MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM RECEIVES TRAILBLAZER AWARD AT 2022 NET ZERO CONFERENCE

ATLANTA (September 21, 2022) ? Mercedes-Benz Stadium was honored with the Trailblazer Award by the Green Sports Alliance for leadership in sustainability at the ninth annual 2022 Net Zero Conference?s Trailblazer Awards Gala in Los Angeles, the conference announced Tuesday.

The Trailblazer Awards celebrate leaders that are working towards building a net zero future and who employ practices to decarbonize the environment.

The 2022 awardees included leaders and changemakers from various industries who make an impact in the areas of carbon, climate, equity, ESG, Net Zero, resilience and more. Mercedes-Benz Stadium was among eight total 2022 Trailblazer Award recipients and the sole organization to receive the prestigious honor.

?We are honored to have been recognized by the Green Sports Alliance as a Trailblazer,? said AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Operating Officer Dietmar Exler. ?Since opening our doors in 2017, we have been committed to implementing the foundational programs and practices to help curb our overall environmental footprint and thank The Green Sports Alliance and The Net Zero Conference for celebrating our efforts as we continue to move forward in our endeavors.?

Earlier this year, MBS became the first professional sports stadium in the world to achieve TRUE Precertification for zero waste. The stadium also received two Play to Zero Awards at the 2022 Green Sports Alliance Summit in June, recognizing the building?s commitment to water conservation and waste reduction.

Upon construction in 2017, MBS became the first professional sports venue in North America to reach the highest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System certification (Platinum), the industry?s internationally recognized rating system for environmentally conscious developers, a certification also administered by GBCI.

For more about the conference and the full list of Trailblazer awards, click here.

https://mercedesbenzstadium.com/news/press-release/

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Fiserv Forum: Achieving LEED O+M with Arc

Over the past two decades, USGBC and LEED have been transforming the marketplace with rating systems designed to ensure certified buildings demonstrate efficiency, save money, lower carbon emissions and create healthier places for people.

High performance for high performers

The Arc platform was developed by USGBC as a tracking tool to monitor and report this data. The green building industry is becoming more performance-based to ensure that buildings are performing the way they were designed to. Arc was designed to help building owners and operators visualize performance data and impacts to drive targeted performance focusing on energy, water, waste, human experience and air quality. The platform also allows for comparison across a real estate portfolio, which can be particularly useful in assessing improvement opportunities.

Fiserv Forum, the Milwaukee Bucks arena, and the team?s training center, located in the Froedtert and The Medical College of Wisconsin Sports Science Center building, achieved LEED for Building Design and Construction (BD+C) at the Silver level in 2019. The owner and facilities director are committed to optimizing the performance of this world-class venue, and Arc was a perfect tool for this.

The Bucks engaged my firm, Greenwood Consulting Group, LLC (GCG) to manage its LEED v4.1 recertification under LEED for Operations and Maintenance (O+M), using the Arc performance tracking platform. GCG brought to this project over 17 years of experience managing projects that pursue green building certification to achieve the owner?s performance goals. Together with GCG, Fiserv Forum was awarded LEED Gold for its LEED O+M recertification, with a score of 75, and the Sports Science Center was awarded LEED Silver, with a score of 52, in October 2021.

?The Milwaukee Bucks seized an opportunity to guarantee Fiserv Forum ensures a more sustainable, energy-efficient and healthy environment to allow our visitors and employees a healthier quality of life in our building,? says Dennis Williams, senior vice president and general manager of Fiserv Forum. ?We are very proud of our efforts and stewardship in the community while providing first-class entertainment and championship basketball at Fiserv Forum.?

The unique needs of a sports venue

As a sports arena, Fiserv Forum faced numerous challenges, including the intensive energy and water use for this building type. Maintaining healthy air quality was another concern that emerged with the onset of COVID-19. After gathering building data over the course of a year and completing air quality testing and occupant surveys, we were able to identify areas for improved performance.

Fiserv Forum has been diligent with its efforts to retrofit outdated energy efficiency systems, and they continue to retrofit plumbing fixtures to high-efficiency alternatives throughout the building. The project performed well in the energy and water categories of LEED, as GCG uncovered from our analysis. Energy Star Portfolio Manager was used to monitor this performance, as well.

Coordination with GBCI administrators was helpful in addressing unique COVID-19 circumstances when the facilities were not operating at normal capacity. Waste was identified as an area of opportunity through the Arc platform, so we worked with the owner to assess the different waste streams, operational logistics (back of house compared to front of house), food waste volume and local options for composting. GCG also reached out to a wide range of local waste resources to understand various ways in which the overall waste volume could be reduced.

