SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants were recognized for their commitment to sustainability and environmental awareness on Friday, earning the 2023 Green Glove Award as part of Major League Baseball’s celebration of Earth Day.

The prize is presented annually to the club with the highest waste-diversion rate, which is accomplished through practices such as recycling, composting, food donations and energy recovery. The Giants achieved a nearly 100 percent waste-diversion rate en route to earning the Green Glove Award for the 13th time, more than any other club since the award was introduced in 2008.

• MLB goes green

Oracle Park remains the first and only Major League ballpark to receive all three United States Green Building Council (USGBC) certifications -- platinum, gold and silver -- for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings, Operations and Maintenance (EBOM).

The Giants are also one of the largest contributors to the San Francisco Compost Program and use advanced drone technology to promote more sustainable water and fertilizing processes on the field. They also use anaerobic towers to grow fresh vegetation in The Garden, food that is eventually served at concessions stands throughout the ballpark.

In honor of Earth Day on Saturday, the Giants will light Oracle Park green and team up with former outfielder Hunter Pence to launch a new non-profit organization called the “Healthy Planet Project,” which aims to create a healthier environment in the Bay Area by reducing and preventing pollution and promoting sustainable living practices. The initiative’s priorities include planting trees around the Bay Area, organizing youth activities and educational programs and creating and improving local parks and public spaces.

"Creating the Healthy Planet Project is a dream come true," Pence said in a statement. "I am passionate about bringing the San Francisco community together to care for our planet, and I think there is no better place to start than the city I love and call home.”