NatureWorks in partnership with Green Sports Alliance

NatureWorks announced its partnership with the Green Sports Alliance to help support the Alliance’s mission of promoting environmental stewardship with professional and collegiate sports teams, venues, leagues, and events.

NatureWorks is supplying renewably sourced materials including its innovative Ingeo (TM) portfolio of bio-based plastics. A comprehensive portfolio of compostable food service ware products made with Ingeo has seen steadily increasing use by many of the Alliance’s members.

The Green Sports Alliance is a nonprofit organization that leverages the market influence of sports to promote healthy, sustainable communities where people live and play. The Alliance represents nearly 300 sports teams and venues from 20 different sports leagues and 14 countries, including affiliates in Australia, the UK and in the European Union.

With the partnership, Alliance members will gain access to NatureWorks expertise in developing cost-competitive waste diversion programs through the use of renewably sourced, low carbon footprint products that offer new options for recovery. The partnership will also include educational webinars, discussion panels, supporting case studies, and workshops on topics such as bioplastics, composting, and diversion success strategies at sports venues and events.

According to EPA figures, in 2012 nearly 35 million tons of food waste was generated in the United States with 95 percent of that going into landfills or incinerators. Compostable food service ware such as cups, plates, utensils, and to-go containers, can facilitate composting of food residuals, significantly reducing the greenhouse gas emissions which may otherwise result.