The iconic red Solo cup that has been a staple of backyard barbecues, college parties, tailgates, and many other casual hangouts since the 1970s, might be facing the end of its time thanks to giant packaging company Ball – that’s about to launch an eco-friendly aluminum alternative.
The company says it can supplant the red Solo cups that dot college campuses and picnic tables around the US with a product shaped exactly like the iconic beer pong vessel but is “infinitely recyclable”, allowing users to reduce their carbon footprint without sacrifice. While the new product will be more expensive than the traditional Solo cup, the company is betting that younger consumers concerned about plastic pollution won’t mind paying a premium to drink beer from a more sustainable cup.
The rollout of aluminum cups will start this week on a college campus, followed by a pilot program in several stadiums around the country. The cups should be available at retail stores by 2021, according to Ball.
