SEATTLE, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks and Lumen Field announced today that the venue was awarded precertification under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) rating system for its efforts to become a zero-waste venue. Lumen Field is the second NFL stadium to achieve such certification.

“Achieving TRUE precertification is a vital step for us as we work towards our goal of being a 100% zero- waste venue,” said Zach Hensley, Seahawks Vice President of Operations and General Manager of Lumen Field. “We recognize the importance of minimizing the environmental impact our events have on the community, and are excited about this important milestone on our sustainability journey.”

The Seahawks and Lumen Field continue to prioritize sustainable practices, including implementing a closed-loop recycling program that diverts more than 90% of stadium waste from the landfill. The stadium introduced the MRFi sorting technology in 2022, which has streamlined the stadium’s ability to properly sort waste. Since implementation, the stadium has reduced waste sorting time following events from five days to 36 hours. The MRFi has also decreased compost contamination by 10% per event. When the stadium first began waste tracking in 2006, the facility recorded a diversion rate of only 4.66%.

“Lumen Field recognizes that by pursuing zero waste they are helping build a sustainable future for all,” said Peter Templeton, President and CEO of U.S. Green Building Council and GBCI. “Waste impacts all facets of business and changing the way that we use resources will deliver public health benefits, reduce our environmental impact and advance a greener economy.”

TRUE precertification is an optional, incremental pathway to TRUE certification that prioritizes the core actions essential to getting a successful start toward zero waste. A TRUE project's goal is to divert all solid waste from the landfill, incineration (waste-to-energy) and the environment. Facilities achieve certification by meeting seven minimum program requirements and attaining at least 31 points on the TRUE Application form.

The Seahawks and Lumen Field were founding members of the Green Sports Alliance, as well as a founding partner of PLAY, a recognition and sustainability performance toolkit powered by ARC, in collaboration with the Green Sports Alliance. Lumen Field was recently recognized as a 2024 Play to Zero Award recipient by the Green Sport Alliance.

About Lumen Field

First & Goal Inc. operates the Lumen Field stadium complex, which includes Lumen Field and the 325,000 sq. ft. Lumen Field Event Center, and WAMU Theater. Lumen Field, which opened in 2002, is home to three professional sports teams – the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, the MLS’ Seattle Sounders, and the NWSL’s Seattle Reign FC. Lumen Field and the Lumen Field Event Center host more than 300 event days per year and attract more than 2.4 million attendees annually. The venue has hosted many premier concerts, including Beyoncé, Metallica, Rolling Stones, Taylor Swift, and U2, as well as international soccer matches, Supercross, corporate events and community gatherings.

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