UNC and the Ball Corporation have announced a partnership to bring Ball’s recyclable aluminum cup to fans at Tar Heel sporting events, beginning with Saturday’s basketball game at the Dean Smith Center against Boston College.

The recyclable cups feature UNC and Coca-Cola logos and will serve soft drinks for $5 per cup at men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, men’s and women’s lacrosse and softball games as part of a pilot program.

Carolina becomes the first university in the ACC to feature the recyclable cup. The aluminum cups contain an average of more than 70 percent recycled content thanks to their high recycling rate.

“Carolina Athletics and the University are committed to helping reduce our carbon footprint and partnering with Ball Corporation on this important project is another opportunity to do that,” said UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham in a release. “We want to set an example for our students, staff, fans and visitors that we can and should make sustainable choices that have a positive impact on the environment.”

The university’s partnership with Ball continues an emphasis on recycling initiatives at UNC athletic events. This includes pairing trash and recycling bins in each venue, adjusting operations to encourage fans to un-bag recyclable materials during the 2019 football season and beyond, and creating student internship positions in athletic event management and the university’s office of waste reduction and recycling that will focus on recycling efforts in all of UNC’s athletic venues.

“Since launching the aluminum cup in 2019, we are seeing a tremendous response from the sports community,” said Daniel W. Fisher, Ball’s chief operating officer, global beverage packaging. “We are proud to partner with UNC as they take the proactive step of introducing the aluminum cup to make their venues more sustainable.”

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