USTA Celebrates 18th Year Of US Open Sustainability

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) celebrates the 18th year of its US Open sustainability program, continuing the tournament’s nearly two-decade commitment to reducing the environmental impact of the US Open and helping to create a more sustainable future for our planet.

Since the program’s inception in 2008, working with environmental consultant eco evolutions, these initiatives have allowed the US Open to reduce its harmful greenhouse gas emissions by more than 184,000 metric tons, and more than 9,700 tons of waste generated during the US Open has been diverted from landfills. Through collecting food waste from kitchens and restaurants, more than 1,000 tons of organic waste has been converted to renewable energy, along with more than 260 tons of food being donated to local communities, the equivalent of 410,000 meals.

In 2024 the US Open became the first sports entity to join the New York City Mayor’s Office for Food Policy’s Plant-Powered Carbon Challenge. As part of the Challenge, the US Open joined other citywide signatories by committing to make a 25% reduction in its food-related carbon footprint by 2030. The tournament is continuing its work to reduce its emissions from food in 2025. Additionally, more than 35 water refilling stations are available to the fans to reduce the amount of single-use plastic used during the event.

As part of the US Open’s continued commitment to climate-intelligent humanitarian initiatives, returning in 2025 is a carbon offset program that provides improved cookstoves in Africa. The US Open will offset the estimated carbon generated as a result of player travel to compete in the event, employee travel to work the event and fan travel for Finals Weekend, as well as the travel for officials, which is new this year. This equates to approximately 12 million miles traveled by airplane, car or subway.

US Open sponsors and partners are also making significant contributions to sustainability at the US Open. For example, the Polo Ralph Lauren ball crew Polos will be made from yarn derived from recycled tennis ball cans. The fabric will also have functional performance features, such as stretch and moisture-wicking properties, all constructed for active play. In addition, the tennis ball cans used at the US Open have shifted to a 4 ball can with no label to and continue to feature Wilson’s Eco Overcap, which reduces the amount of plastic by half, leaving a smaller footprint on the environment overall. Additionally, evian plastic bottles in the US are made from 100% recycled plastic (excluding cap and label). evian will also provide more than 2,500 reusable water bottles for all players at the 2025 tournament.

The US Open is proud to have earned LEED Silver certification for Louis Armstrong Stadium, which premiered at the 2018 US Open. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. When built, the stadium was the world’s first naturally-ventilated stadium, reducing the energy needed to operate the stadium by 30 percent. A number of other sustainable design elements were incorporated into Louis Armstrong Stadium, including fixtures that use 40% less water than standard buildings, landscape that is designed to use 55% less water than traditional landscaping and low-emitting paints and finishes. In addition, during construction, 95% of waste was recycled. This is the second LEED certified stadium at the home of the US Open, joining Grandstand Stadium.

Additional components of the US Open sustainability initiative include:

