Every year, the not-for-profit organization GSBS (Global Sustainability Benchmark in Sport) publishes a list indicating the sustainability performance of professional sports organizations. Currently, Formula E holds the pole position, though baseball lovers, take note! Baseball is also on the green side of the list, alongside American football, ice hockey, and handball. Indeed, Major League Baseball (MLB) and its 30 clubs have supported sustainability efforts since 2019 via its GREEN TEAMS initiative. The latter encourages environmental awareness during MLB All-Star events, providing education, collecting recyclables, and raising awareness among fans. Over the past five years, the MLB has shown that baseball is much more than an entertaining game; it is also a sport that can make a real difference.
Energy Challenges
Baseball fields are sizeable, and a typical stadium can use an astounding 10 megawatts of power (enough to power 8,000 American homes) during each game. On average, major league baseball generates some 5.6 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Stadium lighting, bars, food concessions, and live broadcasts make the game energy-intensive. Games in big stadiums can generate as much as 35 tons of waste, ranging from energy and water to food.
Greener Practices
Baseball clubs are going all-out to reduce their carbon footprints and make a difference to the planet. Initiatives include the use of renewable energy sources such as solar panels on roofs and parking structures and wind turbines that have been integrated into stadium design. Clubs are also embracing efficient LED lighting systems and automated lighting controls to minimize energy wastage. Water conservation is another important goal, and clubs are achieving it via efforts such as rainwater harvesting and aerated faucets. In March 2024, the New York Yankees, for instance, installed a cutting-edge water-cooled modular chiller plant that cools the stadium while providing enhanced efficiency. Green transport, construction, and the use of green roofs to regulate temperature and reduce stormwater runoff are also holding sway. Also noteworthy are waste disposal methods. In 2023, 70 tons of waste were diverted from landfills across host stadiums, achieving a 72% recycling rate. The Series also saw 15 tons of organic waste composted.
Eco Warriors Who Bat and Pitch
Baseball players are also taking up the fight against global warming and energy wastage. A quick search into the lives of famous baseball players will reveal the extent to which many value green initiatives. For instance, Brent Suter of the Milwaukee Brewers/Colorado Rockies has been vocal for many years about climate change. Having studied environmental science at Harvard and worked on projects like tree planting for every team win, he also launched the Brewers’ sustainability council and is known for participating in a host of local environmental efforts, including urban gardening. Then there is Chris Dickerson, a former MLB outfielder who founded Players for the Planet. Or what about the New York Met’s Francisco Lindor, who has taken part in community cleanups in Puerto Rico and partnered with Players for the Planet to restore natural resources and promote environmental awareness?
Feeding the Hungry
An important part of sustainability involves ensuring that every individual has enough to eat. The MLB has adopted a host of programs to recover food and reduce poverty. In 2023, some 6,000 pounds of food were recovered and donated. Thanks to these efforts, around 5,000 meals were provided to those in need. The LA Dodgers have been particularly active in this respect. In 2023, the Dodgers donated 14,040 pounds of food to the Midnight Mission, while also collecting 35,740 pounds of aluminum and 19,110 pounds of plastic for recycling.
Celebrating Green Events
The MLB activates a wide range of initiatives across various platforms during key events such as Earth Week. MLB employees are encouraged to take part in events such as sprucing up baseball fields through reseeding, mulching, and removing weeds and invasive plants. Some clubs host electronic waste collection drives, asking fans to donate old or unused local electronics and giving them ticket vouchers to home games in return. Others are hosting beach and garden clean-ups.
Baseball is showing that it is a sport with a green heart. The MLB and its members are adopting numerous initiatives to show their commitment to a greener planet. These include the use of renewable energies, water saving, and participation in clean-ups on beaches and in parks and gardens. They are also going above and beyond to reduce wastage and feed those in need.
Photo by Steshka Willems