Establishing a procurement policy was one way in which recycling was enhanced on this project, and the Bucks decided to partner with S.C. Johnson to transform single-use plastic cups into packaging for one of the company’s products. This one step diverted an entire waste stream at the facility into a usable byproduct. Another opportunity identified at the project site was food recovery, and the EPA Food Recovery Hierarchy offered a great road map for the team to focus on: beginning with source reduction, then feeding the hungry population and continuing down the hierarchy, with landfill as the last possible option. The Bucks continue to work to find local opportunities to divert food waste from the landfill and find alternative solutions.

In the end, the buildings achieved great results with the air quality testing and gave the operations and ownership group peace of mind that they are providing occupants with the best air quality possible. Now more than ever, investing in high-performing, healthy buildings is critical to the community at large. Fiserv Forum has demonstrated a commitment to transparency when it comes to health and building operations, which is very commendable.

As the first professional sports venue to achieve LEED Gold certification under LEED v4.1 for O+M, Fiserv Forum is a testament to environmental leadership and a commitment to sustainability and carbon neutrality. Moving forward, Fiserv Forum and the Sports Science Center are equipped to continuing monitoring performance with Arc and making improvements.

Original article: https://www.usgbc.org/articles/fiserv-forum-achieving-leed-om-arc

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TARGET FIELD BECOMES FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM TO ACHIEVE LEED PLATINUM CERTIFICATION VIA NEW RATING SYSTEM

Minnesota Twins receive highest honor bestowed by the U.S. Green Building Council for continued excellence in Operations and Maintenance at the ?Greenest Ballpark in America?

Note: The Twins and the U.S. Green Building Council will commemorate this achievement during a pregame ceremony prior to this Saturday night?s Twins-Guardians game at Target Field.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN ? In recognition of the club?s industry-leading efforts in sustainability and environmental stewardship, the Minnesota Twins announced today that they have been awarded LEED Platinum certification for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance ? making Target Field the first Major League Baseball venue to receive the U.S. Green Building Council?s highest possible honor via the new LEED v4.1 rating system.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping to make the world more sustainable. The current version, LEED v4.1, is the most robust, flexible and transparent rating system ever.

Since opening Target Field in 2010, the Twins are the first and only Major League Baseball (MLB) club to achieve five separate LEED certifications: LEED Silver for New Construction (in 2010, the second MLB team thus honored); LEED Silver for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (in 2011, making the Twins the first professional sports franchise to earn Silver for both construction and operations); LEED Gold for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (in 2017, becoming the first organization in pro sports to attain Gold in this category); LEED Gold recertification (in 2019); and now LEED Platinum.

Target Field is also the nation?s first sports venue to earn three levels of LEED certification through Arc, the state-of-the-art digital platform that uses real-world data to help benchmark, measure and improve sustainability performance. Arc is the first of its kind to track progress through a performance score, enabling projects to make more informed decisions when it comes to sustainability.

?Our organization-wide commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship and social responsibility is more than a guidepost ? it is a belief in the power of creating positive change that is engrained into the ethos of the Minnesota Twins,? said club President & CEO Dave St. Peter. ?From the moment we began designing Target Field, we set out to create and maintain a world-class facility that, as the forever home of Twins baseball, would have a positive influence on our city, state and region. I am incredibly grateful to our dedicated employees, fans, and community and commercial partners for sharing our vision and contributing each and every day toward our continued efforts to ensure that Target Field remains the ?Greenest Ballpark in America.??

The Twins? many environmental stewardship efforts include a custom-designed Rain Water Recycle System provided by Minneapolis-based Pentair, helping the organization capture, purify and reuse nearly 20 million total gallons of rainwater at Target Field to date; aggressive recycling and waste-to-energy programs in partnership with Ecolab, Marsden Services and Republic Services that have kept nearly 13,000 tons of waste out of local landfills since 2011 ? including 4,190 tons of trash being sent to the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), 4,743 tons of waste being recycled and 3,796 tons of organic materials begin composted and diverted; a shared initiative with Delaware North Sportservice to partner with Rock and Wrap It UP!, Inc. to deliver more than 63 tons of food to local charities; LED fixtures for field and canopy lighting; and, a long-term partnership with Eco-Products to provide the ballpark?s compostable cups, plates, trays, utensils and straws.

?The Minnesota Twins? fifth LEED certification at Target Field demonstrates tremendous green building leadership,? said Peter Templeton, interim president and CEO, USGBC. ?LEED was created to make the world a better place and revolutionize our buildings and communities by providing everyone with access to healthy, green and high performing buildings. Target Field continues to be a prime example of how the innovative work of project teams can create local solutions that contribute to making a global difference.?

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About the U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, an international network of local community leaders, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

TARGET FIELD ? THE GREENEST BALLPARK IN AMERICA

For more information, please visit twinsbaseball.com/green

Twins Sustainability Statement

The Minnesota Twins organization believes our future success ? both on and off the field ? is built on a business model that embraces operational efficiency, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. We honor the power of sport by leading through example, and we will continue to use sport to inspire, build the best fan experience and cause no unnecessary harm, working with our fans, community, suppliers, partners and employees to have a positive influence in the world.

