Continuing our journey related to the sports industry in the United States of America and their initiatives related to environmental sustainability, in this article we will talk about the NFL (National Football League), the most important and famous professional American football league in the world, born exactly 101 years ago. In 1922, the first embryonic league founded in 1920, APFA (American Professional Football Association), was renamed with the acronym still used today. Since then, formats and franchises have changed names and locations, one thing has never changed: American football remains the most watched and polarizing sport in the land of the stars and stripes [1].

The regular season and its final (called the Super Bowl), represent one of the North American cultural icons, so much so that it has become over time one of the most important symbols of American-ness. Because of the very high television audience that follows the last game of the year (the 2024 game peaked at almost 124 million viewers), the event is highly coveted by commercial advertisers, who go so far as to pay, in the auction for advertising space before, during and after the game, figures as high as four million dollars for thirty seconds of commercials (equivalent to about 133,000 dollars per second). In the 2024 edition, a 30-second spot came to cost $7 million, it can be said without any doubt that the NFL is a major sports industry and extremely competitive economically.

The NFL has embraced environmental sustainability since the 1990s, both on and off the field, with several significant actions that the league has been undertaking for more than three decades now with its NFL Green programme. “The main goal of NFL Green is to reduce the environmental impact of our events and go above and beyond to leave a positive ‘green’ legacy in the communities that host our events”, NFL Green associate director Susan Groh told Food Tank [2]. However, this initiative is part of a broader commitment by the league to help protect the environment and improve the communities that host events. Let’s take a look at how it is articulated and what its main outcomes are [3].

One of the main actions of NFL Green is the sustainable management of waste generated during events such as the Super Bowl, the Pro Bowl (football’s All-Star Game) and the Draft (when new players from college are chosen by franchises). This includes an extensive recycling system, which aims to minimize the number of materials sent to landfills. The first massive recycling initiative was launched in 1994, aimed at transitioning to a circular economy, to be implemented during games and related events. This then lasted until 2018 when it was replaced by the Rush2Recycle project [4] that helped to collect over 90% of the waste generated at Super Bowl LII (52), which was then composted, recycled and donated to several associations that care for the homeless and people in need. In addition, it engages in the recovery of materials such as sports equipment, clothes and furniture, which are donated to charities in local communities or reused for other events [3].

The NFL works with environmental organizations to offset the carbon emissions generated by the travel and operations required to organize its events. Part of this strategy is to fund reforestation projects or tree planting in host cities, helping to offset the environmental impact of transport and energy production. In fact, the NFL symbolically planted 57 trees in Arizona to honor Super Bowl LVII (number 57). The league has also completed six planting projects and has six more planned, for a total of more than 500 trees planted in Arizona alone before the grand final event [3].

Another key point of the initiative concerns the reduction of food waste. During the events, unconsumed food is recovered and redistributed to food banks and local organizations, providing concrete help to people in need and reducing the environmental impact of food waste disposal [3].

NFL Green also seeks to leave a positive and lasting impact on communities through the creation of green spaces. In partnership with local authorities, the league participates in the construction of parks and recreational areas in host cities, providing the community with ecologically sustainable infrastructure and spaces that benefit the well-being of residents [3].

The NFL collaborates with various partners, including non-profit organizations and sponsors, to develop and implement sustainable practices. It also aims to raise awareness among fans and communities about the importance of sustainability, educating them on responsible and sustainable behavior both during events and in their daily lives [3].

In 2019, the NFL also joined the Green Sports Alliance, an organization that promotes environmental initiatives within the sports world. It includes more than 600 teams, leagues and individual arenas committed to reducing the amount of waste produced; conserving natural resources, including energy and water; and reducing the use of harmful chemicals, among other measures to increase sustainability. ‘The Green Sports Alliance is pleased that the NFL is joining our mission to support healthier, more sustainable communities where we live and play”, said Green Sports Alliance Executive Director Justin Zeulner. “Several NFL teams and venues have been members of our group for many years, and we are thrilled that the NFL, as a league, is making a formal commitment to the environment by joining the green sports movement and our impressive membership base” [5]. 

Fig 1: University Football Arena during a game. Photo by Foundry on Pixabay.

NFL Green is therefore not just a short-term initiative but represents an ongoing commitment to a more sustainable future in which the league strives to leave a positive legacy in the communities that host its major events. It also demonstrates how a major sports league can and should make a difference in combating climate change and protecting the environment, ultimately setting it as a model for the entire global sports industry.

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Cover- and preview image: Football on a green field. Lernestorod from Pixabay