MLS Green goals initiatives within communities

Article posted by Coliseum, November 22^nd, 2023

Image: Coliseum GSVA

Greener Goals

The Major League Soccer (MLS) (US) is committed to taking steps to address its environmental impacts and raise awareness of sustainability initiatives within the local communities.

‘Major League Soccer’ stated that the MLS will continue to explore opportunities to reduce waste and non-renewable energy use, as well as measure and help to offset a portion of greenhouse gas emissions associated with league and club travel including airfare, accommodations and ground transportation for the regular MLS season, playoffs and the MLS Cup.

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The Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men’s professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport’s highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams – 26 in the United States and 3 in Canada – since the 2023 season. The league is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.

Week of Service

The sixth Annual Greener Goals Week of Service will take place from April 17^th-23^rd, 2024. Leaguewide efforts will be conducted on and off the field to highlight Major League Soccer’s (MLS’s) commitment to environmental sustainability, including efforts around waste reduction.

‘Major League Soccer’ further stated that all the 29 MLS clubs and league office staff will volunteer their time to conduct environmentally-friendly projects in partnership with the local charitable organizations.

Parley Ocean School

As part of the Greener Goals Week of Service, the MLS and its clubs will join forces with the apparel company Adidas to promote ocean plastic waste recovery. In partnership with the nonprofit Parley for the Oceans, the MLS and Adidas are developing an immersive educational experience dedicated to the understanding of marine environments and the co-creation of plastic waste solutions called the Parley Ocean School.

The Adidas AG is a German athletic apparel and footwear corporation headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany. It is the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe and the second largest in the world, after Nike.

New York (US)-based the Parley for the Oceans is a nonprofit environmental organization that focuses on protection of the oceans. It was founded in 2012 by Cyrill Gutsch.

One Planet Adidas Jersey

To underscore the league’s commitment to raising awareness about ocean plastic waste and eliminating CO₂-emitting plastics production, the MLS players will be sporting Adidas One Planet jerseys during the Earth Day weekend. The jerseys are made with Parley recycled ocean plastic and will be available at MLSstore.com and select club retail locations starting April 18^th at 11 am ET.

Going Green

Throughout the season, the MLS clubs are also partnering with the local food organizations to distribute unused food following matches at their stadiums. Intending to reduce food waste and help address food insecurity in their region, the MLS venues will collectively divert more than 55 tons of food to the local food donation programs, avoiding approximately 208 tons of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to approximately 330 cross-continent air flights from San Jose (California, US) to Montreal (Quebec, Canada).

Below is a sampling of the way the clubs are reducing stadium waste:

Austin FC: In partnership with the Texas Disposal Systems, the MLS team Austin FC is helping fans divert waste with more than 70 strategically placed Ecostations located throughout their home stadium – the 20,738-capacity Q2 Stadium in North Austin, Texas. These Ecostations allow the Q2 Stadium to collect materials both for composting and recycling;
Orlando City SC: The MLS team Orlando City SC installed an onsite recycling system at their home venue – the 25,500-capacity Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and diverted 5.08 tons of cardboard, 60 tons of aluminum, 1.67 tons of plastic, and 1.37 tons of food waste since January;
Philadelphia Union: The MLS team Philadelphia Union’s home facility – the 18,500-capacity Subaru Park in Chester, Pennsylvania, has achieved the nationally recognized zero landfill status, meaning that over 90 percent of waste generated at the stadium will either be reduced, reused or recycled. As of March 31st, 2023, the Subaru Park has diverted approximately 920,356 pounds of waste from the local landfills; and
St. Louis City SC: The MLS team St. Louis City SC opened its inaugural season as a zero-waste stadium – the 22,423-capacity CityPark in St. Louis, Missouri. All waste generated will be reduced, reused, recycled, or composted. The club is also eliminating single-use consumer plastics, onsite recycling and composting collection, comprehensive energy efficiency and water conservation initiatives, and partnering with food donation programs.

The greening of the game will encourage the MLS clubs, players, partners, and fans to give back to their communities and raise awareness for environmental responsibility.

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