Announced on Earth Day, London 2026 signals a clear shift from tradition to responsibility, positioning table tennis within a broader movement across sport to turn ambition into measurable action.

A Meaningful Shift in Hydration

At the heart of the initiative is a highly visible, yet operationally complex, change: the removal of single-use plastic bottles. Previous World Championships have typically used around 30,000 bottles. London 2026 aims to reduce that figure by 90%, replacing them with fewer than 3,000 reusable, recycled stainless-steel bottles provided by Ganten.

Every player and coach will receive a commemorative bottle on arrival, supported by refill stations installed throughout the OVO Arena Wembley and Copper Box Arena during the Championships, which run from 28 April to 10 May 2026.

It is a simple

Balancing Performance and Practicality

Delivering this shift has required careful navigation of athlete routines, competition regulations and medical requirements. On the field of play, only the official Ganten bottle will be permitted, with dedicated dispensers installed at each player bench.

However, the system is not absolute. Doping control stations and medical areas will continue to rely on sealed single-use bottles to meet international standards and ensure sample integrity.

This balance highlights a recurring challenge for sport: how to embed sustainability without compromising performance, safety or compliance.

From Symbolism to Impact

While plastic bottles represent only a fraction of an event’s total footprint, they remain one of its most visible symbols. That visibility is precisely why this initiative matters.

Early estimates suggest the change could prevent hundreds of kilograms of plastic waste and several tonnes of CO₂ emissions.

As the ITTF acknowledges: “On its own, this is not a revolution. It is a long-overdue and symbolic shift… one deeply embedded in the habits and culture of sport.”

The significance lies not just in the numbers, but in the signal it sends—to athletes, organisers and fans alike—that change is both possible and necessary.

Beyond the Bottle

The hydration initiative is only one part of a broader sustainability programme developed in partnership with Table Tennis England. The strategy extends across water stewardship, waste reduction and more sustainable travel solutions across both venues.

London 2026 also aims to meet the criteria of the new ITTF Sustainable Event Label, with a commitment to publish a full post-event sustainability report detailing carbon footprint data and key learnings.

One hundred years on from its origins, the World Championships return to London with a clear ambition: not just to celebrate the past, but to shape a more sustainable future for the sport.