US Open Green Initiatives Raise Sustainability Standards

By US Open

“Our courts may be blue, but we’re thinking green.”That was the catchphrase that helped to kick off the US Open’s Green Initiatives in 2008, the year the event took a serious stand in committing itself to lessening its environmental impact. That thinking—and that commitment—has only grown and expanded in the years since the initiative’s launch, as the US Open has consistently proven to be a leader and a standard-setter in showcasing the ways in which a huge event can lessen its ecological footprint.The 2019 US Open marks the 12th year of its environmental initiatives program aimed at creating a more sustainable future. And in each of those 12 years, the Open has raised its game in lowering its impact on the global environment. Earlier this year, the USTA became one of the first major North American organizations to sign the United Nations' Sports for Climate Action Framework, joining a group of international sports organizations that have committed to drive climate awareness and promote a set of principles for the global sports community to adopt in order to combat climate change.Also this year, the USTA’s ongoing efforts at greening the US Open were recognized with the Green Sports Alliance’s Environmental Leadership Award (see photo below), one of the most prestigious sports greening awards given annually to an organization or individual that has demonstrated extraordinary leadership toward sustainability, environmental stewardship and community engagement.Former US Open champion and Hall-of-Famer Billie Jean King was likewise recognized by the Green Sports Alliance for her role in spurring on the green movement at the facility that bears her name.“With the renaming of the National Tennis Center in 2006, we worked with the USTA to launch year-round greening efforts for the home of the US Open,” King said. “The significant action taken then has served as a springboard to positively impact the environment for the US Open and the National Tennis Center, and has set an example for other tennis and sporting events to emulate.”“We engaged industry experts to help us develop a comprehensive environmental program for the US Open,” said Lauren Tracy, the USTA’s director of strategic initiatives and director of the USTA’s sustainability program. “Those experts included Bina Indelicato, founder and CEO of eco evolutions, who now serves as a sustainability consultant for the USTA, as well as Allen Hershkowitz, who pioneered the green sports movement.”

Former US Open champion and Hall-of-Famer Billie Jean King was likewise recognized by the Green Sports Alliance for her role in spurring on the green movement at the facility that bears her name.“With the renaming of the National Tennis Center in 2006, we worked with the USTA to launch year-round greening efforts for the home of the US Open,” King said. “The significant action taken then has served as a springboard to positively impact the environment for the US Open and the National Tennis Center, and has set an example for other tennis and sporting events to emulate.”“We engaged industry experts to help us develop a comprehensive environmental program for the US Open,” said Lauren Tracy, the USTA’s director of strategic initiatives and director of the USTA’s sustainability program. “Those experts included Bina Indelicato, founder and CEO of eco evolutions, who now serves as a sustainability consultant for the USTA, as well as Allen Hershkowitz, who pioneered the green sports movement.”What began as a simple recycling effort in 2008 has grown into a massive, multi-faceted annual undertaking. Through its work at the US Open, the USTA has already reduced harmful greenhouse gas emissions by over 30,000 metric tons through waste diversion, recycled paper use and renewable energy certificates. Since 2008, more than 4,500 tons of waste generated during the US Open has been diverted from landfills, saving over 4,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Through composting leftover organic matter, nearly 700 tons of food waste has been converted into nutrient-rich compost for gardens and farms, and more than 100 tons of food has been donated to local communities.

"With the renaming of the National Tennis Center in 2006, we worked with the USTA to launch year-round greening efforts for the home of the US Open." —Billie Jean King

At the 2018 US Open, 97 percent of waste was diverted from landfills, qualifying the tournament as a zero-landfill event. Much of the unrecyclable, non-compostable material was converted to energy at a local waste-to-energy site. In addition, more than 90 percent of all paper products used at the US Open are made out of recycled and/or compostable materials.And when the NTC’s five-year, $600-million strategic transformation broke ground in 2013, green initiatives were at the forefront of the thinking in mapping out the long-term plan.“Sustainable design was always a part of the plan and a part of the conversation for the entire strategic transformation team,” Tracy said. “Those renovations and new builds would be done in an environmentally responsible way... It's just how we do business now.”As a result, the US Open earned LEED Silver certification for Louis Armstrong Stadium, which made its debut at the 2018 US Open. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. A number of sustainable design elements were incorporated into Louis Armstrong Stadium, including fixtures which use 40 percent less water than standard buildings, landscape that is designed to use 55 percent less water than traditional landscaping and low-emitting paints and finishes. In addition, during construction, 95 percent of waste was recycled.It is the first naturally-ventilated stadium with a retractable roof in the world, eliminating the need for air conditioning—even with the roof closed. Armstrong Stadium is the third LEED-certified structure at the NTC, joining the Grandstand Stadium and the NTC’s Transportation Building in earning that prestigious accolade. New for 2019, the newly-constructed Broadcast Building sits upon a foam glass foundation made from 1.3 million recycled glass bottles.Importantly, US Open sponsors and partners are also making significant contributions to sustainability at the event. Evian bottles are not only recyclable, but are made from at least 25 percent recycled material and will reach 100 percent (excluding cap and label) by 2025. Evian’s “Flip It For Good” campaign brings a fun twist to encourage fans to recycle their bottles at the NTC, helping the US Open recycle nearly seven tons of plastic during the event and divert 97 percent of waste from landfill.

"The US Open is a global event, and we are committed to being a responsible global citizen." —Lauren Tracy

The 2019 US Open ball person uniforms from Polo Ralph Lauren are made from recycled materials; each is made from approximately 10 recycled plastic bottles. Wilson racquet stringers at the US Open will no longer be using plastic bags to wrap the more than 5,300 racquets strung during the three weeks of the event. And working with Wilson, the US Open will be recycling all of the used racquet strings from the event, accounting for more than 35 miles of string. In addition, Constellation NewEnergy, the US Open’s energy supplier, is donating Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificates to cover 100 percent of the electricity consumed during the 2019 US Open.The US Open also will increase its investment in climate-intelligent humanitarian initiatives for 2019, as part of its commitment to offsetting those carbon emissions it cannot reduce. As it did last year, the USTA is investing in improved cookstoves for the people of the African nation of Malawi, and in 2019, fan travel for US Open Finals Weekend will be included in the offset total, which already includes player travel to compete in the event and employee travel to work the event. This equates to approximately 10 million miles traveled by airplane, car or subway. In addition, all unavoidable on-site fuel usage to run the event is also accounted for in this contribution.Through this initiative, the USTA is helping to save over three tons of firewood and six tons of CO2 emissions each year—contributing to the environment on a global scale. On a more local scale, the project provides a cleaner cooking option for families in Malawi and prevents exposure to indoor cooking smoke which is the world’s leading killer of children under age 5.“The US Open is a global event,” said Tracy. “And we are committed to being a responsible global citizen. In the 12 years since we began our green initiatives in earnest, we’ve learned a lot and we commit ourselves every year to do better than the year before. We have an obligation to this event, to our global fan base, and to our global environment to make our only lasting impact one of great memories. That is our goal, and that is the focus of all of our efforts.”Read the full article here.