• Recycling and Composting
  • More than 100 tons of cardboard, 10 tons of plastic, five tons of metal and 50 tons of glass are recycled during the tournamentent, helping the event divert a significant portion of waste from landfills.
  • Nearly 100 tons of food waste from the US Open kitchens will be processed by an anaerobic digester to produce renewable electricity.
  • The USTA will continue to recycle the clean plastic wrap used by vendors throughout the site of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the event.
  • At the conclusion of the 2025 US Open, the USTA will be donating the metal lids from the tennis ball cans used during the event to the Ronald McDonald House in Valhalla, N.Y.  These metal lids will be recycled to benefit the Ronald McDonald House’s Pull Tab Collection Program for that location. 
  • The USTA collects the Wilson tennis balls used during matches and players’ practices to reuse in USTA tennis programs and to donate to various community and youth organizations throughout the United States.  A portion of the balls from the 2025 US Open will be donated to Recycleballs.
  • Used racquet string will be collected by the USTA and sent to orobor for recycling into materials for clothing.
  • Much of the US Open staff, as well as ballpersons, are provided with reusable water bottles to reduce the use of single-use plastic water bottles.
• Construction and Grounds
  • The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is home to two LEED-certified stadiums including: Louis Armstrong Stadium (LEED Silver) Grandstand Stadium
  • Louis Armstrong Stadium:
    • The world’s first naturally-ventilated tennis stadium which resulted in using 30% less energy than standard building.
    • Louis Armstrong Stadium uses 40% less water than is used in standard buildings.
    • Landscaping around Louis Armstrong Stadium is designed to use 55% less water than traditional landscaping.
    • During construction of Louis Armstrong Stadium, 95% of the waste was recycled.
    • More than 10% of the materials used in Louis Armstrong Stadium’s construction were made from recycled materials.
    • Louis Armstrong Stadium is located close to public transportation, encouraging fans to take mass transit and help reduce the carbon footprint.
    • Low-emitting paints and finishes were used in Louis Armstrong Stadium’s construction to reduce the emission of pollutants.
    • Waste generated in Louis Armstrong Stadium is recycled and composted to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
  • Grandstand:
    • During the Grandstand’s construction, more than 80% of waste was recycled.
    • Primarily due to LED lights, the Grandstand uses 15% less energy than is used in standard buildings.
    • The Grandstand makes use of a rainwater treatment system to remove contaminants before the rainwater is discharged into the environment.
    • The Grandstand uses 40% less water than is used in standard buildings.
    • The Grandstand’s white roof reflects heat to keep the stadium cooler.
    • More than 10% of the materials used in the Grandstand’s construction were made from recycled materials.
    • Low-emitting paints and finishes were used in the Grandstand’s construction to reduce the emission of pollutants.
  • Foam glass, made from 1.3 million recycled glass bottle,s was used under the foundation of the new US Open broadcast building.
  • The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center has added more water refilling stations on site to reduce single-use plastic use.
  • LED court lights have been installed and will save a total of 90,000 kWh; 50% more efficient than regular stadium lighting.
  • Vendors are provided with a US Open Green Cleaning Policy specifying preferred cleaning products to be used during the US Open.
• Food Service
  • Paper or compostable straws will replace plastic straws across the site.
  • The majority of the service ware throughout the site is compostable, composed of bio-based materials. 
  • US Open food concessionaire, Levy Restaurants, is locally sourcing approximately 30% of its produce and ingredients for the food offered on site.  In addition, Levy Restaurants offers 90% naturally-raised protein, 30% vegetarian menu options and 10% vegan options.
  • The US Open expects to donate almost 25 tons of food to the local community.
• Paper Products
  • The 3 million napkins in the general concession area are comprised of 100% recycled material.
  • The US Open Daily is printed on 10% post-consumer waste (PCW) recycled paper
  • US Open tickets are exclusively electronic.
  • All US Open digital event cards are provided electronically in place of the over 48,000 plastic versions purchased in the past.
• Transportation
  • The USTA will continue to welcome nearly 60% of its fans via mass transit or through rideshare. 
  • The US Open will offset the estimated 6.5 million miles players travel by ground and air to compete at the US Open; the 3.8 million miles traveled by employees and 1 million miles traveled by officials to work the event; and the 1.4 million miles traveled by ground by fans to attend Finals Weekend.
• Fan Awareness
  • US Open Sustainability Initiatives are featured in the official 2025 US Open Program.
  • US Open Sustainability Program facts will be highlighted in-stadium.
  • Environmental facts related to the construction of Louis Armstrong Stadium and Grandstand are displayed throughout those areas.
  • Environmental facts will be featured in the Daily Draw.
• US Open Merchandise
  • The US Open Collection will feature for sale a reusable tote made from 80% post-consumer waste; microfiber towels made from 100% recycled materials; and a women’s jacket made from eco-friendly fabric.
  • The Polo Ralph Lauren ball crew Polos will be made from yarn derived from recycled tennis ball cans.