As the sports entertainment industry in the United States and across the globe continues to grow, there will be more questions about the environmental impact of sports and how much sustainability in sports there actually is. Humans have more time for entertainment than ever before, but how can we create a sustainable environment that allows spectators to continue to watch and follow their favorite teams while addressing the negative impact that sports can have on our planet?
In this article, I’ll dive into the current state of sustainability in modern sports in the United States and touch on how teams are currently addressing sustainability in their industry.
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability is the ability to maintain an activity at a certain rate or level. However, many people view sustainability as the quality of causing little or no environmental damage, allowing the task to continue for a long time. When it comes to sustainability in sports, both definitions are true.
In the 21st century, sports are one of the most significant drivers of entertainment revenue, as the sports industry generated 403 billion USD in annual revenue in 2022 according to Statista. Financial experts expect this number to grow by 9% each year until at least 2028, which could cause this value to balloon to 680 billion USD in just a few years.
The sports industry is a lucrative business, as shown by foreign investments in major professional leagues such as the English Premier League (EPL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the creation of the LIV Golf League. Additionally, the rise of online sports betting in the United States should only continue to fuel an already burning fire for passionate sports fans.
With all the money made from sports events, questions have risen about how sustainable these professional leagues are. From million-dollar soccer stadiums turning into isolated arenas to the thousands of gallons of fuel used by traveling teams annually, at what point will we surrender our rights to entertainment to help increase the likelihood of our planet’s survival?
Let’s dive into the current teams leading sustainability in sports efforts and see how modern teams are adopting various programs to decrease their negative impact on the environment.
Sustainability in the National Football League (NFL)
NFL Sustainability Measures: Where are we?
The NFL was one of the first major sports leagues in the United States to adopt an environmental program, dubbed NFL Green in 1993. The league initially created this program to mitigate the environmental impact of sports on the NFL communities that host the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, and NFL Draft. They’ve done so well with their programs that NFL Green was recognized for hosting the greenest professional sports event in America, the Super Bowl, showing how far the league has come with sustainability in sports.
The NFL is no saint when it comes to travel, but their efforts have focused on supporting local food banks with any extra food from major events, funding community greening projects, recovering household items, and promoting recycling and proper waste management at their stadiums and facilities.
Philadelphia Eagles – Go Green Campaign
One specific NFL team that sticks out in practicing the NFL’s sustainability measures is the Philadelphia Eagles. Philly made sustainability news when they became the first team to launch and utilize a hydrogen refueling station on September 22, 2023. The Eagles home field, Lincoln Financial Field, is one of the most eco-friendly stadiums in the world and is certified as a LEED Gold Stadium and GBAC Star accredited building.
During the 2023 season, the Eagles and the Bellwether District came up with the “Touchdowns for Sustainability” program, which awarded $75,000 to environmental nonprofits in the city of Philadelphia. Finally, Philly was the first professional sports team in the US to receive ISO 20121 certification, showing how they’ve been at the forefront of sustainability in sports.
Sustainability in Major League Baseball (MLB)
MLB Sustainability Efforts: Where are we?
The MLB was slightly behind the NFL in their sustainability efforts, but they’ve launched their own program called MLB Goes Green. Each MLB team has a page listing its sustainability initiatives, but the MLB has taken steps to address sustainability in sports.
The MLB and the Council for Responsible Sport have worked together to certify various MLB events as socially and environmentally responsible. This partnership was evident when the 2023 MLB All-Star Game earned the Evergreen Certification, which is given by the Council for Responsible Sport for events that achieve more than 90% of total best practices promoted by the company.
Boston Red Sox – Reuse, Reduce, Recycle
The Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park are some of the most historic baseball teams and ballparks in the US since the club’s foundation back in 1901. The Red Sox became the first time in the MLB to install solar thermal panels at their ballpark in 2008, which helped avoid 18 tons of CO2 emissions annually. However, the club didn’t stop there, as they launched the Green Team that year as well.
The Green Team was a recycling initiative that was the first of its kind, which began with volunteers collecting recyclables from fans. Those efforts were just the start for Boston, as they are currently recognized by the US EPA as a Green Power Partner, and in 2024, wind and solar energy supplied 100% of the ballpark’s electricity. Although Fenway Park isn’t one of the six MLB LEED Certified stadiums, the Red Sox have done a lot to increase their sustainability in sports efforts.
Sustainability in the English Premier League and Soccer
English Premier League Sustainability Efforts: Where are we?
The last team we’ll cover in this article comes from across the pond, specifically Football League Two in England. Although this smaller English division isn’t well-known, they’re a part of the same domestic structure as the English Premier League. The EPL’s popularity has grown immensely in the US in recent years, and its sustainability efforts are a bit further along than professional sports leagues in the US.
Earlier this year, the EPL announced its Environmental Sustainability Commitment and is calling on teams in the Premier League to develop a greenhouse gas emissions dataset. The commitment will cause each team to develop an environmental sustainability policy by the end of the 2024/25 campaign while the dataset must be created by the end of the 2025/26 season. These are two major moves for a professional sports league to make, but it’s easy to see why they’ve done so when one of the lower teams in England has already been leading the charge toward sustainability in sports.
Forest Green Rovers – Leaders From the Start
Forest Green Rovers likely isn’t your favorite team to play with in FIFA, but they are pioneers in sustainability for the sports entertainment industry. If you haven’t heard of them, I’ll start with the fact that they’re the only vegan soccer team in the world. However, their efforts are much deeper, and FIFA recognized the club as “the greenest football club in the world” back in 2017.
Energy, transport, food, and supporting nature are FGR’s key pillars, as shown by a variety of investments throughout the stadium. The solar array at the ticket gates combined with panels covering a portion of the stadium provides 20% of FGR’s annual electric needs, and the scoreboard and LED art boards surrounding the pitch are all powered by batteries charged by the sun.
FGR’s field is organic and captures rainwater so that it can be used for irrigation, but even the water in away fan’s toilets is cleaned and reused. The club’s chairman, Dale Vince, was announced as a Climate Champion for the United Nations in 2019, as the club was recognized as the first Carbon Neutral football club in the world. By 2030, the club aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% compared to 2018, as they’ve continued to be certified to the international environment standard ISO1400.
An easy way to see the effect of the club’s efforts is by looking at the carbon football per fan at FGR’s home games this season. In 2011/12, each fan emitted 3.33 tonnes of CO2, but that number has fallen to 1.09 tonnes of CO2 in the 2021/22 season. They’ve gone above and beyond, but their fans are bought in too, which is an integral aspect of sustainability.
Sustainability in Sports – What’s Next?
The future of sports depends greatly on the future of our planet. Although multiple professional leagues are taking steps in the right direction, there is still lots of work to do in the United States. Forest Green Rovers prioritized sustainability in 2010 and became carbon neutral in fewer than 10 years.
Yes, becoming a fully carbon-neutral sports team is easier said than done, and many sports fans will point to the fact that the club has struggled to produce results since that time as well. However, if all teams adopt these efforts, the playing field should be evened, which is why the sports industry needs sustainability at the forefront of its future initiatives.
So, as we cheer for our favorite teams and players, let’s also champion sustainability. Together, we can ensure that the thrill of the game lasts for generations to come, on a planet that we’re proud to call home.
Are you interested in discussing sustainability in sports? Do you want to help teach the next generation of sports fans about the value of sustainability? If so, please leave a comment below or please contact me at lindholmluke@gmail.com!
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