PGA of America Embarks on Sustainability Drive

By Asian Golf Industry Federation

Benton Harbour, Michigan, United States: The PGA of America is working with Schupan Recycling’s SustainAbility division to create a recycling programme for the 79th KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.The event will be held at Harbour Shores in Benton Harbour from May 22-27. The programme will focus on the recycling of front-of-house materials, such as water bottles and beer cans, cardboard from vendors, and food waste diversion in the catering kitchens, in order to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the event.“Our relationship with Schupan Recycling is a testament to the PGA of America’s efforts to reduce our impact on the environment,” said Championship Director Ryan Ogle. “All materials collected will be recycled and composted locally in Michigan, which is important to us and our efforts to positively impact the Southwest Michigan community.”Jessica Loding, Director of Events & Strategic Partnerships at Schupan SustainAbility, said: “We are looking forward to working with the PGA of America. This is a great opportunity to create a programme that improves the environment and teaches others about important sustainability practices.”Based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Schupan Recycling is one of the largest volume processors and brokers of used beverage containers in the United States. Their SustainAbility department specialises in creating solutions for events, venues and communities designed to minimise waste and environmental impact. They are dedicated and actively involved in supporting community sustainability endeavours, education and relief programmes.An Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation, the PGA of America recognises the critical need to tell the story of the industry’s sustainability successes and challenges.Developed with sustainability consultancy Environmental Resources Management (ERM), the PGA recently released its first sustainability report titled The PGA and Its Members: Bringing Energy to the Game.This was spurred in part through a partnership with Constellation, the PGA’s official energy provider and sustainability partner. The study is designed to attract future partnerships and talent that further the PGA and its mission, while showcasing best practices and case studies.The PGA also recently joined the Green Sports Alliance, which leverages the cultural and market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where people live and play.Read the full article here.