The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is celebrating the 18th anniversary of its sustainability programme at the US Open, the last Grand Slam tournament of the year, which is currently taking place in New York. Continuing the tournament’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact and contributing to a more sustainable future for our planet [1]. “Our tennis courts may be blue, but we think green” [2] is the motto of the initiative. 

Since the programme began in 2008, in collaboration with environmental consulting firm eco evolutions [3], the US Open has made great strides in terms of sustainability. ‘The commitment and expansion of green initiatives will ensure that the world’s most-watched sporting event is also the most environmentally conscious,’ [2] said Jon Vegosen, chairman of the board and president of the USTA. ‘These environmental efforts have kept the USTA, the US Open and tennis fans at the forefront of the global commitment to environmental protection’ [2]. “Green Initiatives”, name of the programme, has achieved significant results to date, making it an example for the entire world tennis circuit. Here are some of the achievements:

Since its beginning in 2008, thanks in part to its collaboration with the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) [4], the tournament has implemented recycling practices for water bottles, cans and organic waste, taking concrete steps to reduce its environmental impact in this area. In addition, more than 35 water refill stations are available to minimise the amount of single-use plastic used during the event itself. Over the years, more than 4,000 tonnes of waste have been diverted from landfill and around 600 tonnes of food waste have been turned into compost for local agricultural production; in addition, more than 100 tonnes of food have been donated to local communities. In 2018, the tournament became “zero-landfill”, with a waste diversion rate of 97% [1].

Structural interventions in the various courts have long been geared towards sustainability: Louis Armstrong Stadium, the tournament’s second largest venue, opened in 2018, has achieved LEED Silver certification thanks to its water-efficient architecture (-40%) and use of low-emission materials, as well as a natural ventilation system that makes it the first stadium in the world with a retractable roof that does not require air conditioning [1]. LEED is one of the world’s most accredited ecological building classification systems. The certification provides a framework for efficient and economical structures, while also offering environmental and social benefits. It is a globally recognised symbol of leadership in sustainability, supported by a committed community of organisations and individuals who are driving the green transformation of the real estate market [5].

In addition to energy savings, the federation has invested in renewable energy solutions that cover all the electricity consumed during the event. Clearly, not all emissions can be avoided, such as those generated by players travelling to participate in the competition, employees travelling to work at the event and fans travelling to the stadiums. Part of the energy commitment involves offsetting residual emissions through social projects, particularly in developing countries on the African continent [1].