SportsEvents is edited for those who plan tournaments or other sports events.
Issue link: https://sportsevents.epubxp.com/i/261418
www.sportseventsmagazine.com February 2014 17 ▼ SPECIAL Feature cultural shift of historic pro- portions." That's what a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is calling the influ- ence the sports industry is now using to promote and advance better stewardship of the environment. Pointing to the millions of dollars saved through more eco-friendly operations and the message that these efforts collectively send to millions of fans, "Game Changer: How the Sports Industry is Saving the Environment" reports that "sport is a great unifier, transcending political, cultural, religious and socioeconomic barriers." Jacob Kriss, media associate with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), echoed these sentiments, pointing out that sports events professionals are increasingly recognizing the value and importance of greening their facilities and operations, particularly through the LEED green building rating system. "These organiza- tions are an important part of the commu- nities in which they operate, and they have an excellent opportunity to exhibit leader- ship and educate community members about the importance of sustainability," he said. "Fifty-eight percent of Americans self-identify as sports fans, and sports can have a significant impact on the choices they make." Interest In Going Green Increases The Green Sports Alliance (GSA) noted an increase in interest from event organizers and host venues for information on how to improve event production to reduce envi- ronmental impact, according to Executive Director Martin Tull. "We're working with hundreds of sports facilities that are inter- ested not only in one-day event greening, but also in developing systems and approaches that can be used throughout the year," he said. "Some events are going beyond certification and seeking to really minimize impact by even creating zero- waste events, like the Waste Management Phoenix Open." In 2013, the Waste Management Phoenix Open continued its Zero Waste Challenge for the second year in a row, an initiative aimed at controlling materials brought into the event and educating vendors and patrons about proper disposal to avoid sending waste to landfills. Working in cooperation with GSA, the 2012 event achieved the highest diversion rate of any major sporting event, diverting more than 97 percent of tournament waste from the landfill. How It Works "Our approach to events is very similar to working with the sports teams and leagues: identify what their current impact areas are, share best practices that could mini- mize those and build long-termed relation- ships to measure progress and keep the new ideas flowing," Tull said. "This work takes time, and you can't get it all done the first year. So we're patient and work with each of our members at whatever level they're at. Not everyone can go straight to a zero-waste goal." Industry professionals suggest that a good starting point for events is to strive to become certified through one or more of the certifications that exist in the industry—ISO 20121, Council for ➤ Waste – Dodging Diabetes composted or recycled 91 percent of the waste generated from the event and reduced the amount of paper used. Climate – The organization bought car- bon offsets for the entire event through a Bethesda Green start-up. It also encouraged energy and fuel conserva- tion by asking participants to carpool. Equipment & Materials – Business cards, flyers and signs were all printed on recycled paper. Shirts were organic and dodgeballs were re-used from the previous yearʼs event. Community & Outreach – Organization leaders embraced local roots by encouraging local teams, companies, volunteers and sponsors to join together for the day for good causes—diabetes and sustainability. Health Promotion – Tournament organizers educated communities about what it really means to live with diabetes. Innovation – Leaders searched for creative ways to be sustainable— recycled trophies, local food vendors, etc. ■ Last year, the 8 th Annual Dodging Diabetes Charity Dodgeball Tournament was silver certified by the Council for Responsible Sport. Certification required that organizers show they took steps to reduce the eventʼs carbon footprint, decrease the amount of waste produced from the event, recycle wherever possible, serve local and organic food, use renewable energy when possible, and educate teams about how the organization is going green. How They Did It: Dodging Diabetes & Reducing Environmental Impact "A D o d g i n g D i a b e t e s *02-20 SE FEB 2014_SportsEvents TEMPLATE 2/11/14 10:36 AM Page 17