Minnesota Twins and Eco-Products Team Up Against Waste
Situation
Target Field opened in 2010 with a seating capacity of 39,021, and the goal of becoming the greenest ballpark in America. As traditional sports concessions create a huge amount of waste each year, the Minnesota Twins sought out to improve on their already impressive environmental initiatives, and in 2015 focused efforts on migrating to fully compostable Ingeo-based food serviceware products in all concession and food service areas.
Solution
Through a partnership with Eco-Products and NatureWorks, concessions packaging such as plastic beer cups, nacho trays, portion cups, and straws were replaced with alternatives made out of compostable materials, including low carbon footprint Ingeo, allowing fans to deposit food packaging and utensils along with leftover food into compost bins.
Strategic Objectives
- Increase annual waste diversion rate
- Educate fans on the benefits of compostable products
- Implement a long-term program seeking zero waste
- Position organization as an industry leader in sustainability
Outcomes
- Improved waste diversion rate from 61% to 79% in two years
- Compostable organics disposal bin signage and GO TWINS, GO GREEN video successfully building fan awareness to reduce impact on the environment.
- All Target Field food scraps and compostable concession products now diverted from landfill and redirected to a commercial composting facility.
- 2016 Environmental Initiative Award finalist
These products make it incredibly easy for fans to compost their waste products. Ultimately this partnership will help us reduce our conversion rates and minimize our impact on the environment.
Key Stakeholders
Converting to compostable food serviceware products within the ballpark entailed full engagement and support from a network of partners including procurement, distribution, and trash sorting and hauling. Everyone had a key role in the process.
How many cups does it take to make a difference? Just one!
Did you know that if you convert just one plastic cup to a cup made from Ingeo, it would save the following1:
non-renewable energy use equal to:
22 minutes powering a single 100 watt light bulb
greenhouse gas emissions equal to:
675 feet driving an average new car in the US
1. These benefits are provided as an example and are based on the published Ingeo eco-profile and available data on PET. Assumes complete replacement of a 15.7g PET cup with an Ingeo cup, assuming no changes in the eco-footprint associated with the downstream processing from polymer to finished cup.
