Turning waste into soil: Hallenstadion opts for compostable disposable tableware
The Hallenstadion Zurich is breaking new ground when it comes to sustainability. Starting in spring 2026, Switzerland’s largest event arena will switch entirely to compostable disposable tableware. In collaboration with the Swiss startup Bioloop and Hallenstadion Gastronomie, plates, cups, and cutlery will in the future be made from materials that can be turned into soil after use.
This reduces the amount of waste to be incinerated by around 75 percent. The used materials are collected after the events and taken to a nearby recycling center. Composting plant in Eglisau where microorganisms decompose them into nutrient-rich soil within a few months.
"We don't just want to avoid waste, we want to create a real cycle," says Philipp MusshafenCEO of the Hallenstadion. "Our crockery becomes earth again - that is visible sustainability."
An analysis of the carbon-connect AG shows that Bioloop cups made from PLA - a material based on corn and sugar cane - are only 46.3 grams CO₂ per unit. For comparison: PET cups are 89.1 gram, reusable cups at 53.4 grams. This means that the project also achieves a top value in terms of its greenhouse gas balance.
Although the changeover entails higher costs, the Hallenstadion sees it as an investment in sustainability and credibility. Quality and comfort for guests remain unchanged, while ecological added value is created in the background.
Every year, after composting, the Hallenstadion receives around 500 bags of soil back - a symbol of the closed cycle that the arena wants to make visible in the future.
With this project, the Hallenstadion is underlining its claim to integrate sustainability not just as a buzzword, but as a lived practice in event operations.
