Plastic-free cups and compostable packaging at major cycling event in Sweden

Vätternrundan, the world’s largest recreational cycling event, has partnered with Duni Group to introduce a range of packaging initiatives aimed at supporting sustainability targets.

The collaboration sees the rollout of fibre-based, plastic-free paper cups for beverage service, alongside a trial of on-site composting for food and packaging waste. The measures are being implemented during Cycling Week, which runs from 5–13 June and attracts large numbers of participants and visitors to the region.

Duni Group is supplying approximately 125,000 paper cups designed for high-volume use in fast-paced environments. The cups are manufactured without plastic or bioplastic coatings, enabling their use in foodservice settings without reliance on polymer-based materials.

In addition, compostable packaging is being introduced at the Jönköping depot, where meals are served to participants. A composting unit provided through Duni Group’s Duniform® range is being used to process both food and packaging waste on site. The system is designed to handle materials within a single waste stream, converting them into compost in a relatively short timeframe.

Vätternrundan has has for a long time worked systematically to reduce its environmental impact. Transport and materials are two of our largest impact areas, and we are working purposefully to reduce that impact – both within our own events and by driving development in the industry. The collaboration with Duni Group is a concrete example of how we can combine large participant flows with more sustainable solutions in practice.

Oskar Sundblad, CEO of Vätternrundan.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort by Vätternrundan to reduce environmental impact and improve resource efficiency across the event. The partnership, initially agreed for a three-year period, will focus on the development and evaluation of alternative materials and waste handling systems in large-scale event environments.

The project is intended to explore how foodservice packaging and waste management solutions can be adapted to support circular practices at high-attendance sporting events.