• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Fox Analyst and Media Entrepreneur Greg Olsen to Speak at Tuned In Get your ticket now!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: A Look at Super Bowl Sustainability Efforts

super-bowl-sustainability

Photo via the NFL

Twenty-five years ago, the NFL Environmental Program started its Super Bowl sustainability efforts in Atlanta prior to Super Bowl XXVIII with recycling bins around the Georgia Dome. Now, the program returns to Atlanta prior to Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The bins were meant to help offset the massive amount of waste the annual event produces. Since then, the NFL Environmental program has grown tremendously with multiple green initiatives.

NFL “Green Week” started Jan. 15 with more than a dozen urban forestry projects in the Atlanta area.

“The NFL decided to support our effort 25 years ago at the Georgia Dome,” said Jack Groh, director of the NFL Environmental Program. “We still try to push the envelope every year, pushing it a little further and see how much we can go.”

READ MORE: College Football Playoff Green Initiative Goes Beyond Just Recycling

The NFL Environmental Program only oversees the sustainability efforts of the NFL’s major events — like the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, and the NFL Draft — because team stadium operations are still the responsibility of each stadium owner. Still, Groh said more teams are moving in the direction of sustainability and often consulting he and his wife, Susan, who is the program’s associate director.

“As the years go by, more teams take advantage of it,” Groh said. “The Philadelphia Eagles are a shining example, with a wide range of sustainability projects. People really would rather do the right thing.”

The sustainability efforts around the NFL’s major events act as an example at the sport’s highest stage, which can be influential as the Super Bowl is likely the sporting world’s most wasteful event. A typical NFL game produces approximately 35 tons of waste, Groh said, or approximately 1.5 pounds per fan. The Super Bowl, however, can boost that number up as much as 50 percent.

“Our challenge is how to reduce that as much as possible with recycling, composting and even preventing things from coming in that aren’t recyclable and compostable,” Groh said.

[mc4wp_form id=”8260″]

Along with the typical reduce and recycle, Susan Groh said another major initiative for Super Bowl sustainability is to repurpose materials. Now, up to 90 nonprofits are enlisted to reuse items like temporary carpets and leftover foods.

“We’ve had really creative uses as we team up with local partners and find out what their needs are and some folks have taken fabrics and turned it into evening gowns and baby clothes,” she said. “Last year, in Minnesota, they took wood pallets and built birdhouses. Lots of creativity, but no reason to throw them away.”

On Jan. 17, Super Kids-Super Sharing will welcome more than 100 schools as students will come in the morning to donate books, sports equipment, and school supplies. Later in the day, designated schools and organization serving children in need will select the donated supplies they can use. The children’s program started in Atlanta 20 years ago prior to Super Bowl XXXIV.

READ MORE: International Sponsor Council Drives Sustainability for Sponsorship Industry

Sustainability efforts are often hindered by two aspects, Groh said: a lack of knowledge and affordability. The NFL Environmental Program creates a massive database of a city’s nonprofits and contacts for their efforts, and they’ll share it with whatever event might be coming to the city next. The database helps eliminate the lack of knowledge. In Minnesota, they handed over their network to the X Games, which was coming to town following the Super Bowl.

Jack Groh said while the NFL competes with other leagues for fan attention, they all need to cooperate to take care of the earth.

The Grohs’ simple idea 25 years ago to put recycling bins around the stadium has led to Super Bowl sustainability efforts setting an example at an event looked up to across the globe.

“The Super Bowl is the crown jewel of events,” Jack Groh said. “They’re looked at by other event managers, sports leagues, team owners as a model to run their events. Whenever they try an experiment, if you wait a year or two or five, you see those strategies implemented in other venues and sports.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; TCU Horned Frogs tight end DJ Rogers (0) catches a touchdown pass as North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Kaleb Cost (21) defends in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium.

Polymarket Moves Closer to Reentering the U.S.

There’s yet more prediction markets momentum as the NFL season kicks off.

Frontloaded NFL Schedule Makes TV Ratings Surge Very Likely

The season’s first month is filled with high-profile national games.

Roger Goodell: NFL’s Next Frontier Is More Games, More Countries

The commissioner has pushed for an 18-game season since last spring.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, and singer-songwriter Taylor Swift appear at the Kansas City Classic season opening game between the Cincinnati Bearcats and Nebraska Cornhuskers, Aug. 28, 2025, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. This is the first time the couple have appeared in the public since their engagement.

Roger Goodell Says Taylor Swift a ‘Maybe’ for Super Bowl LX

Halftime show announcements have recently been made in September.

Featured Today

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) celebrate their touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field.

TV Ratings Just Changed Again. The NFL Will Be the Big Winner

Nielsen’s new viewership system will have a big impact on sports.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4) celebrates with offensive lineman Donovan Jackson (74) after a touchdown catch against Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.
August 30, 2025

The Most Expensive Roster Year in College Football History

The House settlement created revenue-sharing—and a big NIL loophole.
August 26, 2025

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
FIFA

Saudis Awarded 2034 World Cup in Uncontested Vote

Saudi Arabia was the only option after Australia decided not to bid.
May 20, 2024

Top Sports Business Jobs This Week (May 2024)

Each week, our staff combs through the thousands of job listings from…
The stands at the Solheim Cup
September 13, 2024

LPGA Apologizes for Solheim Cup Fan Bus Debacle That Left Stands Half-Empty

The USA-Europe women’s team golf event teed off Friday morning.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
October 3, 2022

Real Madrid President Renews Call for Super League

Real Madrid’s president believes that soccer is losing ground.
August 10, 2022

PGA Tour Touts Projected Earnings to Keep Players

The PGA Tour is asking its players to consider their potential futures.
August 10, 2022

Bayern Munich to Make Growth Push in U.S. Market

Bayern Munich is looking to expand its reach in the U.S.
Nintendo-logo
August 3, 2022

Nintendo Profits Underwhelm, Switch Sales Decline

Nintendo failed to meet expectations in the company’s latest earnings report.