LEED Certified

In 2022, the Twins were awarded LEED Platinum certification for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance ? making Target Field the first Major League Baseball facility to receive the U.S. Green Building Council?s highest possible honor via the new LEED v4.1 rating system. Since opening Target Field in 2010, the Twins are first and only Major League Baseball (MLB) club to achieve five separate LEED certifications: LEED Silver for New Construction (in 2010, the second MLB team thus honored); LEED Silver for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (in 2011, making the Twins the first professional sports franchise to earn Silver for both construction and operations); LEED Gold for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (in 2017, becoming the first organization in pro sports to attain Gold in this category); LEED Gold recertification (in 2019); and now LEED Platinum. Target Field is also the nation?s first sports venue to earn three levels of LEED certification through Arc, the state-of-the-art digital platform that uses real-time data to help benchmark, measure and improve sustainability performance. Arc is the first of its kind to track progress through a performance score, enabling project teams to make more informed decisions when it comes to sustainability.

USGBC Leadership Award

In recognition of the Minnesota Twins? outstanding contributions to green building and sustainability in the sports industry, the U.S. Green Building Council honored the organization with a 2019 Leadership Award. The Twins, heralded as a ?model for sustainability in the sporting world,? were awarded for using green building and sustainable practices to improve quality of life for those around them.

Major League Baseball Green Glove Award

The Twins won the 2021 Green Glove award, given to the Major League Baseball club with the highest waste diversion rate during the previous year. During the 2021 season, the Twins saved nearly 99 percent of Target Field waste from landfills: 33.8 percent via composting, 34.4 percent via recycling and 31.1 percent via a waste-to-energy partnership with the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC).

Capturing and Reusing Rainwater

Through a custom-designed Rain Water Recycle System provided by Minneapolis-based Pentair, the Minnesota Twins have captured, purified and reused nearly 20 million total gallons of rainwater, drastically reducing the use of municipal water at Target Field. The majority of the recycled rainwater is used to wash down the seating bowl attached to the main concourse.

Recycling, Composting and Converting Waste to Energy

Through aggressive recycling and waste-to-energy programs, the Twins have kept nearly 13,000 tons of waste out of local landfills from 2011 to 2021: 4,190 tons of trash have been sent to the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC); 4,743 tons of waste have been recycled from Target Field; and 3,796 tons of organic materials have been composted and diverted from landfills.

Donating Unused Food to Local Charities

The Minnesota Twins and concession partner Delaware North Sportservice donate more than 10 tons of food to local charities each season. Through a partnership with Rock and Wrap It Up!, Inc., all prepared but untouched meals at Target Field are boxed up and donated to local charities. To date, these efforts have kept more than 63 tons of waste out of local landfills.

Reducing Energy Use via LED Lighting

Originally installed between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, the field lighting at Target Field was upgraded to LED technology. By initially reducing fixture count from 746 to approximately 512, while also using LED fixtures to illuminate the underside of the ballpark canopy, energy use was immediately reduced by approximately 55 percent; the Twins continue upgrading fixtures throughout the ballpark to LED technology each year.

www.twinsbaseball.com

The post TARGET FIELD BECOMES FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM TO ACHIEVE LEED PLATINUM CERTIFICATION VIA NEW RATING SYSTEM appeared first on Green Sports Alliance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Green Sports Alliance Launches the Food Waste Diversion and Compostable Packaging Playbook

August 31, 2022: Portland, OR ? Today the Green Sports Alliance (GSA) launched the Food Waste Diversion and Compostable Packaging Playbook supported by its Corporate Membership Network and its member, NatureWorks. 

The purpose of this playbook is to address how certified compostable food serviceware and packaging can play a vital role in sports venues, by facilitating organic waste diversion from landfills to composting facilities.

Venues and stadiums, where proper industrial composting infrastructure exists, can utilize this playbook to begin preventing single-use plastic and organic waste from accumulating in landfills and further efforts in greenhouse gas reduction. Future editions of this playbook will further explore how to expand venue logistics to implement a successful and comprehensive zero waste program to advance decarbonization goals.

The authors of this playbook are recognized by the following organizations AgRecycle, EcoProducts, Max-R, NatureWorks and WM. The Food Waste Diversion and Compostable Packaging Playbook, along with additional playbooks for implementing sustainable practices, can be downloaded at greensportsalliance.org/press.

