Bold Reuse, a leader in reusable packaging systems for venues, is launching a two-month pilot program deploying radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology in partnership with Avery Dennison, a global materials science and digital identification solutions company. The initiative will bring real-time visibility and smart tracking to monitor the entire lifecycle of reusable cups — from distribution and return to wash cycles and end-of-life.

The pilot will be deployed at Bold Reuse’s Portland-based wash-hub and two of Portland’s major league sports venues: The Moda Center, home of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Providence Park, home of the Portland Timbers and Thorns, with the combined locations reaching over 2 million people a year.  

This pilot goes beyond basic inventory tracking — it represents a critical step forward in advancing smarter, data-informed reuse systems. With RFID technology, Bold Reuse and its partners are unlocking item-level metrics that reveal how cups move through the system, where losses occur, and how user behavior impacts return rates. These insights are key to driving operational efficiency, reducing waste and enhancing the fan experience. Ultimately, the data gathered through this pilot will shape more effective reuse strategies and support broader sustainability goals across sports and entertainment venues.

“This pilot is about unlocking operational intelligence at scale,” said Jocelyn Quarrell, CEO of Bold Reuse. “With RFID, we can track every single cup throughout its journey, giving our partners transparency and performance metrics to make reuse as seamless and scalable as possible.”

Through fixed RFID readers installed at key points within the service center, and handheld devices used at partner venues, the pilot will passively collect key data, including:

• Cup return vs. loss rates
• Average number of wash cycles per cup
• Inventory dwell times
• Percentage of cups retired, rewashed or damaged

Data is crucial for the success of reusable products and underpins the reuse economy. The data will allow Bold Reuse to optimize its service center operations, reduce waste, and extend the life of its products—ultimately making reuse more cost-effective and sustainable for its customers.

“Bold Reuse is paving the way for smarter reuse systems,” said Michael Colarossi, head of enterprise sustainability, Avery Dennison. “Together, we’re delivering a scalable, item-level traceability solution that enables real-time accountability and transparency in reuse. This is made possible through our unique combination of materials science expertise - specifically in performance adhesives - and our deep knowledge of RFID technology. We ensure items can withstand repeated wash cycles without compromising RFID functionality, empowering consumers to reuse items again and again.”

“At Moda Center, we’re proud to already operate a successful reusable cup program through Rip City Reuse, which has eliminated more than 917,000 single-use cups to date—and we’re on track to hit 1 million cups diverted this year,” said Brittany Saulsbury, sustainability operations manager at the Portland Trailblazers. “With this RFID pilot, we’re excited to enhance the system by gathering deeper data insights to help us further optimize the fan experience and continue driving waste reduction at Moda Center.”

“We’re always looking for ways to raise the bar on sustainability at Providence Park, and this RFID pilot with Bold Reuse is an exciting leap forward,” said Ashley Highsmith, chief operations officer, Portland Timbers. “It’s not just about reducing waste—it’s about embracing innovation to create smarter, more efficient systems. With this technology, we’re gaining powerful insights that will help us scale our impact, engage fans in new ways, and set a new standard for what sustainability can look like in sports and entertainment.”

In the future, the RFID tracking system could serve as a blueprint for widespread implementation across Bold Reuse’s growing network of venues nationwide.