MLB, WM partner together; Blue Jays recognized as Green Glove Award winner

Major League Baseball on Monday announced WM, a leading environmental services provider, as the Official Sustainability Partner of Major League Baseball. This is the first sustainability-focused partner in League history, which will aim to elevate MLB’s continued sustainability-related efforts in ballparks and throughout communities.

WM will be the presenting sponsor of Major League Baseball’s official Earth Day and Green Week celebrations, which will include a variety of environmental-positive practices and messaging. Additionally, WM will offer sustainability advisory services to MLB Clubs, which includes end-to-end solutions intended to help customers achieve their sustainability goals in waste reduction and diversion, greenhouse gas emissions management, and more. WM also will support MLB Green Teams at MLB All-Star Week, the World Series and other MLB special events, as well as provide support to the League office and its facilities.

“As with any event driven industry that prioritizes sustainability at our facilities and in our communities, it is critical that we partner with organizations that share similar values in that space,” said Noah Garden, Deputy Commissioner, Business & Media, Major League Baseball. “This new partnership with WM takes our sustainability efforts to new heights. We look forward to continuing this work with WM as we host best-in-class events that are sustainability-focused driven for years to come.”

“WM has a more than 20-year history for its advisory services team, providing sustainability solutions for a variety of customers of all sizes and industries,” said Tara Hemmer, chief sustainability officer, WM. “Our expertise has helped us triple the number of customers in the sports space since 2021 – including leagues, events, teams and venues -- and we look forward to the incredible opportunity to build comprehensive and custom plans designed to improve sustainable operations for MLB and its Clubs.”

This relationship follows MLB’s extensive history of sustainability efforts, which have garnered positive recognition from both the Green Sports Alliance and Council for Responsible Sport. MLB recently earned the highest honor and achievement in sports, receiving ‘Evergreen Status’ from the Council for Responsible Sport for the League’s efforts during 2023 MLB All-Star Week at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners. In years prior, MLB has consistently earned Gold Status, which is the second highest level granted by the council.

“The leadership and commitment of MLB in the delivery of environmental, social and economic impact has been evident, from being the first North American league to join the Green Sports Alliance, to achieving the Council for Responsible Sport's top-level Evergreen status of Event Sustainability for the 2023 All Star Game in Seattle,” said Aileen McManamon, Chair, Green Sports Alliance. “Their holistic and substantive approach to sustainability merits notice and imitation by all sports rights holders.”

By the Numbers: Greening Efforts Across MLB

• 29 MLB Clubs have installed LED field lighting
• 11 Ballparks utilize on-site gardens
• 10 Ballparks utilize solar power
• 6 MLB Ballparks are LEED certified

MLB Clubs will host several activations in honor of Earth Day and throughout Earth Month including volunteer projects and other sustainability efforts such as field renovations and ballpark “Green Teams.” All 30 MLB Clubs have shared their efforts for the 2024 season, please visit MLB.com/Green for a more detailed list of annual sustainability efforts. Additional Club Activation Examples for 2024 Earth Day efforts is available here.

As an annual Earth Day tradition, MLB today also announced the recipient of the 2023 Green Glove Award, which recognizes the Club that demonstrates outstanding commitment to diverting waste from landfills at their ballpark. From implementing comprehensive recycling programs to promoting composting initiatives and reducing overall waste generation, this award celebrates the Club’s dedication to responsible waste management practices. This year, MLB recognizes the Toronto Blue Jays for their work reaching nearly 100% annual waste-diversion rate, this is the first time the Toronto Blue Jays have received this special honor. Award finalists for the Green Glove Award include the San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres.

Additionally this year, MLB added three new sustainability award honors for Clubs including the Power Pitch Award, for the MLB Ballpark that demonstrates exemplary efforts in preserving power and energy usage from the previous year, H2O Home Run Award, which recognizes the Club that demonstrates exceptional dedication and achievement in reducing its water usage from the previous year and the Eco-Slugger Innovation Award, which is an honor given to the Club that demonstrates innovative efforts in implementing environmentally sustainable practices and initiatives either in the ballpark or in the community.

The inaugural winners for these awards include:

• Power Pitch Award: Philadelphia Phillies
• H2O Home Run Award: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Eco-Slugger Innovation Award: San Francisco Giants for their work implementing a ballpark biological nutrition program that utilizes beneficial bacteria & fungi brewed at the ballpark to an integrated pest management system to promote healthy soil & turf. This is supported by advanced drone imagery to help direct decision-making for sustainable water and fertilizing processes.

MLB and several Clubs are members of the Green Sports Alliance, one of the largest, most influential, and initial drivers of environmental and social responsibility across the global sports industry. MLB will once again pursue Council for Responsible Sport Certification for the 2024 All-Star Game, which provides objective, independent verification of the socially and environmentally responsible work as a sustainable and socially responsible sporting event. This would follow certifications for the last five MLB All-Star Weeks including 2018 (Washington), 2019 (Cleveland), 2021 (Denver), 2022 (Los Angeles) and 2023 (Seattle).