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Statement from the Green Sports Alliance:

?The Green Sports Alliance is excited to join forces with our Corporate Member Network to provide this valuable resource to our members as we promote more sustainable practices throughout the sports industry.  This playbook provides an important tool to accelerate zero waste initiatives as part of our Play to Zero initiative.? ? Scott Jenkins, Green Sports Alliance Board Chair

Statement from NatureWorks:

?NatureWorks is proud to continue its 10-year partnership with the Green Sports Alliance and support the creation of this important guide to compostable packaging and food waste diversion. When compostable biomaterial like Ingeo is used to divert food waste from landfills, we significantly reduce key drivers of climate change and produce valuable soil amendment that sequesters carbon from the atmosphere, protecting our ability to live, work, and play for future generations.? ? Matt Romberger, Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Statement from Penn State University:

?With the help from our partners including the Green Sports Alliance and NatureWorks, implementing high-quality compostable products was critical in our achievement of a 100% waste diversion in the Beaver Stadium suite sections. We hope that schools across the globe can use our case study in this Playbook to begin implementing sustainable practices too.? ? Judd Michael, Professor at Penn State University

About Green Sports Alliance:

The Green Sports Alliance leverages the cultural and market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where people live and play. The GSA inspires professional sports leagues, sports governing bodies, colleges, teams, venues, their partners and millions of fans to embrace renewable energy, healthy food, recycling, water efficiency, safer chemicals and other environmentally preferable practices. Through its marquee event greening division, GSA delivers best-in-class sustainable productions to minimize environmental impacts and maximize community legacies, driving scalability and replications across the industry. Visit greensportsalliance.org for more information.

About NatureWorks:

NatureWorks is a global biotechnology company using plants to turn greenhouse gasses like CO2 into a portfolio of biomaterials we call Ingeo. We partner with companies around the world to transform Ingeo into a wide range of naturally advanced products like compostable coffee capsules, tea bags, and food serviceware as well as diapers, hygiene masks, appliances, and filament for 3D printing. Because Ingeo biomaterial is made from plants, it enables the decoupling of materials from non-renewable resources, and its carbon footprint is 70% smaller than petrochemical-based plastics. Visit natureworksllc.com for more information and subscribe to Ingeo News to see our latest products, research, collaborations, news, and events.

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Media Contact:

Shay Strawser, Green Sports Alliance | shay@greensportsalliance.org | 717-557-1986

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For immediate release

Pactiv Evergreen Introduces Its ?Zero Waste Implementation Guide? as a Resource for Foodservice Operators

Foodservice Operators Striving for Zero Waste Solutions Will Benefit from This Guide

LAKE FOREST, Ill., June 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pactiv Evergreen (NASDAQ: PTVE) announced the launch of its new ?Zero Waste Implementation Guide? at the Green Sports Alliance Summit in Minneapolis. The Guide is a resource to help foodservice establishments improve their waste diversion rates. Recreation venues, stadiums, arenas, colleges and university foodservice programs, in particular, will benefit from this valuable resource.

Achieving zero waste is a circular solution that helps ensure a sustainable future economically, environmentally and socially. By closing the loop, operators can cut greenhouse gases, manage risk, reduce litter and pollution, reinvest resources, and create value for their operation.

Pactiv Evergreen?s ?Zero Waste Implementation Guide? was created to provide everything a foodservice operator needs to begin their journey to zero waste. The interactive Guide can be downloaded for free from PactivEvergreen.com, enabling a foodservice establishment to customize the tool and document their data and progress. Detailed tools are included to enable operators to perform a waste audit, improve waste and materials management, and implement a new bin and signage system. Engaging an operation?s staff and promoting program success are essential steps in the zero waste journey, and comprehensive recommendations for these key aspects are provided.

?As the provider of the broadest selection of sustainable foodservice packaging in North America, Pactiv Evergreen is committed to providing the tools operators need to lessen the environmental impacts of their operation,? said Lynn Dyer, chief sustainability and public affairs officer for Pactiv Evergreen. ?This Guide is an example of our commitment to serve as a partner to our customers. It exemplifies our company?s purpose of ?packaging a better future? by making a positive impact with our customers, communities and the environment.?

For more information about Pactiv Evergreen?s Zero Waste Implementation Guide, and to download a free copy, please visit pactivevergreen.com/sustainability or earthchoicepackaging.com.

About Pactiv Evergreen Inc.
Pactiv Evergreen Inc. is one of the largest manufacturers of fresh food and beverage packaging in North America. With a team of approximately 16,500 employees, the Company produces a broad range of on-trend and feature-rich products that protect, package and display food and beverages for today?s consumers. Its products, many of which are made with recycled, recyclable or renewable materials, are sold to a diversified mix of customers, including restaurants, foodservice distributors, retailers, food and beverage producers, packers and processors. Learn more at www.pactivevergreen.com.

