Anheuser-Busch launches programme for recycling awareness

Anheuser-Busch, a St. Louis-based brewer and beverage maker, has created a "multi-sports league partnership aimed at reducing waste on game day" with Major League Baseball (MLB) and National Football League (NFL) teams. According to the beverage corporation, the National Recycling League will use the size and reach of the brewer's professional sports teams and league affiliations to enhance how the beverage industry promotes recycling.

“At Anheuser-Busch, we approach everything we do – including sustainability – with an innovation mindset so that we can create an outsized impact. Through the National Recycling League, we are thrilled to bring together our team partners and sports fans to work towards a shared dream of a future with less game day waste and more cheers,” said Brendan Whitworth, CEO of Anheuser-Busch.

The National Recycling League aims to create meaningful connections between brands like Budweiser, Bud Light, and Michelob Ultra, team partners and sports fans across the country to raise recycling awareness and drive key recycling behaviours among consumers wherever they cheer on their favourite team – whether in the stadium, at home, or a neighbourhood bar. More than ten MLB clubs have signed on as founding members of the National Recycling League, according to the firm, including the St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, and Washington Nationals.

“Major League Baseball and our clubs are excited to collaborate with Anheuser-Busch on the launch of their National Recycling League initiative. This commitment to environmental stewardship by our long-term partner perfectly aligns with our continued efforts to bring more recycling options and sustainable practices to our ballparks,” said Paul Hanlon, MLB’s senior director of ballpark operations and sustainability.

Participating clubs have agreed to adopt and execute measures to boost stadium recycling rates to redirect recyclable items such as beer bottles and cans. Fans will be given recyclable metal cups, in-seat recycling decals and in-stadium advertising with the tagline "Recycle Like a Champion" will be placed. Some MLB clubs will employ "recycling hawkers," who will be stationed at stadiums to collect discarded cups, cans, and bottles from fans and guarantee that they are recycled, according to Anheuser-Busch.

“As a longstanding partner of Anheuser-Busch, we applaud the action to improve communities by reducing waste in sporting arenas across the country. Our team of volunteers are energized and excited to step into the new recycling hawker role and help make it easy for fans at sporting events to recycle properly,” said Becky Lyons, interim CEO of Connecticut-based Keep America Beautiful.

Some MLB clubs will compete in a new way, according to Anheuser-Busch, as the brewer encourages fans to join the National Recycling League and recycle their bottles and cans, with the winning city receiving a round of Anheuser-Busch beer.

The city of the participating team with the greatest recycling rate during home games from Opening Day to May 31 will get a round of beer in honour of their effort to minimising trash on game day.

Anheuser-Busch also stated that the National Recycling League builds on the company's 2025 sustainability goals and is linked to its participation in the Green Sports Alliance. The company has pledged that all of its packagings would be created with a majority of recyclable content or will be returnable by 2025.

“The Green Sports Alliance is inspired by Anheuser-Busch’s 2025 Sustainability goals and its new National Recycling League program to motivate millions of fans to help improve recycling rates in stadiums across the nation through the power of sports. We are eager to support the National Recycling League in partnership with Green Sports Alliance programs like Play To Zero to amplify the message and impact of this zero waste initiative across our membership of sports leagues, clubs and teams,” said Roger McClendon, executive director of the Portland, Oregon-based organization.