On May 22nd, Suoyuwan Football Stadium in Dalian, known as China's "City of Football", became the setting for something new: the formal launch of a recyclable aluminum cup initiative that puts sustainability at the heart of professional football. Led by ORG Technology Co., Ltd. under the motto "Football for a Greener Future", the project marks the first time a zero-waste beverage system has been introduced at a Chinese Super League venue, and a serious step toward integrating green development into Chinese professional sports.
Strategic Vision: Building Toward Innovation and Sustainable Development
As one of the leading companies in metal packaging, ORG has long operated with a clear sense of strategic direction. In 2005, company chairman Zhou Yunjie identified R&D and innovation as the company's core competitive advantage. In 2015, he set out three principles to guide its growth: standardization, scale, and international expansion. In 2023, he turned his focus further ahead, arguing that the future of packaging lies in recycling and reuse. The aluminum cup project is where that vision becomes practice: innovative technology powers the circular system, consistent operations bring it to every event, and large-scale collection ties it all together — building toward a model of green development that can stand up to international scrutiny.
Technology in Action: The Carbon Credentials Behind a Single Aluminum Cup
At the launch, ORG International Managing Director Wang Dong walked through the project's end-to-end logic — from cup production and first use, through smart collection, all the way to recycling and re-production. "Every step in this chain is traceable, measurable, and built to last," Wang Dong said. "Partnering with Dalian Yingbo Football Club, Suoyuwan Football Stadium, and Dalian Wujia International Trading Co., Ltd. is a pivotal move for us — it's how we take our circular technology beyond the factory and put it directly in the hands of consumers."
Compared to the disposable cups typically handed out at sporting events, aluminum holds a clear environmental edge:
vs. Single-use paper cups (PE-coated paper cups): According to the Carbon Footprint Analysis Report on the Full Value Chain of Disposable Paper Cups, each paper cup generates approximately 0.025 kg CO₂e in carbon emissions over its full life-cycle. By contrast, ORG's 520ml aluminum cup produced using recycled aluminum processes comes in at just 0.001 kg CO₂e (including collection and reuse), a carbon reduction rate of roughly 96%. Real-world data from ORG's custom cups for the Bird's Nest stadium further demonstrates that even in single-use-then-collect scenarios, aluminum still cuts the carbon footprint by more than 70% compared to paper.
vs. Single-use plastic cups: According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI)'s Life Cycle Analysis: Aluminium vs. Glass/Plastic Packaging, in large-scale event settings, recyclable aluminum cups carry a carbon footprint approximately 80% lower than single-use plastic ones. With closed-loop recycling in place, that figure can exceed 90%.
This is the technological confidence behind ORG's "100% infinite recycling" commitment. Complementing the system is the "Youban Intelligent Recycling Machine," which uses AI-powered visual recognition to log returned cups and reward users with points redeemable for limited-edition merchandise, turning the act of returning a cup into something people actually want to do.
Four-Party Agreement: Building a Green Sports Community
With guests in attendance, representatives from all four partners — Dalian Yingbo Football Club, Suoyuwan Football Stadium, Dalian Wujia International, and ORG Technology — came together to formally sign the cooperation agreement. ORG Technology Co., Ltd. Chairman Zhou Yunjie, ORG International Managing Director Wang Dong, Dalian Yingbo Football Club Party Branch Secretary and Advisor Wei Yimin, Dalian Yingbo Football Club General Manager Chen Dong, Dalian Land Development Group Deputy General Manager and Dalian Chengxintong Industrial Park Investment and Development Co., Ltd. Party Branch Secretary Tian Ziran, Dalian Chengxintong Industrial Park Investment and Development Co., Ltd. General Manager Zhu Qian, Dalian Wujia International Trading Co., Ltd. Chairman He Ying, and Wujia International General Manager Du Meng jointly launched the project.
In his remarks, ORG Chairman Zhou Yunjie reflected on what the moment meant: "For 32 years, ORG has put everything into making the best cans in the business. But our responsibility doesn't end at the rim of the can; it extends to the world those cans exist in. This project is our way of connecting sport with the circular economy, carrying the passion of football alongside our commitment to cleaner skies."
Strategic Vision: The CSL's First Zero-Waste Beverage Venue
The launch in Dalian has a concrete goal: to make Suoyuwan Football Stadium the first venue in the CSL to operate a fully zero-waste beverage system. Every drink served at every match, every cup raised in the stands and returned at the end of the night, will feed into a single traceable, measurable, closed-loop system. This isn't just about what happens to the packaging — it's about building a fan culture with ecological awareness.
One cup. Used, returned, and made into the next one. Through green design, low-carbon production, and easy collection, ORG is working to shift professional sports from a disposable model to a circular one — protecting Dalian's skies today, and contributing to cleaner air well beyond the city limits.
In the name of football, and in partnership with Dalian, that's the commitment ORG is putting on the record.
