Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena has achieved the highest waste diversion rate of any sports venue globally at the time of certification, in just its third year according to The Green Business Certification Inc. (GCBI). The home to the Seattle Kraken, Seattle Storm, and the best in music and live entertainment was awarded TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Platinum certification for its efforts in operating as a functionally zero waste arena. Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), TRUE helps facilities measure, improve and recognize zero waste performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management and reduction practices, which contribute to positive environmental, health and economic outcomes. The $1.15 billion dollar privately funded arena is the first venue on the West Coast to receive the highest-level certification by maintaining a waste diversion rate of 93%.
“At Climate Pledge Arena, our commitment to zero waste operations isn’t merely a goal; it’s ingrained in our core values,” said Brianna Treat, the Arena’s director of sustainability. “We prioritize not only delivering exceptional events but also pioneering sustainability within the sports and entertainment industry. By proactively reducing waste, we exemplify our dedication to environmental stewardship while maintaining our position as leaders in providing world-class experiences.”
The arena achieved TRUE Platinum certification with a 91.8% diversion over a 12-month period. Since that time, the arena has been able to increase its diversion to 93%. Key steps to reaching this goal included:
- Elimination of all single-use, fan-facing plastic in the building. Any product bought within the building is either recyclable or compostable.
- Implementation of onsite sorting, meaning that each individual bag of waste collected from the concourse is sorted by the Arena’s housekeeping staff.
- Increased education throughout the building with informational videos and signage.
- Partnership with artists, including Billie Eilish and Depeche Mode, to host events promoted as zero waste to improve fan education.
The success of the Arena’s waste operations would not have been possible without the help of its partners, Pritchard Sports and Entertainment, WM, and Delaware North, the arena’s food and beverage partner. Pritchard Sports and Entertainment acts as an extension of the Arena’s housekeeping team and is responsible for the top-notch cleaning of the building and onsite sorting.
“Our whole organization extends a huge congratulations to the Climate Pledge Arena team on reaching TRUE Platinum certification,” said Jason Brock, president of Pritchard Sports and Entertainment Group. “As one of only three venues and the first in the West to reach this status, we are proud to be part of a team that is dedicated to sustainability and continually looks to go above and beyond each day to create a significant impact both within the industry and within their community. This is truly a team achievement led by the Sustainability Team at Climate Pledge Arena along with the Seattle Kraken, Seattle Storm, and Fans.”
WM functions as the Arena’s official recycling partner and assists the Arena in the collection and review of all arena-related waste and recycling data. The waste and recycling data plays a huge role in assessing sustainability in the building, as it reflects both the success and areas of improvement for materials management.
“Climate Pledge Arena hosts millions of visitors each year, and managing and diverting waste is integral to its identity as a premier sustainable venue and leader in the industry,” said Lee Spivak, WM’s director of advisory services. “We’re proud to collaborate with this team to help achieve their sustainability goals and contribute to setting a new standard for materials management operations in venues. We look forward to continuing to make progress together!”