Buffs Earn Most Innovative Award In Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge

SAN FRANCISCO – The Colorado Buffaloes were one of four Pac-12 programs honored by the league in the annual Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge, presented by Eco-Product.

CU won for "best use of innovation" and was judged during the football game against Oregon State on Nov. 6. The game was also the Buffs Homecoming game, a 37-34 double-overtime contest in front of a near-capacity of just under 48,000 fans.

Long since the national leader in the collegiate sustainability space, Colorado's Ralphie's Green Stampede was the first NCAA Division I athletics sustainability program, which debuted in 2008. The Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge has honored Colorado every year of its existence, including the overall award twice in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

For 2021, CU achieved a 86.49% diversion rate for the game against Oregon State with three-and-a-half tons of compost and over one-and-a-half tons in bottles and cans, and over one ton in cardboard. All CU home games are structured to be as close to zero waste as possible. All food and beverage are served in compostable or recyclable containers.

In 2019, the Buffs were the first college program to partner with Ball Corporation to provide infinitely recyclable aluminum cups at Folsom Field. The Buffs partnership with Ball set off a wave of media and public relations reactions that has helped reduce single-use non-recyclable plastic beverage cups. The Ball Aluminum cup has now made its way to stadiums and venues across the country.

USC won the overall award, achieving a 90% diversion rate in its game against Oregon State on Sept. 25. The Buffs were also the visiting team for the other two awards given out by the league. Cal won for best fan engagement, achieving 70.37% diversion rate when the Buffs visited Berkeley on Oct. 23, and Arizona State was given the Rising Star notation, achieving an 81.06% diversion rate when the Buffs visited Tempe on Sept. 25. Stanford and Washington were also recognized for the 2021 season by the league.

For Pac-12 Team Green, the 2021 season marked the return of the Zero Waste Challenge after the 2020-21 campaign featured events without fans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 season also introduced a new subcategory winner with the "Innovation" honor as well as the "Rising Star" award, formerly referred to as the "most-improved" category.

A total of three judges selected one overall winner and one winner in three categories. The judging panel consisted of: Bill Walton, the Pac-12 Team Green Champion; Mike Carey, LEED Expert and sustainability coordinator at Orange Coast College; and Monica Rowland, Waste Management Energy and Environmental Services. Rowand is a CU graduate who worked closely with Dave Newport, the LEED AP and Director of CU's Environmental Center.

More information on the Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge is available at Pac-12.com/teamgreen.

Buffs Earn Most Innovative Award In Pac-12 Zero Waste Challenge

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