FIFA World Cup to generate 156 tonnes of plastic waste
The 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament is set to generate an estimated 156 tonnes of single-use plastic waste.*
That’s enough waste to stretch the length of more than 13,000 football pitches — with FIFA’s reusable water bottle ban expected to make the problem worse.
In the UK, new research has found three-quarters of the public (74%) want major sporting events, such as the World Cup, to use only plastic-free food packaging; however, much of it remains hard to avoid as many single-use food containers that appear to be paper or card are lined with a thin layer of hidden plastic.
This plastic barrier can make food packaging difficult to recycle and more likely to end up in landfill, even when people believe they are disposing of it responsibly.
The research said half of the UK public (49%) did not realise single-use food containers don’t get recycled. Almost four in five people (79%) said food packaging should clearly state whether it contains plastic, so they can make informed choices, while 80% believe all food packaging, such as those used in takeaways and supermarkets, should be plastic-free where possible.
The research was commissioned by UK company Xampla, which makes plastic-free materials made from plants.
“The public care deeply about the environment and want to play their part to address the global plastic pollution crisis,” said Alexandra French, CEO of Xampla.
“Until now, consumers have had no choice other than to eat their half-time food in packaging made with plastic. Solutions like Morro materials are changing that, making it easier than ever for brands and businesses to offer genuinely plastic-free options.
“With millions of people attending festivals and sporting events this summer, there is a real opportunity for food businesses, the events industry, and manufacturers to demonstrate that scalable, plastic-free alternatives already exist.”
*The figure assumes one bottle per spectator. The estimate is illustrative and based on the projected total tournament attendance of 6.5 million, FIFA’s upper projection for the 2026 World Cup. Estimates from other sources range from 5 million to 7.3 million.
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