The First Zero-Waste Super Bowl is Set to Occur in a Minnesota Arena
Justin Lam — January 30, 2018 — Eco
References: fortune & fastcompany
Super Bowl LII aims to be one of the biggest spectacles of the year, but aside from the drama of sport, this event aims to be the first zero-waste Super Bowl. Previous Super Bowls have accrued almost 40 tons of waste with most of it ending up in landfills. This ecological damage is staggering, but at the 2018 Super Bowl, the NFL is looking to reduce some of this damage. Partnering with US Bank Stadium, The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, food service provider Aramark and PepsiCo, Superbowl LII will be able to truly be a zero-waste Super Bowl. The aim is to have around 90% of waste to be recycled, with the remaining amount being carted off to a local waster-to-energy incinerator.
To achieve a zero-waste Super Bowl the conglomerate of companies will be running an initiative called Rush2Recycle. This initiative will see a team of volunteers from PepsiCo and about 200 local students serving as project ambassadors for the event. The ambassadors will be stationed around waste bins at the stadium and will inform visitors as to what can be recycled, composted or thrown in the trash. In addition to ambassadors, Aramark has converted 70 different products to compostable materials. Any leftover food and bulk ingredients will be delivered to Second Harvest Heartland, a food bank in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area that distributes goods to local pantries and kitchens.
To achieve a zero-waste Super Bowl the conglomerate of companies will be running an initiative called Rush2Recycle. This initiative will see a team of volunteers from PepsiCo and about 200 local students serving as project ambassadors for the event. The ambassadors will be stationed around waste bins at the stadium and will inform visitors as to what can be recycled, composted or thrown in the trash. In addition to ambassadors, Aramark has converted 70 different products to compostable materials. Any leftover food and bulk ingredients will be delivered to Second Harvest Heartland, a food bank in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area that distributes goods to local pantries and kitchens.
Trend Themes
1. Zero-waste Events - There is a growing trend of sporting events aiming to be zero-waste, presenting opportunities for waste management solutions and sustainable initiatives.
2. Rush2recycle Initiative - The Rush2Recycle initiative, which educates visitors on recycling and waste management, showcases the opportunity for educational campaigns and volunteer involvement at events.
3. Compostable Materials - The conversion of products to compostable materials by companies like Aramark highlights the potential for innovative packaging solutions and composting technologies in various industries.
Industry Implications
1. Waste Management - The zero-waste events trend presents opportunities for waste management companies to provide sustainable waste disposal solutions and recycling services for large-scale events.
2. Event Planning - The growing trend of zero-waste events opens up opportunities for event planning companies to specialize in implementing eco-friendly strategies and sustainability initiatives.
3. Packaging and Food Services - The demand for compostable materials and sustainable practices in the food service industry creates a disruptive opportunity for companies to develop innovative packaging solutions and eco-friendly food services.
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