The Portland Trail Blazers and Bold Reuse announced today that the Rip City Reuse cup program at Moda Center achieves carbon emission equivalent (CO₂e) break-even after just two uses under real-world operating conditions, setting an exciting new sustainability standard for the industry. The study tested three single-use alternatives — compostable PLA, polypropylene, and paper cups — and the reusable cup can outperform all three on carbon after just two uses.
Since launching at Moda Center, 967,322 beverages have been served in 20 oz. reusable cups. Based on the LCA-derived per-serving emissions difference vs. compostable PLA cups, the program is estimated to have avoided approximately 52.7 metric tonnes of CO₂e — consistent with the study's finding of 74% lower carbon per drink served. The Moda Center also serves beverages in 9 oz, 12 oz, and 24 oz cups, and the Rip City Reuse program has eliminated 1.7 million single-use cups in total.
Every product generates environmental impact across its life cycle, from production to disposal. Single-use cups are manufactured, transported, used for minutes, and landfilled, representing a significant burden relative to their brief period of use. Reusable alternatives change the equation: each additional use distributes the production impact further while displacing a new single-use item. The break-even point is where the reusable cup's cumulative impact falls below that of the single-use alternative's, and every use after that is a measurable environmental win.
This estimate is based on the LCA-derived per-serving emissions difference between the Bold Reuse reusable cup and a compostable PLA cup under Moda Center operating conditions, including an average of 8.32 uses per cup. Results are specific to this comparison and may vary under different operating assumptions, reuse rates, and other scenarios.
“What’s meaningful about this study is that it reflects real‑world operating conditions at Moda Center, not general assumptions. Independent, third‑party results show that reuse can deliver real environmental benefits at the scale of an NBA arena, helping set a new bar and moving reuse from a promising idea to a credible, impactful solution today," said Brittany Saulsbury, Director of Sustainability, Portland Trail Blazers.
The Results
Based on Moda Center's operating conditions, with cups averaging 8.32 uses each, the Bold Reuse program delivers the following carbon reductions per drink served compared to single-use alternatives used by venues:
- 82% lower carbon emissions than single-use PP cups
- 74% lower carbon emissions than compostable PLA cups
- 55% lower carbon emissions than paper cups
The results hold across all three environmental impact categories studied — carbon, eutrophication, and acidification (percentage reduction vs. each alternative, per drink served — 20 oz., Moda Center, 8.32 avg uses).
Reusable cups compared with single-use PP cups:
- 82% lower carbon (GWP) impact
- 82% lower eutrophication impact
- 81% lower acidification impact
Reusable cups compared with compostable PLA cups:
- 74% lower carbon (GWP) impact
- 88% lower eutrophication impact
- 88% lower acidification impact
Reusable cups compared with paper cups:
- 55% lower carbon (GWP) impact
- 78% lower eutrophication impact
- 82% lower acidification impact
Moda Center has led the arena reuse movement longer than any venue in the country. Since launching the first reuse program in professional sports in 2022, the program has expanded continuously, culminating on September 19, 2024, when Moda became the first major sports and entertainment venue in the U.S. to offer reusable cups across every beverage category. A new independent life cycle assessment now confirms what three seasons of operations have demonstrated: reuse at this scale delivers real, measurable environmental results.
“For too long, reuse has been asked to prove itself while single-use gets a pass. This study, conducted at a major sports venue using ISO-standard methodology and independent review, ends that debate. Two uses to break even on carbon. Everything above that is a carbon win when compared with the single-use alternatives evaluated in the study," said Jocelyn Quarrell, co-founder and CEO, Bold Reuse.
Redefining the Break-Even Standard
Prior research has placed the CO₂ break-even threshold at three to fifteen uses against various single-use alternatives. This study finds that under Moda Center's operating conditions, the Bold Reuse program reaches carbon break-even against every alternative tested — compostable PLA, compostable paper, and polypropylene single-use cups — in two uses or fewer.
