing the arena with clear communication, collection bins, and staff training.
✅ Developing a logistics plan with Bold Reuse to ensure smooth operations.
✅ Launching and tracking the program with real-time data and feedback.
✅ Conducting ongoing training and audits to optimize performance. Through this strategic approach, the Portland Trail Blazers and Bold Reuse have created a replicable model for sustainability in sports venues.

How It Works