Access the guide: https://pactivevergreen.com/PactivEvergreen/Sustainability-Documents/PTVE-382022-Zero-Waste-Implementation-Guide.pdf

Media contact:

Beth Kelly
412.303.4771
beth.kelly@pactivevergreen.com

https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/06/22/2467293/0/en/Pactiv-Evergreen-Introduces-Its-Zero-Waste-Implementation-Guide-as-a-Resource-for-Foodservice-Operators.html

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About the Green Sports Alliance:

The Green Sports Alliance leverages the cultural and market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where people live and play. The GSA inspires professional sports leagues, sports governing bodies, colleges, teams, venues, their partners and millions of fans to embrace renewable energy, healthy food, recycling, water efficiency, safer chemicals and other environmentally preferable practices. Through its marquee event greening division, GSA delivers best-in-class sustainable productions to minimize environmental impacts and maximize community legacies, driving scalability and replications across the industry. Visit greensportsalliance.org for more information.

Shay Strawser

Marketing & Communications

Green Sports Alliance

shay@greensportsalliance.org

The post Pactiv Evergreen Introduces Its ?Zero Waste Implementation Guide? as a Resource for Foodservice Operators appeared first on Green Sports Alliance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CFP INDY RAISES THE BAR BY BECOMING THE MOST SUSTAINABLE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE HISTORY OF THE EVENT

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – (June 14, 2022) – Playoff Green announced today the results of its sustainability program as part of the College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship weekend in Indianapolis, as well as its influence on the future of sporting events hosted in Indy.

The 2022 edition of the Playoff Green program leveraged the CFP to be a beacon of environmental wellness, equity and resiliency for Indianapolis and college football fans everywhere. All efforts were led nationally by the CFP and the Green Sports Alliance and supported locally by the Indianapolis Host Committee, IUPUI?s Office of Sustainability and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.

Playoff Green teams hand-sorted and recovered over 117 tons of materials during two weeks throughout downtown Indianapolis, rescuing 80% of all CFP-generated waste from local landfills. Over 35,000 meals were salvaged from event activities and donated to local food banks, including Second Helpings. In addition, over 75,000 pounds of reusable goods were donated to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis to support affordable homeownership.

Furthermore, Playoff Green and the Indianapolis Host Committee joined with AES Indiana to procure enough renewable energy credits to power 100% of the CFP?s city-wide electricity needs game week through renewable wind energy. Unavoidable carbon emissions and water consumption across national championship weekend were analyzed by IUPUI?s Office of Sustainability, with carbon emissions offset through a relationship with South Pole.

In the community, Playoff Green and the Indianapolis Host Committee worked with IUPUI to create a four-year undergraduate scholarship program for incoming IUPUI sustainability changemakers. The two entities also worked with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and the Community Alliance for the Far Eastside to finalize the La Plaza Community Orchard. This project transformed a neglected space into a blooming orchard, vegetable garden and play space for local youth.

Other key supporters included Dr. Pepper, AAA Flag & Banner, ESPN Corporate Citizenship, Vapur Water Bottles, the Game Changers Institute, Food Loops and Ecosystem Events.

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About CFP and Playoff Green:

The College Football Playoff (CFP) is a postseason event to determine college football?s national champion on the field, while emphasizing the significance of college football?s unique regular season where every game counts. Through its Playoff Green sustainability program, the CFP strives to minimize the environmental footprint of the national championship game and its ancillary activities. Playoff Green leverages the national championship game to be a beacon of environmental wellness, equity and resiliency for its host community and the college football community as a whole.

About the Green Sports Alliance:

The Green Sports Alliance leverages the cultural and market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where people live and play. The GSA inspires professional sports leagues, sports governing bodies, colleges, teams, venues, their partners and millions of fans to embrace renewable energy, healthy food, recycling, water efficiency, safer chemicals and other environmentally preferable practices. Through its marquee event greening division, GSA delivers best-in-class sustainable productions to minimize environmental impacts and maximize community legacies, driving scalability and replications across the industry. Visit greensportsalliance.org for more information.

Statement from College Football Playoff:

We are proud to have been able to limit the environmental impact of our championship event in Indianapolis this year,? said Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff.  ?Just like the success on the field, this similarly successful sustainability program in connection with our game took teamwork.  We are thankful for the efforts of the Green Sports Alliance, the Indianapolis Host Committee, and, of course, the thousands of fans who travelled to the game and took part in all the wonderful activities.?

Statement from the Green Sports Alliance:

?The Green Sports Alliance commends the leadership demonstrated by the CFP and the Indy Host Committee for using the power of sports to take action on critical environmental needs across Indianapolis,? said Roger McClendon, executive director of the Green Sports Alliance. ?Sustainability is about community transformation outside the lines of the field, and we are infinitely grateful to help drive authentic action with local stakeholders during college football?s biggest moment.?

