The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Texas Athletics named Green Sports Alliance Innovator of the Year for second year in a row
05.29.2019 | Texas Athletics, Bleed Orange. Live Green.
The Green Sports Alliance recognized UT for its environmental innovation and sustainability achievements.
Texas Athletics was named one of the Environmental Innovators of the Year by the Green Sports Alliance for the second year in a row, the organization announced today. The awards, now in their eighth year, recognize and applaud the best in sports and sustainability.
Texas Athletics created a multi-year strategy for all of its events to achieve zero waste by 2020. Throughout the six football games during the 2018 season, Texas was able to achieve a best single-game diversion rate of 76 percent. It generated a total of 347 tons of waste and diverted 105.22 tons to recycling and 49.39 tons to compost. Food recovery efforts led to more than 5,300 pounds of food being donated to fight hunger in Central Texas. Throughout the 2018 program, approximately 900 volunteers donated 2,700 hours of time and their actions reached over 600,000 fans. With the 2018 season's success, Texas Athletics is on pace to achieve a 90% diversion rate in 2019, one year ahead of the campus zero waste goal.
Other groups recognized by the Green Sports Alliance include the United States Tennis Association, the Center for Sport and Urban Policy at Georgia State, Fiserv Forum/Milwuakee Bucks, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, NC State University Athletics, Pocono Organics, the San Francisco Giants, the Seattle Sounders FC, Delaware North/Miller Park, and the Banff Marathon.
The award presentations are the highlight of the Alliance's Green Sports Celebration, part of its annual Green Sports Alliance Summit. The event is scheduled for June 19, 2019, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and is coupled with "A Taste of Philadelphia" showcasing innovative concepts in sustainable food and beverage.