NFL Green Sustainability
Sustainability is a core focus for the NFL, and the league is committed to reducing the environmental impact at each of our events. The NFL strives to not only make each Draft more sustainable than the last but to also leave a lasting "green legacy" in the host's community.
What you can do:
There are simple steps you can take to help make Draft 2025 more sustainable!
Help us reduce waste
- Ensure recyclables are empty, clean, and dry – no foods or liquids remaining.
- Keep plastic bags and wraps out of recycling and compost.
- Talk with our on-site sustainability staff if you have any questions or want to learn more. You can find them at dedicated waste stations throughout the Draft campus.
Travel sustainably
- Walk when you can – not only is walking zero emission, it's also a great way to see all the festivities and will likely be the fastest way to get around at and near Draft.
- Utilize public transport – Green Bay Metro will run free buses between downtown and Draft. If you are staying at a hotel, inquire about shuttle options they may provide as well.
- Consider an EV rideshare – if available on your trip, go with a smooth, quiet, zero-emission EV ride, which is often about the same price as a standard ride.
What the NFL is doing:
To improve sustainability at Draft 2025, the NFL is:
Donating materials and food:
The NFL is helping reusable materials find a second life after Draft.
- 30+ Donation Organizations: Over 30 local organizations – from food banks, to pet shelters, to youth sports leagues – will have the opportunity to receive and repurpose Draft items.
- Tons of donations: Last year's Draft donations totaled over $200,000 in food and materials, with hopes to exceed that in Green Bay. We expect to donate thousands of pounds of food, and hundreds of thousands of square feet of materials such as carpet, vinyl, plywood, and fence mesh, amongst much more.
Diverting waste:
The NFL is boosting recycling efforts, both for fans and behind the scenes.
- Extra bins: Hundreds of extra recycling and compost bins are placed throughout campus for Draft. Sustainability staff are located at the busiest locations and can be found at dedicated waste stations on the Draft campus map.
- Added sorting behind the scenes: Behind the scenes, the NFL is sorting recycling and compost bags to reduce contamination and maximize waste diversion from landfills.
Tracking and reducing carbon:
The NFL is measuring and working to reduce its carbon footprint at Draft.
- Carbon Tracking: The NFL is calculating the emissions for various elements of Draft 2025, including energy used throughout the Draft campus, fuel burned for staff flights, and the carbon footprint of the food & merchandise sold.
- Future planning: These carbon measurements are part of larger efforts for the NFL to understand the carbon footprint of events and will be used to plan and prioritize actions to reduce carbon for future events.
Looking beyond Draft 2025:
The NFL aims to leave a lasting "green legacy" in Green Bay and beyond.
- Lasting legacy in Green Bay: Post-event donations of materials and food are being prioritized to local community organizations that offer the greatest communal benefit. NFL Green is also working with local venue staff to suggest improvements to recycling practices that can help increase waste diversion at future events.
- Long-term efforts: Sustainability is a long-term investment and process. The NFL is proud of the progress made so far and is committed to advancing sustainability across a growing range of future events.