8 Ways to Green Your Football Season

Alright folks, football season is upon us. And where there’s football, there’s also game-day gatherings. Whether you’re a diehard sports fan or more in it for the friends and food, there are steps you can take to make your watch party, tailgate, stadium experience, or pickup game a little healthier for the environment. To make it easier, we’ve got the play-by-play below for a more sustainable football season.

Want to make even more of an impact? While you’ve got everyone together, rally your crew to huddle up for a good cause -- like making cards of appreciation for military service members through the Huddle for Heroes, powered by the NFL Huddle for 100. Thousands nationwide are already spreading the spirit of service through volunteering.

1. Keep single-use plastic on the sidelines.

It takes up to 1,000 years for plastic to decompose, so expect any disposable game-day dinnerware to stick around until Super Bowl MMMLIV. Instead, opt for reusable bottles, cups, plates, and silverware wherever you can. So next time you’re headed to the big game, avoid the concession stand’s plastic water bottles, and bring your own reusable one.

2. Make thrifted apparel your team’s uniform.

Save some money and spare some resources by giving new life to gently-used sports apparel. Chances are, you probably root for a team that’s already popular in your area, so you’ll be able to find some inexpensive (and maybe vintage?) gems at your local thrift store. And if not, just be on the lookout for clothes and accessories in your team’s colors -- your spirit will shine through all the same.

3. Carpool for a (literal) game-winning drive.

Football is best enjoyed with friends, so start the festivities a little sooner by driving together to wherever you’re watching the game. You’ll cut down on your carbon emissions and fuel costs, and save your friends from trying to find parking, which is bound to be a nightmare at the stadium.

4. Be mindful of the food in your starting lineup.

Food production accounts for a huge amount of carbon emissions, water usage, and environmental degradation. Different foods have varying environmental footprints, so you can cut down on your impact just by eating the right things. You can swap the burgers at your tailgate with chicken patties, or order a veggie pizza when you’re watching at home.

5. Pick up litter while you’ve got the team together.

An average college football game produces anywhere from 50 to 100 tons of waste, so chances are there’s going to be some trash left behind at the end of the fourth quarter. Take a few minutes with you friends to pick up litter in the stands or parking lot (maybe even on the field if they let you). If you’re watching from home, halftime is the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs with a competitive cleanup game.

6. Go on the offensive when it comes to food waste.

Globally, about 1/3 of food produced for humans is lost or wasted each year, and that amounts to a lot of wasted energy, time, and resources. So be mindful when you’re heading up to the concession stand, making a tailgate grocery list, or placing a last-minute takeout order. (And make sure to bring along some to-go containers for any leftovers.)

7. Limit your energy use after kickoff.

Here’s a cool thought: if even half of the people in the US turned off their house lights during the Super Bowl, they would collectively save 36 million kilowatt hours of electricity -- that’s enough to power 43,000 electric cars from New York City to Los Angeles. So once everyone’s settled, flip off the lights for some eco-friendly mood lighting that's perfect for focusing in on the action.

8. Intercept unnecessary landfill waste with plenty of recycling bins.

Before the festivities really start, put together a recycling game plan. Try making recycling bins more accessible than trash cans to keep recyclable materials out of landfills. If you think your friends might need some more direction, also print out some of these picture labels to help get them ~sorted out~. In the process, you’ll be doing your part to reduce carbon emissions, ocean pollution, and water usage.