The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has unveiled a range of sustainability initiatives for its season-ending Finals event at The O2 in London.
The plans will focus on reducing the amount of plastic used at The O2, with players and their teams to be provided with optional reusable bottles for their on-court drinks, while sealed glass bottles will be provided in player locker rooms and bedrooms.
Water coolers and fountains will also be placed at various points backstage for tournament staff and media, with reusable water bottles to also be provided.
The O2 will also work with Stack-Cup to provide fans with reusable cups for alcoholic drinks purchased during the tournament. These cups can be taken home and it is hoped the initiative will significantly reduce the number of plastic bottles and single-use plastic drinks containers sold. The ATP said around 50,000 single-use plastic cups will be removed from the event waste stream on the back of the initiatives.
The ATP will work closely with AEG, which operates the O2, to ensure that all waste on-site during the Finals will be passed through the on-site waste compound. The O2 currently commits less than one per cent of its 3,500 tonnes of waste per year to landfill.
John Langford, vice-president and general manager of The O2, said: “Our vision is to reduce The O2’s environmental impact and build a sustainable, green business for our fans and staff. AEG is leading the way in the sports and live entertainment industries, and we are delighted to be working in partnership with ATP in delivering on this.”
The ATP said the initiatives will make the Finals the most sustainable tournament since it moved to London in 2009. This year’s Finals are scheduled to take place from November 11-18. Following the conclusion of the tournament, the three courts used at The O2 will be removed and stored so that they can be used during the 2019 event.
Chris Kermode, ATP executive chairman and president, said: “I believe that every organisation must operate in the most sustainable way possible – pioneering new ways to reduce environmental impact and encourage sustainable behaviour. Making advances in this area is absolutely vital and the changes we’ve introduced at The O2 this year will make a really positive difference by drastically reducing the amount of plastic used and wasted.”
Image: David Jones
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