Global metals and mining company Rio Tinto has been selected as the official aluminium partner for Montreal Canadiens, a Montreal, Canada-based ice hockey team.
This partnership comes into effect immediately and will help Bell Centre, the home of the Montreal Canadiens, to roll out new infinitely recyclable aluminium cups for use at various sporting and entertainment events.
Rio Tinto said that the aluminium to be used for making these infinitely recyclable cups will be produced in the Saguenay - Lac-Saint-Jean region, in Québec, Canada.
These 100% locally sourced aluminium cups will be available for fans and consumers starting from the end of this year.
The collaboration, which will be valid for five years, also supports Montreal Canadiens’ 'The Goal is Green' initiative.
Presented by Banque Nationale, this initiative aims to minimise the overall environmental footprint of the organisation by promoting the use of green and renewable resources.
Groupe CH executive vice-president and chief operations and venues officer Daniel Trottier said: “When Montreal Canadiens fans make their way towards the Bell Centre to cheer on their favourite team, they first walk through La Cour Rio Tinto where we celebrate the Greats of our storied franchise.
“It is fitting to see our next-door neighbour deepen its partnership with our organisation by supplying the aluminium we need in order to reduce our environmental footprint and enable our fans to do the same.”
The launch of aluminium cups is projected to replace approximately 1.5 million single-use plastic cups, every year.
Rio Tinto said that this number is equivalent to approximately 24 tonnes of plastic being removed from the environment.
Rio Tinto Aluminium Atlantic Operations managing director Sébastien Ross said: “The low-carbon aluminium we proudly produce right here in Québec is reusable, traceable, and infinitely recyclable.
"Our company has deep roots in Montreal and the province of Québec, and through partnerships such as this one, we are finding better ways to provide the materials needed to make events and locations in our host communities more sustainable.”
