NEW ORLEANS – The National Football League (NFL) is reinforcing its commitment to sustainability through a range of environmental initiatives including recycling, carbon footprint tracking, and food and materials donations. Besides a tree planting event at Hardin Park, the creation of a coastal forest in Madisonville, the installation of a living shoreline in Leeville, and a massive reforestation effort near the Tchefuncte Lighthouse where 5,900 trees will be planted, the NFL is also recycling, tracking its carbon footprint, and donating unused materials.
Recycling
The NFL will provide more than 20 local organizations, including food banks, schools, art studios, and coastal restoration groups, with repurposed Super Bowl materials and surplus food. To comprehend the potential scale of this initiative, last year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas saw over $300,000 worth of food and materials donated, a number the NFL expects to surpass in New Orleans.
The NFL will also collect materials for recycling. On game day and at the Super Bowl Experience, 200 additional recycling bins will be available, providing 15,000 gallons of extra recycling space. To improve recycling efficiency, 20 sustainability staff members will assist attendees at high-traffic locations, while behind-the-scenes sorting will help maximize the number of bottles and cans recycled.
The Commissioner’s Party and NFL House will operate as zero waste events, with a goal of diverting at least 90% of waste from landfills. The NFL is also tracking waste diversion at additional Super Bowl Week events in hopes of expanding zero waste initiatives in the future.
Beyond Super Bowl LIX, the NFL aims to leave a sustainable impact on the host community. Recycled glass collected during the game will be processed into sand for coastal restoration in Southern Louisiana, adding to previous efforts that have repurposed 59 tons of oyster shells for erosion control.
Carbon Tracking and Renewable Energy
Recognizing the broader environmental impact of major events, the NFL is taking steps to measure and mitigate its carbon footprint. This includes tracking emissions from energy use, staff travel, and the sale of food and merchandise. Local energy provider Entergy is set to supply renewable energy throughout New Orleans on Super Bowl Sunday, while the league is also exploring carbon offset strategies for emissions related to travel and event operations.
Other major events in the United States have also implemented comprehensive strategies to reduce waste, enhance recycling, and track carbon emissions. Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena, for example, has achieved zero-waste status through a comprehensive sustainability strategy. The arena runs entirely on electric power sourced from renewables, collects rainwater for its ice rink, and offers free local public transit with event tickets. They also eliminated single-use plastics and divert 90% of waste from landfills, making it the first large-scale, zero-waste event space.
A Group Effort
The NFL’s sustainability efforts are all being done in partnership with a large number of local and national organizations including the New Orleans Super Bowl LIX Host Committee, the New Orleans Saints, and corporate sponsors including Verizon, Entergy, Venture Global, and Dow Chemical.
By continuously refining its sustainability efforts, the NFL seeks to set a new standard for environmentally responsible event management, ensuring that each Super Bowl leaves a positive and lasting ecological impact.
