Hallenstadion Zurich switches to compostable disposable tableware

(CONNECT) The Hallenstadion Zurich wants to produce soil from disposable tableware in future. The multifunctional indoor venue will only use fully compostable disposable tableware from spring 2026, Hallenstadion AG announced in a press release. "We don't just want to reduce waste, we want to create a closed cycle," Phillip Musshafen, CEO of the stadium operating company, is quoted as saying. "Our crockery is turned back into soil, making a visible contribution to sustainability."

The Hallenstadion Zurich has teamed up with Bioloop AG from Eschenbach for the project. Founded in 2024, the company produces disposable tableware made from synthetic polyester, which is obtained from renewable raw materials such as corn, sugar cane or sugar beet. At 46.3 grams per unit, the Bioloop cups made from this type of PLA produce significantly less CO2 than the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) cups previously used in the Hallenstadion Zurich, which had a footprint of 89.1 grams of CO2. But they are also more sustainable than reusable cups, which produce 53.4 grams of CO2 per unit.

Appropriate containers will be set up in the Hallenstadion for the collection of used cups, cutlery, plates and napkins. In the nearest aerobic composting plant, microorganisms then process the PLA dishes into nutrient-rich soil within three to six months. The Hallenstadion receives around 500 five-liter bags of earth back from this process every year. It is not yet clear where the earth will be placed. Maybe one day you'll even be able to buy a Christmas tree that has grown in Hallenstadion soil," says Musshafen. ce/hs