CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY
Giving Nature a Sporting Chance Now in its seventh season, Sporting Sustainability scores for conservation
“Sporting Sustainability has shown there are a lot of ways to integrate nature-friendly practices into everything we do, whether that’s through the collective strength of individual actions or the leadership of large organizations,” said Adam McLane, TNC’s state director in Missouri. “We’re excited about the progress we’ve seen and the potential of the partnership in the future.” Early on, steering committee members identified the reduction of food waste as an avenue for significant progress. Food waste accounts for as much as 40 percent of the United States’ food supply, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Along with the squandered opportunity to feed people, wasting food also wastes water, labor and energy resources. It is the single- largest type of waste in landfills across the nation, and it is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Sporting Sustainability began with an educational campaign, highlighting small actions individuals can take to reduce food waste and use less energy. Thousands of fans pledged to take part. They followed tips for recycling, carpooling, composting and cooking at home. After the program celebrated its first five years, Sporting Sustainability began looking for ways to take it even further. Food waste at Children’s Mercy Park seemed like a natural next step. Mark Handler and Kellen Smith, both members of the partnership marketing team at Sporting KC, said giving fans environmentally friendly options when they come to the stadium carries over outside the stadium as well.
On game days at Children’s Mercy Park, an exercise in conservation innovation swings into action. Nearly 20,000 Sporting Kansas City fans entering the stadium pass compost bins on their way to their seats. When they order food from concessions, their hotdogs, popcorn and nachos arrive in containers that are striped attractively in Sporting Blue—and are recyclable and compostable. The changes are subtle and substantial, adding to fans’ experience while diverting nearly 50 percent of the waste that would otherwise end up in landfills. “We have a responsibility to our fans and our community to take care of the places where we live and work,” said Jon Moses, Sporting Kansas City Vice President of Corporate Partnerships.
“Sports bring people together, and that platform gives us an opportunity to tackle issues that are important to our fanbase and make a dierence that goes far beyond the pitch.” Along with his role at Sporting KC, Moses joined the board of trustees for The Nature Conservancy in Missouri in 2024. TNC was among five organizations and companies in 2018 that joined the steering committee of Sporting Sustainability, a collaboration the team launched to focus on sustainability in the Midwest. TNC supports smart solutions that align with the Conservancy’s mission to create a world where people and nature thrive. Sporting Sustainability has created new ways to demonstrate real- world strategies to a large audience.
THIS PAGE Sporting Kansas City is creating a greener food and beverage operation at Children’s Mercy Park through its Sporting Sustainability program. Courtesy Sporting Kansas City
10 MISSOURI : ACTION AND IMPACT
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