News article
Sustainable Sport Index report reveals positive staffing trend
The recently released Sustainable Sport Index (SSI) Benchmarking Report has found that a rising number of sports venues in the US have undertaken sustainability initiatives.
The total number of venues in the US with staff in sustainability positions has more than doubled over the last 12 months, while sustainability has also driven business. Some 64% of venues reported that their sponsorship revenue had increased since establishing sustainability programmes.
However, there is still room for improvement as 98% of respondents acknowledged that at least one climate-related risk could affect their venue, but only 7% of venues had developed climate adaptation plans.
Elsewhere, the report found that 73% of participating venues were implementing supplier diversity initiatives as part of their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. It also found that LED lighting was used at 80% of venues, but that venues and teams were lagging behind in public ESG (environment, social and governance) and sustainability reporting. Only 8% of the venues produced a public report. Some 44% of venues were required by law to recycle, while 24% are also required to compost organic material.
The third Sustainable Sport Index Benchmarking Report has been released by professional solutions firm APTIM and its sustainability and energy solutions team. The SSI report gathered self-reported data from 41 professional and collegiate sports venues, with nearly one in four major US sports arenas participating.
Responses came from venues utilised by for Major League Baseball (MLB), National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL) and National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) teams.
These included SoFi Stadium, Fenway Park, Hard Rock Stadium, Lumen Field and more.