Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena Earns TRUE Platinum Certificate for Impressive Waste Diversion Rate

Seattle is a dedicated and passionate sports town with rich history and league-defining moments. Most teams in the area have the color green as one of their primary colors, which is fitting as Seattle now possesses what is likely the most “green” sports venue in the world.

The Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, home to the Kraken (NHL) and Storm (WBA) has just announced that it has achieved the highest waste diversion rate of any sports arena across the globe according to The Green Business Certification. The news comes after the arena has only been operational for three years, wasting no time on its commitment to sustainability and matching the green energy of Seattle.

The venue was awarded the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) Platinum certification, awarding the Climate Pledge Arena for its efforts in operating as a functionally zero waste arena. The arena is the first venue on the West Coast of the United States to receive this top-tier certification due to its ability to maintain a waste diversion rate of 93%.

"At Climate Pledge Arena, our commitment to zero waste operations isn't merely a goal; it's ingrained in our core values," said Brianna Treat, the Arena's director of sustainability.

"We prioritize not only delivering exceptional events but also pioneering sustainability within the sports and entertainment industry. By proactively reducing waste, we exemplify our dedication to environmental stewardship while maintaining our position as leaders in providing world-class experiences."

The Climate Pledge Arena listed several key steps to achieving the TRUE Platinum Certification and reaching a diversion rate of 93%. For the aptly named venue, it sought to eliminate all single-use, fan-facing plastic in the building and make sure that all items bought in the building are either recyclable or compostable. Each bag of waste collected from the concourse of the arena is sorted onsite by the venue’s housekeeping staff. Climate Pledge Arena is also filled with educational videos and signage, helping attendees make green-conscious choices.

As a music venue as well, Climate Pledge Arena works closely with artists to put on zero-waste events and educate fans on zero-waste practices. Notably, the arena worked closely with Coldplay and Billie Eilish, who have both made sustainability a part of their concert-going and music production experience, to hold zero-waste events.

"Our whole organization extends a huge congratulations to the Climate Pledge Arena team on reaching TRUE Platinum certification," said Jason Brock, president of Pritchard Sports and Entertainment Group.  

"As one of only three venues and the first in the West to reach this status, we are proud to be part of a team that is dedicated to sustainability and continually looks to go above and beyond each day to create a significant impact both within the industry and within their community. This is truly a team achievement led by the Sustainability Team at Climate Pledge Arena along with the Seattle Kraken, Seattle Storm, and Fans."

The Climate Pledge Arena doesn’t do this alone, as its waste diversion partners have been a huge help in earning these accolades. The arena partners with Pritchard Sports and Entertainment, WM, and Delaware North. Pritchard Sports and Entertainment works as an extension to the venue’s housekeeping team while Delaware North is the venue’s food and beverage partner, responsible for dishing out the recyclable food packaging.

WM plays a huge part in the arena’s quest for higher diversion rates. The industry giant is the Climate Pledge Arena’s official recycling partner and assists the venue in the collection and review of all arena-related waste and recycling data. The data collected by WM plays a major role in assessing the sustainability of the building, noting areas of success and where improvements can be made.

"Climate Pledge Arena hosts millions of visitors each year and managing and diverting waste is integral to its identity as a premier sustainable venue and leader in the industry," said Lee Spivak, WM's director of advisory services. 

"We're proud to collaborate with this team to help achieve their sustainability goals and contribute to setting a new standard for materials management operations in venues. We look forward to continuing to make progress together!"

The TRUE Platinum Certification is just the latest accolade the Climate Pledge Arena has earned. In October of last year, the arena was the first in the world to receive the Zero Carbon certification from the International Living Future Institute.