Bending the Arc references a quote by Rev. Dr. King who said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This digital newsletter from the CSA Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation office showcases the work of changemakers, opportunities to learn, and opportunities for you to help “bend the arc” toward justice. Full contents of the newsletter are published on this page.
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Philadelphia Eagles’ Soar with Sustainability
February 13, 2025
Football may be America's favorite pastime, but its environmental impact is anything but small. When it comes to sustainability, it’s time to step up the playbook.
The average NFL game generates over 80,000 pounds of waste per stadium, accumulating to 44.6 million pounds. Much is single-use plastic waste. Fans, teams and media traveling to games create a significant carbon footprint with travel emissions. Stadiums require immense energy for lighting, screens, and operations, with older venues often relying on nonrenewable energy sources. Super Bowl ads don’t just promote products, they encourage overconsumption. While the NFL has made strides to improve sustainability, such as recycling programs and renewable energy use, there’s a long way to go to offset the broader environmental impact of football culture.
Some football stadiums are getting (touch)down with sustainability. Most notably are our 2025 Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Their stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, has set the bar for stadium sustainability. Lincoln Financial Field diverts 100% of its game day waste from landfills, using a combination of recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy conversion. In 2023, the stadium transformed 718.4 tons of waste into biomass energy, demonstrating how sports facilities can reduce their impact while entertaining massive crowds. (Source: Integrity Energy)
Learn what other stadiums are doing, and more, in this video from Sustainable Jungle: The impact of American football is bigger than you think.
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