BASF has teamed up with the Seattle Mariners for the second season of Sustainable Saturdays at Safeco Field, which aims to divert ballpark waste from the landfill.
BASF has teamed up with the Seattle Mariners for the second season of Sustainable Saturdays at Safeco Field, which aims to divert ballpark waste from the landfill.
Beginning with this Saturday night’s game against the Texas Rangers, the season-long initiative will feature BASF-sponsored zero-waste stations throughout the ballpark to recycle plastic bottles and compost food waste. To date, Mariners fans have already diverted more than 86 percent of game-day waste from local landfills, according to BASF.
To educate fans on sustainability issues, during each Sustainable Saturdays game there will be a “BASF Trivia Challenge,” offering prizes to fans that answer questions covering how the Mariners have “gone green” and how fans also can lead more eco-friendly lives.
“It’s great to have BASF on our team for a second consecutive season of Sustainable Saturdays,” said Scott Jenkins, vice president of ballpark operations, Seattle Mariners. "Compostable bags made from BASF ecovio help make it possible for Safeco Field to put valuable organic matter back into the soil cycle every season.”
To help the Mariners achieve its sustainability goals, BASF is providing its ecovio technology, a bio-based resin used to make compostable bags for food waste collection. These bags are used throughout kitchens and concessions at Safeco Field and also are available in counter-top size for curbside waste collection.
The Mariners have had a dedicated sustainability program since 2006. In 2012, the franchise diverted two million pounds of waste from the landfill through recycling and composting, which saved some $128,000 in waste disposal costs. Major League Baseball named the Mariners the American League Recycling Champions for 2012.
Professional sports are becoming major vessels for advancing the sustainability movement. The National Basketball Association today finished up its “Green Week,” a green initiative featuring community sustainability projects, recycling programs, green giveaways, special on-court apparel and auctions to encourage fans to “go green. And NASCAR recently announced a host of ongoing improvements and new sustainability programs surrounding its NASCAR Green initiative.
Published Apr 11, 2013 8pm EDT / 5pm PDT / 1am BST / 2am CEST
Managing Director, Sustainability & Social Impact
Deutsche Bank
Mike Hower is a sustainability communicator and connector committed to helping purpose-driven businesses and people unlock their full potential for positive impact. As founder and principal consultant at Hower Impact, he works with companies to translate sustainability strategy into stories that inform, engage and inspire investors, customers, employees, regulators and other stakeholders in the service of social, environmental and business goals. Through his Impact Hired initiative, he works to connect and engage corporate sustainability professionals at all stages of their careers.
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