The difference comes down to how the cups are managed. Bold Reuse's operational model, including washing, sanitizing, route logistics, and return infrastructure, is efficient enough that the reuse cycle adds minimal carbon relative to what it offsets. The environmental payoff compounds with every additional use: at the program's current return rate, an average of 88%, each serving delivers a fraction of the carbon footprint of any single-use alternative.
The sensitivity analysis in the study confirms that return rate is the single highest-leverage variable. A cup that comes back is a cup that continues to reduce environmental impacts.
About the Study
The study was conducted by Blue Strike Environmental and reviewed by three independent LCA experts with no financial relationship to Bold Reuse, the Trail Blazers, or any cup manufacturer. One beverage served using a 20 oz cup at the Moda Center stadium in Portland, Oregon, was selected as a functional unit. The study covers a full cradle-to-grave system boundary and compares four 20 oz. cup options: Bold Reuse managed reusable polypropylene cups, compostable PLA cups, single-use polypropylene cups, and paper cups (included as a comparative reference system only).
An independent critical review panel was convened to evaluate the comparative LCA of reusable cup systems and the associated LCI model. The panel consisted of three reviewers with expertise in life cycle assessment methodology and environmental modeling. The review was conducted in accordance with the requirements for critical review of comparative LCAs as described in ISO 14040 and ISO 14044.
The objective of the review was to assess whether the methods used to carry out the study are consistent with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, whether the data and modeling approaches are scientifically and technically valid, whether the interpretations reflect the results of the study, and whether the report provides an appropriate level of transparency consistent with the goal and scope of the assessment.
The panel reviewed the LCA white paper and the underlying LCI model provided in Excel format. Reviewers provided detailed comments addressing aspects of the study, including the definition of the functional unit and system boundaries, documentation of data sources and modeling assumptions, transparency and traceability within the LCI model, and the interpretation and communication of results. These comments are intended to improve the clarity, transparency, and robustness of the study before finalization.
At the time of this review, the study was still undergoing revision in response to the panel’s comments. Final confirmation of conformance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 will depend on the satisfactory resolution of the issues identified by the review panel.
The audit comments have been addressed in the review process. A separate document with comments and resolutions is maintained and has been shared separately.
The underlying technical report has been prepared for internal use only and contains confidential and proprietary information that precludes its public release.
About Bold Reuse
Bold Reuse (Green Options PBC) is the largest reusable serviceware operator in U.S. sports and entertainment: 20+ professional sports teams, six markets, and diverting millions of items from landfill. The company collects, washes, and redistributes reusable food and drinkware across stadiums, arenas, corporate campuses, and universities, backed by its Circular Intelligence platform for real-time asset tracking and impact reporting. For more information, visit www.boldreuse.com.
About Portland Trail Blazers
Members of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Portland Trail Blazers were founded in 1970 and purchased by Rip City Rising in 2026. The team's rich heritage includes 37 playoff appearances, three trips to the NBA Finals, an NBA championship in 1977 and a commitment to community service and sustainability. The Trail Blazers are dedicated to positively impacting underserved kids and their families throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington where they live, learn and play. Portland is the first and only professional sports franchise to receive the prestigious National Points of Light Award for excellence in corporate and community service. The Trail Blazers home arena, Moda Center, is the first existing arena to earn LEED Platinum Certification in 2019 after receiving LEED Gold Recertification in 2015 and becoming the first existing professional sports venue in the world to receive LEED Gold status in 2010. The team is also one of the founding members of the Green Sports Alliance. For more information, visit trailblazers.com.
About Blue Strike Environmental
Blue Strike Environmental (BSE) is an environmental consultancy with practice areas in national events and venue sustainability, energy and climate, and engagement and resilience. The firm provides operational solutions in zero waste as well as technical expertise in climate action planning, decarbonization and advanced energy. Communications, engagement and compliance with environmental legislation are also business cornerstones. BSE works with local governments, universities, special events and venues.
Media Contact
Keli Schneider
keli@boldreuse.com