Statement from the Indianapolis Host Committee:

?On behalf of the Host Committee, we are proud to have invested $100,000 in funding to support these impactful Green Team initiatives,? said Susan Baughman, president of the 2022 CFP Indy Host Committee. ?It was important to us that we ensured this event was as sustainable as possible and we?re grateful for our many partnerships with community-minded organizations that enabled us to do just that.?

Bobby Whittingham

Marketing & Communications

Green Sports Alliance

bobby@greensportsalliance.org

mobile   630.418.3535

The post CFP INDY RAISES THE BAR BY BECOMING THE MOST SUSTAINABLE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE HISTORY OF THE EVENT appeared first on Green Sports Alliance.

PORTLAND, Oregon — Playoff Green announced today the results of its sustainability program as part of the College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship weekend in Indianapolis, as well as its influence on the future of sporting events hosted in Indy. 

The 2022 edition of the Playoff Green program leveraged the CFP to be a beacon of environmental wellness, equity and resiliency for Indianapolis and college football fans everywhere. All efforts were led nationally by the CFP and the Green Sports Alliance and supported locally by the Indianapolis Host Committee, IUPUI?s Office of Sustainability and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.

Playoff Green teams hand-sorted and recovered over 117 tons of materials during two weeks throughout downtown Indianapolis, rescuing 80% of all CFP-generated waste from local landfills. Over 35,000 meals were salvaged from event activities and donated to local food banks, including Second Helpings. In addition, over 75,000 pounds of reusable goods were donated to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis to support affordable homeownership.

Furthermore, Playoff Green and the Indianapolis Host Committee joined with AES Indiana to procure enough renewable energy credits to power 100% of the CFP?s city-wide electricity needs game week through renewable wind energy. Unavoidable carbon emissions and water consumption across national championship weekend were analyzed by IUPUI?s Office of Sustainability, with carbon emissions offset through a relationship with South Pole.

In the community, Playoff Green and the Indianapolis Host Committee worked with IUPUI to create a four-year undergraduate scholarship program for incoming IUPUI sustainability change-makers. The two entities also worked with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and the Community Alliance for the Far Eastside to finalize the La Plaza Community Orchard. This project transformed a neglected space into a blooming orchard, vegetable garden and play space for local youth. 

Other key supporters included Dr. Pepper, AAA Flag & Banner, ESPN Corporate Citizenship, Vapur Water Bottles, the Game Changers Institute, Food Loops and Ecosystem Events. 

About CFP and Playoff Green: 

The College Football Playoff (CFP) is a postseason event to determine college football?s national champion on the field, while emphasizing the significance of college football?s unique regular season where every game counts. Through its Playoff Green sustainability program, the CFP strives to minimize the environmental footprint of the national championship game and its ancillary activities. Playoff Green leverages the national championship game to be a beacon of environmental wellness, equity and resiliency for its host community and the college football community as a whole.

About the Green Sports Alliance:

The Green Sports Alliance leverages the cultural and market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where people live and play. The GSA inspires professional sports leagues, sports governing bodies, colleges, teams, venues, their partners and millions of fans to embrace renewable energy, healthy food, recycling, water efficiency, safer chemicals and other environmentally preferable practices. Through its marquee event greening division, GSA delivers best-in-class sustainable productions to minimize environmental impacts and maximize community legacies, driving scalability and replications across the industry. Visit greensportsalliance.org for more information.

Statement from College Football Playoff:

We are proud to have been able to limit the environmental impact of our championship event in Indianapolis this year,? said Bill Hancock, executive director of the College Football Playoff.  ?Just like the success on the field, this similarly successful sustainability program in connection with our game took teamwork.  We are thankful for the efforts of the Green Sports Alliance, the Indianapolis Host Committee, and, of course, the thousands of fans who travelled to the game and took part in all the wonderful activities.?

Statement from the Green Sports Alliance:

?The Green Sports Alliance commends the leadership demonstrated by the CFP and the Indy Host Committee for using the power of sports to take action on critical environmental needs across Indianapolis,? said Roger McClendon, executive director of the Green Sports Alliance. ?Sustainability is about community transformation outside the lines of the field, and we are infinitely grateful to help drive authentic action with local stakeholders during college football?s biggest moment.?

Statement from the Indianapolis Host Committee:

?On behalf of the Host Committee, we are proud to have invested $100,000 in funding to support these impactful Green Team initiatives,? said Susan Baughman, president of the 2022 CFP Indy Host Committee. ?It was important to us that we ensured this event was as sustainable as possible and we?re grateful for our many partnerships with community-minded organizations that enabled us to do just that.?

The post Playing for Indy: College Football Playoff and Playoff Green pushed game-changing community legacy through environmental programs appeared first on Green Sports Alliance.

By Hannah Kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Yes, Brent Suter is a Milwaukee Brewers pitcher. But for a little while on Tuesday, he was also a yellow perch.

He was playing a game at American Family Field with local students, who were also representing different animals and organisms in the food web and learning about who eats what, why that’s important and the impact of plastics.

