Glastonbury Festival drafts in Birmingham company APS to manufacture 200,000 reusable steel cups
It’s been several years in the making, but Glastonbury Festival will introduce over 200,000 reusable steel cups at this year’s event – all of which will be manufactured by a Birmingham company.
Hockley-based manufacturing company APS have been drafted in by Michael Eavis and co. to help launch the sustainable pint cups in time for this year’s festival, which includes headliners Muse, Adele and Coldplay.
The steel was sourced in Steel City itself, Sheffield, and was transported to Birmingham and manufactured using a press formerly used to make Land Rover parts, again here in the West Midlands.
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Speaking about the process, festival founder Michael Eavis said:
“I’m told the cup initiative is a bit of a revolution. But for me, the single most important thing was being able to source British stainless steel for the cups from the place where it was invented – Sheffield, and then to take it on to the home of manufacture – Birmingham.
“Week after week, there’s a story in the national press about jobs in the UK steel industry being put at risk. There’s seemingly no end to the negative slide of this critical industry, and if the jobs, skills and infrastructure are lost they won’t be replaced.
“We’ve worked on this project over the last three years, which will hopefully encourage other UK businesses to think about how they can support our steel industry during these very challenging times.”
Revellers will be able to find the reusable steel pint cups at 10 of the main bars across the site and can pick them up by placing a £5 deposit. Glastonbury organisers hope the introduction of the sustainable steel pint cups will reduce waste across the festival site and encourage attendees to either return the cups for future use, or take them home with them.
Local Somerset manufacturers Owen Barry have also been commissioned to provide designer leather and sheepskin cup covers.
Glastonbury Festival takes place between June 22nd-26th and is now sold-out.
Founding editor of Counteract. Freelance travel and music journalist.