MLB to highlight environmental awareness & sustainability on "Earth Day" and continuing throughout the season

Major League Baseball and Clubs will continue the important tradition of celebrating ‘Earth Day’ on Friday, April 22nd with a particular focus on highlighting everyday environmental sustainability practices that can be applied in ballparks, offices, and homes. Beyond Earth Day, MLB will continue to focus on environmental awareness at various points throughout the season, including during MLB All-Star Week and through important partnerships, including with “Players For The Planet.”

By the Numbers: Greening at MLB

• 22 Clubs practice E-Waste recycling
• 22 Clubs have installed LED field lighting
• 19 Clubs operate food donation programs
• 12 Ballparks utilize on-site gardens
• 10 Ballparks utilize solar power
• 10 Ballparks feature EV charging stations
• 10 Clubs activate regular-season Green Teams
• Seven Clubs have permanently eliminated plastic straws from Ballparks
• Six MLB Ballparks are LEED certified

NOTE: For a more detailed list of Club Sustainability, please visit MLB.com/Green. Additional Club Activation Examples for 2022 Earth Day is available here.

Minnesota Twins Win 2021 Green Glove Award – During the offseason, MLB awarded the Minnesota Twins with the Club’s first “Green Glove Award” for achieving nearly a 100% Diversion Rate. MLB Clubs divert waste away from landfill through practices such as recycling, composting, food donations, and energy recovery. This is the first time that a Club outside the San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners have received the Award.

The 2021 finalists for the Green Glove Award included:

• American League East: Toronto Blue Jays
• American League Central: Minnesota Twins
• American League West: Seattle Mariners
• National League East: Washington Nationals
• National League Central: Pittsburgh Pirates (co-finalist) and St. Louis Cardinals (co-finalist)
• National League West: San Francisco Giants

MLB Network – MLB Network has produced a special video highlighting Baseball’s Earth Day initiatives, which will be played across MLB’s digital platforms. On Friday, MLB Network also will light up Studio 3’s broadcast desk in green as a symbolic recognition of Earth Day. Additionally, MLB Network, MLB Green and the Minnesota Twins have teamed up to provide fans with a branded 100% recyclable tote bag as the giveaway for the Twins home game on Monday, August 1st for the first 10,000 fans.

MLB Office Sustainability Efforts – MLB is mirroring Club sustainability best practices in the League’s headquarter offices in New York City as well as satellite offices in Boulder, CO and San Francisco, CA. MLB employees are encouraged to use reusable water bottles & coffee mugs, improving recycling efforts through updated signage & education, and reducing energy consumption through motion-sensored LED lighting and an updated television schedule that reduced energy consumption by 328 hours during the off-season. Additionally, MLB employees in New York City participated with the Central Park Conservancy on a beautification volunteer project at the park on Monday, April 18th as well as a building-wide E-Waste drive on Wednesday, April 20th.

All-Star Week in Los Angeles – Similar to previous years, MLB will continue to highlight sustainability efforts during the 2022 Midsummer Classic at Dodger Stadium and across Los Angeles. MLB will highlight the work of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the league with exciting new programs that will be reflective of the following:

• Activation of Green Teams focusing on recycling throughout All-Star Week sites
• Volunteer event with “Players For The Planet”
• Water filtration systems in broadcast, media, and staff areas to reduce single-use plastic products
• Offsetting water and energy usage
• Food donation programs
• Promoting walking and public transportation to Dodger Stadium and throughout Los Angeles
• Partnering with Mastercard to provide a unique, sustainable experience for contest winners of the “Priceless Planet Coalition”

MLB will once again pursue Council For Responsible Sport Certification, which provides objective, independent verification of the socially and environmentally responsible work as a sustainable and socially responsible sporting event. This would follow certifications for the last three All-Star Weeks in 2018 (Washington), 2019 (Cleveland), and 2021 (Denver).

PARTNERSHIPS

Anheuser-Busch Recycle Like a Champion – MLB and several Clubs are teaming up with Anheuser-Busch to launch the National Recycling League, “a new, multi-sports league coalition aiming to reduce waste on game day.” Through this partnership, Clubs are implementing new, innovative activations such as offering the infinitely recyclable cup for fans instead of single-use plastics, recycling hawkers, Club-to-Club recycling competition, and in-stadium signage. More information can be found in Anheuser-Busch’s Press Release: https://www.anheuser-busch.com/newsroom/2022/04/national-recycling-league/

Players for the Planet Educational Sessions – In partnership with MLB, Players for the Planet will raise awareness on environmental issues in the Dominican Summer League with a series of virtual sessions during the season, as well as an in-person beach clean-up. Players for the Planet, founded by former MLB outfielder Chris Dickerson, works to connect professional athletes, sports teams, and organizations with actionable opportunities to serve and protect the environment.