Tennis Tournament Sustainability: How the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the French Open are Enhancing their Green Game

by Ryan Burbary

It’s not a secret that there is a global push for all of us to do our part in promoting sustainability and protecting the planet. Thankfully, the tennis industry is leading the way.

With the Grand Slam tennis tournaments growing in popularity, they are upping their game to practice sustainability in a big way. Today, tournament attendees can spot green initiatives such as eco-friendly stadium operations, waste management/recycling, energy efficiency, and promotion of public transportation.

It goes to show you that going green is not a racket. (pun intended)

Sustainability at the Top 4 Tennis Tournaments

Let’s look at the Top 4 tennis tournaments to see how they’re making a difference with their sustainability efforts.

As a sustainability focused tennis company, we’re thrilled to see these improvements. We’re hoping the eco-friendly tennis push continues until every player at the top tournaments is using sustainable gear, like biodegradable tennis string.

Wimbledon Tennis Tournament Sustainability

Wimbledon, the world's premier grass court tennis tournament, has made a commitment to sustainability in recent years. This includes initiatives such as reducing plastic waste, using renewable energy sources and promoting green transportation options for players and spectators.

Wimbledon Green Slam Facts

  • Wimbledon utilizes electric vehicles for official transport, and tournament organizers plan for a fully electric fleet by 2030.
  • From 2018 to 2023, Wimbledon eliminated nearly 540,000 plastic bottles from the event by promoting the use of refillable bottles and water fountains.
  • The tournament repurposes many of the ~54,000 tennis balls from the event through donations to clubs, schools, and charities.

Learn more about Wimbledon sustainability initiatives and their Environment Positive Everyday commitment.

U.S. Open Tennis Tournament Sustainability

The U.S. Open is one of the two hard-court Grand Slam tennis tournaments and is dedicated to promoting sustainability in several ways. By actively embracing sustainability practices over the years, the U.S. Open has demonstrated a strong commitment to reducing its environmental impact and promoting a greener future. The tournament has focused on various key areas to practice sustainability, such as climate action, recycling programs and green building initiatives.

U.S. Open Green Slam Facts

  • The tournament encourages attendees to use public transportation, bike or carpool to reduce carbon emissions.
  • The U.S. Open is dedicated to recycling plastic wrap, donating metal tennis can lids, and composting food waste.
  • The U.S. Open earned LEED Silver certification for Louis Armstrong Stadium, which premiered at the 2018 US Open.
  • During the tournament, over 70 tons of food waste are processed by an anaerobic digester to produce renewable electricity.

Learn more about how the U.S. Open is helping deliver a sustainable tennis experience.

Australian Open Tennis Tournament Sustainability

The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year, took proactive steps to improve its sustainability practices and make a positive impact on the environment. By implementing a diverse range of sustainability programs, including plastic pollution, reusable products and waste management, the Australian Open has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Australian Open Green Slam Facts

  • This year, the AO partnered with Wallop Water to create a double-sided water refill station. Due to this initiative, players consumed 890 single-use bottles of water, a significant drop from the previous year’s staggering 96,000. This saved countless single-use plastic bottles from ending up in landfills. We’re doing our part to get rid of plastic too by eliminating product packaging wherever possible.
  • Australian startup Green My Plate supplied and hygienically washed reusable plates and bowls used at the AO ‘Beach House.’ This eliminated thousands of single-use items from landfills during the tournament.
  • Tennis Australia's partnership with Mastercard's Priceless Planet Coalition focuses on restoring trees and leveraging forest restoration to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity.

Learn more about how the Australian Open is improving sustainability.

French Open Tennis Tournament Sustainability

The French Open, the world’s most prestigious clay court tennis tournament, is taking steps towards sustainability. The event implemented several eco-friendly initiatives, including using biodegradable packaging and cutlery for spectators. The French Open also fights food waste while helping people in need. In 2023 alone, 10,541 unsold meals were collected and redistributed.

French Open Green Slam Facts

  • The French Open invests in renewable energies, including 100% renewable energy supply and innovative solar panel installations.
  • The tournament offers sustainable food options through partnerships that provide certified, locally sourced products.
  • The French Open supports biodiversity projects through eco-contributions and reforestation efforts.

Learn more about how the French Open is delivering a sustainable impact.

Velociti Is Creating a More Sustainable Future for Tennis

Are you with us?

If you love tennis and our planet, join team Velociti! Velociti reduces waste by minimizing single-use packaging, selling in bulk to help eliminate greenhouse gases, and making high-performance biodegradable tennis string like Velociti Catalyst. We hope to see some of our sustainable tennis gear in the Grand Slam tennis tournaments soon!

You can join the cause by ordering Velociti Catalyst biodegradable tennis string ($14.59) from our online store.

Take 25% OFF your first order with Velociti by signing up for our email list on the top of this page!

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