“To see the looks on the kids’ faces, learning about the food chains and plastics and what we can do about it, it warms my heart,” said Suter, a longtime sustainability advocate.

This spring, the Brewers, the EarthEcho International nonprofit and Racine-headquartered SC Johnson teamed up to create the ?Waste-Free Crew,” an educational initiative that gives local educators ways to teach students about environmentally friendly practices, according to a news release.

More than 4,000 students in fourth through sixth grades from 55 schools in the Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha areas participated in the inaugural program. This year’s lessons focused on plastics and were delivered through EarthEcho Academy.

After completing the program, which ran from World Water Day through Earth Day, hundreds of kids visited the ballpark Tuesday to participate in interactive workshops and activities with about 16 community organizations that complemented what they had learned in their classrooms.

“We did all kinds of really hands-on exercises for the kids so they can get their heads around and make relevant for them what conservation is and what sustainability is,” said Alan VanderMolen, SC Johnson chief communications officer.

“I think it’s helping them make more connections to what they’re seeing now in their own lives,” said Emily Useman, a fifth grade teacher from Evergreen Elementary in Waterford.

EarthEcho founder Philippe Cousteau Jr., an explorer and advocate, told the students that spending time with them is “the most exciting work” he gets to do. He started the organization in honor of his father, Philippe Cousteau Sr., and grandfather, explorer Jacques Cousteau.

The post ‘Make the world a better place’: Brewers’ Brent Suter and Jacques Cousteau’s grandson are teaching students about sustainability appeared first on Green Sports Alliance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Crawford Architects Joins The Green Sports Alliance

Kansas City, April 25, 2022:

Crawford Architects announces an official corporate partnership with the Green Sports Alliance (GSA), an environmentally and socially focused nonprofit organization that convenes stakeholders from around the sporting world to promote healthy, sustainable communities. This partnership continues Crawford?s dedication to providing environmentally conscious design through sustainability, recycling, and carbon neutrality.

Crawford believes the advancement of sustainable communities starts at the heart of the design process. The new partnership supports both Crawford?s sustainable design efforts and GSA?s mission to use the influence of sports to promote sustainable practices across the globe. The organization?s members include over 300 professional sports leagues, sports governing bodies, colleges, teams, and venues representing millions of fans.

?The Green Sports Alliance is passionate about protecting the future of our pastimes,? said David Murphy, Crawford Architect Co-Owner and Senior Principal. ?Crawford is proud to be partnered with GSA and supports their dedication to the preservation of sports, venues, and the communities they serve. We look forward to collaborating with GSA and its fellow members to continue to learn and create meaningful change towards sustainability in the design of sports facilities of the future.?

Crawford Architects has a successful track record in incorporating sustainable design approaches that respond to the local context and climate of several of our projects as highlighted by our involvement in the University of California Merced, 2020 Project, recognized as the first public research university in the country to achieve carbon neutrality, two years ahead of its goal.

About Crawford Architects: Crawford Architects is an award-winning international planning, architecture, and interior design firm headquartered in Kansas City, with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Honolulu and Sydney. As a professional services firm, Crawford Architects specializes in all aspects of the planning and design of stadiums, arenas, athletic training centers, sports medicine facilities, entertainment venues, lifestyle & workplace facilities, and the mixed-use developments which accompany these projects. Learn more at crawfordarch.com.

About Green Sports Alliance: The Green Sports Alliance leverages the cultural and market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where people live and play. The GSA inspires professional sports leagues, sports governing bodies, colleges, teams, venues, their partners, and millions of fans to embrace renewable energy, healthy food, recycling, water efficiency, safer chemicals, and other environmentally preferable practices. Visit greensportsalliance.org

CONTACT:

Crawford Architects
1801 McGee Street Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64108
Dakota Miller Zinn
dmillerzinn@crawford-usa.com

The post Crawford Architects Joins The Green Sports Alliance appeared first on Green Sports Alliance.

Indy 500 Continues To Set Industry-Leading Pace on Environmental Impact

Firestone To Introduce New Race Tire with Sustainable Natural Rubber
at Indy 500 Carb Day

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, April 22, 2022) ? Penske Entertainment announced a robust and innovative lineup of environmental impact initiatives this afternoon, aiming to dramatically reduce the carbon footprint for this year?s Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and significantly boost sustainability efforts within the sport of INDYCAR. These steps are the latest and most comprehensive elements of a long-term strategy for the organization that has been developed over the last two years.

The announcements made today at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway DEX Imaging Media Center coincided with wider efforts across the nation and globe to celebrate Earth Day on Friday, April 22. They were unveiled in partnership with Firestone, Shell and additional corporate partners, which have worked with IMS and INDYCAR on a comprehensive sustainability strategy for the venue and sport.

