Did you know that each year the top 200 stadiums in the US have nearly 181 million visitors? The sports industry is making strides toward its commitment to economic, environmental, and social awareness, implementing measures to safeguard the sustainability of events.
For Americans, 80 percent agree that a waste-free lifestyle is possible in the next 20 years. With sporting events bringing in an enormous number of people into stadiums each year, it’s time for sustainability to win also.
Venues are making changes to become more sustainable though. Super Bowl LVIII was positioned to be the first Super Bowl powered entirely by renewable energy, the first in NFL history, powered completely by renewable energy.
Stadiums and arenas have high energy and water demands, while also generating significant greenhouse gas emissions and tons of waste yearly. Major league sporting events create roughly five million tons of carbon emissions. Waste Management (WM) approximates that the four major professional leagues produce 35,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year from waste created by the activities of fans. This is risky for our climate and environment.
But the opposite of risk is reward. It’s imperative to promote brand perception, and what follows is trust. An organization’s commitment to social impact can immensely influence an event, including sporting events. Sustainability isn't just about energy. It’s also about waste, venue energy consumption, water reduction, travel, food waste, and more. And there are many benefits to having sustainable events.
Benefits of sustainable events
• Fosters a holistic approach to sustainability, considering economic, environmental, and social impacts.
• Strengthens organizational reputation and brand value.
• Achieves best practice levels of efficiency and performance.
• Defines roles and responsibilities for staff, contractors, and suppliers.
• Cuts costs through better energy and waste management.
It’s also crucial to have programs and resources in place to aid companies in becoming sustainable. One resource that highlights change is The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and these goals are targeted to achieve a better future. Even small steps count because the small steps turn into big ones. Sustainability is something to worry about now, not in the future and there is a framework to help your events become sustainable.
An Event Sustainability Management System (ISO 20121:2024) is the standard for sustainability in the events management industry. This standard can help to minimize your impact on the environment, and the economy, maximize performance, achieve energy efficiency, and win support from all stakeholders, taking into account the environmental, social, and financial impacts.
Major league sports should consider sustainability when managing and conducting sports events while also considering geography, culture, and social demographics.
Businesses, no matter the size, can deliver world-class events regardless of potential budget or time restrictions. Whatever your starting point with sustainable event management is, services can be packaged and customized just for your organization. As a responsible consumer and company, you can make a difference by choosing environmentally friendly products and supporting companies that prioritize sustainability.
Follow along for the next blog in the series, "The future is now: Creating our sustainable planet together".
