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November 1, 2008 by John Cottone
Filed under Corporate Responsibility, Environment, Recycling, Renewable Energy, Sustainability
The 2008 World Champions of Green? The Philadelphia Phillies are not only top competitors on the field, but also are leading Major League Baseball toward an eco-friendly future. The Phillies are the first MLB team to join the EPA’s Green Power Partnership program, which encourages organizations to buy green power to reduce the environmental affects associated with purchased electricity use.
To offset the carbon footprint created by the team’s utility power usage at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies said Wednesday they have bought 20 million kilowatt-hours of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates. Additionally, all full-time Phillies employees, including players and coaches, received a one-year credit to secure clean, renewable energy for their homes.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the deal represents the largest single purchase of 100 percent renewable energy in professional sports and is equivalent to the planting of 100,000 trees.
Here are other major green initiatives from the Phightin’ Phils:
- Food Operations
- Recycling frying oil to be used as bio-diesel fuel
- Recycling glass, plastic and cardboard generated from game day preparation and sales
- Food carry-out trays made from 100 percent post-consumer fiber
- Biodegradable serviceware and cups (they drink lots of beer!)
- Using plastics that are easier to recycle and compostable products
- Reducing amount of condiment packaging waste by providing dispensers instead of individual packets
- Using locally grown produce and organic foods
- Stadium Operations
- Using run-off rain water landscaping and field irrigation
- Universal waste recycling
- Converting to energy-efficient LED lighting
- Focus on environmental-friendly cleaning products
Green Nation Today hopes that all sports franchises will follow the eco-leadership of the Phils, and take one for the global team!
Additional Resources
Red Goes Green, the Philadelphia Phillies environmental tips website.
Wow, that is awesome! Go Phillies! I hope other teams follow their lead. I bet the return on investment will be really high in addition to the lower impact on the environment. Stadiums must put out so much waste each year, I am so happy to see that the Phillies are taking a more sustainable approach to the environment.
Thank you for the great post!