A Global Sporting Stage with Environmental Visibility

Super Bowl LX will unfold at Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, as the National Football League marks the 60th edition of its championship game. With a global audience exceeding 120 million viewers, the event offers not only sporting spectacle but also a high-visibility platform for environmental initiatives.

The 2026 final, featuring the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, places sustainability efforts under international scrutiny. For organisers and partners, the scale of the Super Bowl presents both a logistical challenge and an opportunity to demonstrate how major sporting events can reduce environmental impact while maintaining fan engagement.

Reuse Systems Take Priority at Levi’s Stadium

A central initiative this season has been the introduction of reusable beverage cups through a collaboration between PepsiCo and the 49ers. Launched during the preseason in August 2025, the programme replaces single-use plastic cups with durable alternatives designed for multiple service cycles.

Fans return used cups to designated collection bins, after which they are sanitised and redistributed within a closed-loop system. The initiative is operated in partnership with Bold Reuse and Levy, the stadium’s hospitality provider. Across the 2025 to 2026 season, the programme prevented more than 32,000 disposable plastic cups from entering landfill streams.

For Super Bowl LX, the reuse model will be extended into select seating areas, supported by additional return points to streamline participation. Organisers describe the programme as a scalable model that could be replicated across other NFL venues and global stadiums.

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Smarter Sorting and Expanded Recycling Capacity

Beyond reuse, the event will deploy interactive recycling technology aimed at improving material recovery rates. AI-powered Oscar Sort units will guide spectators in placing waste into the correct bins, reducing contamination that often undermines recycling effectiveness.

PepsiCo will also introduce 200 collapsible and reusable recycling bins across the stadium and surrounding event spaces. Dedicated sustainability staff will assist attendees, reinforcing correct sorting behaviour during peak traffic periods.

These measures reflect a shift toward integrating technology with behavioural engagement, recognising that infrastructure alone is insufficient without active fan participation.

Extending Impact Beyond Game Day

The NFL’s sustainability strategy extends past the stadium gates. Materials and surplus food from Super Bowl LX will be redirected to more than 30 local organisations, including food banks and schools. Following last year’s championship, donations exceeded US$800,000 in food and materials, and organisers expect this year’s total to meet or surpass that figure.

The league has stated that post-event redistribution will prioritise community groups capable of delivering broad local benefit. Organisers are also piloting waste sorting protocols intended for adoption at future large-scale events, reinforcing continuity rather than treating sustainability as a one-off initiative.

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Building a “Green Legacy” in the Bay Area

Event planners have framed Super Bowl LX as part of a longer-term environmental legacy for the Bay Area. By combining reuse systems, enhanced recycling infrastructure, and community redistribution, the league aims to embed sustainability principles into operational practice rather than symbolic gestures.

Challenges related to packaging waste and material consumption remain significant, and organisers acknowledge that no single company can resolve them independently. The collaboration between the NFL, PepsiCo, Levi’s Stadium operators, and community partners illustrates how coordinated action across sponsors, venue managers, and local institutions can generate measurable progress.

With global audiences watching, Super Bowl LX serves as both a sporting milestone and a case study in large-event sustainability management. The visibility attached to the championship amplifies each initiative, turning operational decisions into public signals about how major entertainment platforms can align performance with environmental responsibility.

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