Lehigh University
IN-4: Innovation 4

Lehigh University Athletics has been actively working to integrate environmental stewardship and sound business practices into Athletic operations by being involved in key sustainability events such as Game Day Challenge in the fall and Game Day Basketball in the spring as well as being a founding member of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Green Sports Consortium for the 2013-2014 academic year. Lehigh University Athletics, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability, Dining Services, and Facilities Services & Campus Planning, has participated in Game Day Challenge in the fall and Game Day Basketball in the spring for the past three years. The Game Day Challenge and Game Day Basketball are national competitions against other colleges and universities. The purpose of these events is to compare schools based on recycling and waste minimization efforts made during a single home football game and home basketball game. Volunteers at these events collect recyclables and trash, pass out informational fliers to help fans recycle, and engage fans with games and giveaways. Colleges/universities are scored in several different categories. At its most recent Game Day Challenge and Game Day Basketball events, Lehigh had a 35.5% diversion rate and a 40.71% diversion rate respectively. By participating in these events, Lehigh Athletics is actively working to green its sporting events by educating fans on what is and is not recyclable and by engaging with concessions to make more sustainable purchasing decisions. This not only helps improve the campus environmental footprint, but it also enhances fan behaviors at the game and at home, and boosts Lehigh’s overall sustainability reputation.

Lehigh had a 35.5% diversion rate at Game Day Challenge and a 40.71% diversion rate at Game Day Basketball. This is significantly higher than the standard campus diversion rate of 20-25%.