?This will be the most sustainable Indy 500 in our 100-plus year history,? Penske Entertainment Corp. President & CEO Mark Miles said. ?Moreover, through excellent coordination and teamwork with partners who are true innovators in this field, we?re moving INDYCAR toward industry leadership when it comes to environmental awareness and impact.?

Month of May ? Fueling Progress & Building Toward a Greener Future

Longtime series partner and tire supplier Firestone will play a key role in efforts surrounding the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and throughout the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Firestone is a trailblazer in the charge for alternative and renewable sources of natural rubber and will debut a new and eco-friendly tire this May.

The Firestone Firehawk guayule race tire will be used for the first-time during Miller Lite Carb Day?s INDYCAR Pit Stop Challenge and will make its competition debut as the alternate race tire in August at the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. It is partially composed of a new sustainable natural rubber derived from the guayule shrub, which requires less reharvesting than traditional sources of rubber.

?It will take partnership and collaboration to combat the impacts of global climate change, and we are proud to partner with Penske, INDYCAR and IMS to advance the future of sustainable mobility,? said Nizar Trigui, chief technology officer and group president, Solutions Businesses, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. ?The introduction of guayule natural rubber to America?s preeminent open-wheel racing series speaks to the confidence we have in the technology and its promise as a scalable, sustainable and domestic raw material.?

Firestone, IMS, the state of Indiana and veteran motorsports partner Shell also announced today that all race tires being supplied for Indy 500 practice, qualifications and Race Day will be delivered to the ?Racing Capital of the World? from their Central Indiana warehouse using the Freightliner eCascadia from Penske Truck Leasing?s fleet of electric vehicles. To assist with the effort, a 150kW, high-power electric charger is being installed on the IMS grounds, in coordination with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Shell Recharge Solutions. The EV charging station is manufactured by BTC Power (Broadband TelCom Power, Inc.).

?We?re working every day to make sure Indiana is a leader when it comes to renewable energy solutions,? Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. ?I can?t think of a better way to show our commitment to cleaner energy than by putting it on display during the largest sporting event in the world.?

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway also will take significant steps toward cleaner energy consumption and a lowered carbon footprint across the Month of May. Like in 2021, all electricity consumed throughout the facility in May will continue being purchased via 100 percent renewable energy credits.

In addition, IMS has teamed up with Shell and climate technology company CHOOOSE on the implementation of a new customer program that allows fans to offset their travel footprint through a nominal contribution to the GreenTrees reforestation project. IMS also will offset its entire operational carbon footprint during the Month of May through its contributions to GreenTrees, a vital effort that restores natural habitats in more than 1 million acres across seven states in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley.

?At Shell, we aim to provide more and cleaner energy solutions in a responsible manner ? in a way that balances short- and long-term interests,? explained Dani Silva, Shell vice president of Enterprise Accounts. ?We are very pleased to be a part of Penske Entertainment Corp.?s efforts in increasing the sustainability of motorsports and the off-track potential it also enables.?

Other initiatives of note during the Month of May include:

• Increased waste diversion efforts throughout the facility with expanded recycling and food recovery programs.
• Legends, the official IMS retail partner, will open a fully sustainable store inside an electric truck. All items sold in the truck will be reusable or designed from recycled plastic bottles.

Last year, the Indy 500 was certified at the Silver level by the Council for Responsible Sport after achieving 37 social and environmental standards of good practice. The venue implemented facility upgrades to increase both energy and water-use efficiency, calculated a robust greenhouse gas emissions inventory and enhanced its ?Bike to the 500? program. IMS is working toward becoming the first sports facility in the world to become a Responsible Sport Certified venue.

INDYCAR?s Sustainable Path Forward

Alongside work with Firestone on expanded use of the guayule natural rubber, INDYCAR also announced today that starting with the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear in June, all 26 NTT INDYCAR SERIES cars will be transported by trucks that are fueled by renewable diesel, which significantly reduces travel-related emissions.

?The NTT INDYCAR SERIES and its partners are continually evaluating ways to lower our footprint and create a more sustainable future,? said INDYCAR President Jay Frye. ?We?re looking forward to using renewable diesel in our transporters beginning in June and expect to have several more important initiatives to unveil in the near future.?

This year?s Indianapolis 500 at the world-famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway takes place on Sunday, May 29 on NBC, Telemundo Deportes on Universo and the INDYCAR Radio Network. The schedule for the 17-race NTT INDYCAR SERIES season can be found here and is available to fans to watch across NBC Sports platforms.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Amanda Stanley
Director, Communications
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
+1-317-492-6649, astanley@indycar.com

Dave Furst
Vice President, Communications
INDYCAR
+1-317-492-6244, dfurst@indycar.com

The post Penske Entertainment Announces Next Phase of Transformational Sustainability Initiatives appeared first on Green Sports Alliance.

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