NFL works to minimize environmental damage of Pro Bowl

Originally published on SBReport.net on Jan. 23, 2013

The National Football League is working with Hawaii and local children this week in an effort to help decrease the environmental impact of the Pro Bowl on Hawaii this week.

More than 80 children will help plant native groundcover along with a variety of plants starting on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Youth Education Town in Wai'anae, where NFL players will join and assist the children. Also of note, a Milo tree will be planted to replace an ailing tree that was planted by the late Senator Daniel Inouye.

In order to choose the best plants, the NFL works closely with Friends of Hawaii's Urban Forests, the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s Kaulunani Urban & Community Forestry Programs and Scenic Hawaii for these projects. The NFL is also obtaining renewable energy for this years Pro Bowl from Green Mountain Energy Company.

The wide array of "green" initiatives being installed in the 2013 Pro Bowl include:

• Recycling of beverage containers in the parking lot of Aloha Stadium during tailgating at Pro Bowl. Tailgaters will be asked to place cans and bottles in containers marked for recyclables. Recycling saves energy, conserves resources, and reduces the need for new landfills and incinerators.</li>
  
• Prepared Food Recovery at all appropriate Pro Bowl events in partnership with Aloha Harvest. Un-served prepared food from Pro Bowl events will be distributed to local shelters and community kitchens.</li>
  
• Recycling of cans and bottles from the NFL Tailgate Party, the Pro Bowl Block Party, and the Friday night “Eat The Street” event in partnership with E2K event management and Oahu Community Recycling.</li>
  
• Material recovery and donation of decorative materials, office supplies and other items. These items are donated to local community nonprofit agencies for fund raising auctions or reuse.</li>
  
• “Green” power. Power used at Aloha Stadium during the game will be offset using Renewable Energy Certificates provided by Green Mountain Energy Company.
  

The NFL first started incorporating ways to minimize the environmental damage of the Pro Bowl twelve years ago.