Why We Created The Hello Cup
Hello Straw helps replace single-use plastic to protect our oceans and environment. That is why we make high quality products from paper, and it is why we wanted to take that mission out onto the pitch.
The Hello Cup is our way of creating a lovely environment for kids to play and do what they love, while quietly making that experience more sustainable. It shows up for the community that has supported our journey, and it puts our values into practice at ground level. It also teaches the youngest players why sustainability matters, in a really natural way. Football is loved by millions. If we can help make the way it is served a little kinder to the planet, that is a match worth playing.
But we cannot play this match alone. We can only win as a team, together.
Hello Straw Team
How The Day Was Set Up
With 100 teams and around 1,000 to 1,200 young players in attendance, the tournament was split into two halves so every age group had their own moment.
- Morning session for the youngest squads, starting at U8.
- Afternoon session for the older U10 to U12 sides, at Premier League and First Class levels.
Two age groups, two energies, one shared trophy. It kept the pitch alive and gave every family a reason to stay for the day.
What We Brought To The Pitch
We ran the Hello Cup with our own range, so nothing plastic reached the tables. That is a small line to write and a big one to deliver at this scale.
On the food and drink side:
- Hello Straw paper cups
- Co-branded 4-in-1 cutlery pouches
- Paper straws for every drinks station
- French fries picks
Same standard you would see us bring to a much bigger event. Just a much younger crowd.
A Match Worth Playing
A single football match can create up to 4,200 kg of plastic waste. That is enough to fill three big buses. Every year, at least 100,000 marine animals are hurt or die because of plastic in our seas. Sea turtles are among the animals that sometimes mistake plastic for food.
Those are the numbers behind our team colour blue. They are also the reason we chose football as the place to prove that paper can do the job just as well.
A Word From The Sidelines
Cor, the owner, summed it up better than we could.
We are here at the Hello Straw Cup, the tournament that we organised this weekend. We have 100 teams. You can count that. That is 1,000 to 1,200 players. If we want to do this in the future, it is important that we do it all the right way. At the moment I am really happy, because all the people I have contact with at Hello Straw are nice people. We work well together, and the product quality from what I have tried is really good.
Cor, Owner
Honest notes from the people running the tournament on the ground are as useful to us as any customer survey. They spot the small things first.
Why We Sponsored A Football Tournament
Hello Straw decided to bring the Hello Cup to life because we want to show that paper is the best solution to single-use plastic, especially in football, an industry that generates so much waste.
We will sponsor football, and other events too. We really believe we are more than just a supplier. We want to be your partner, and the solution in terms of how we help the environment.
Hello Straw team
Bring The Hello Cup Thinking To Your Next Event
If you are planning a tournament, a festival or a community day, and you want it to feel as good as it looks, we would love to help. Have a look at our paper cups, cutlery and straws, or get in touch with the Hello Straw team and we will build a co-branded range that fits your event and your values.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Hello Cup?
The Hello Cup is Hello Straw's own community day on the pitch, brought to life as part of our social impact programme. The first edition welcomed 100 teams and more than 1,000 young players from U8 to U12 at Premier League and First Class levels, all served with our sustainable paper products.
Q: Who can play in the Hello Cup?
The day is open to boys' and girls' teams from U8 to U12, at Premier League and First Class levels. It is split into a morning session for the youngest players and an afternoon session for the older squads.
Q: How is the Hello Cup run sustainably?
The whole tournament is served with Hello Straw paper products, including our own paper cups, co-branded 4-in-1 cutlery pouches, paper straws and more. All branding on site, from the inflatable arch to the pop-up banners, is designed to work without single-use plastic on the tables.
Q: How much plastic does one football match create?
A single football match can generate up to 4,200 kg of plastic waste, enough to fill three big buses. Around 100,000 marine animals are hurt or die each year because of plastic in our seas. Those numbers are the reason the Hello Cup exists.
Q: Can my club or brand get involved in the next Hello Cup?
Yes. We are keen to grow the Hello Cup with the right clubs and partners. Send us a note through the Hello Straw website with a bit of background and we will come back with how we can build the next edition together.
