MLS celebrates Earth Day with 3rd Annual Greener Goals Week of Service
MLS WORKS, Major League Soccer’s community outreach initiative, hosted the Third Annual Greener Goals Week of Service, April 16-20 leading up to Earth Day weekend.
League-wide efforts on and off the field highlighted Major League Soccer’s commitment to environmental sustainability. MLS club and League office staff, as well as members of the National Sales Center, volunteered their time and gave back in partnership with local charitable organizations.
In conjunction with Greener Goals Week of Service, Major League Soccer collaborated with adidas to support environmental group Parley for the Oceans. MLS players wore special adidas kits built of technical yarns made using Parley Ocean Plastic™ during Week 8 of the season. This collaboration was first introduced in 2017 when four MLS clubs – New York City FC, Orlando City SC, LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC – donned the MLS x Parley kits on Earth Day.
Each product is crafted using Parley Ocean Plastic™ upcycled from plastic waste intercepted on beaches and in coastal communities. Once collected, the original plastic source is reworked into technical fibers that can then be repurposed for use in either apparel or footwear.
In addition, MLS WORKS shared their #GreenerGoals tips to educate the soccer community on ways to create a cleaner environment, including the reduction of plastic pollution. Fans were encouraged to apply these tips and share images and videos of their actions through social media. The grand prize winner will receive an MLS x Parley jersey of their choice.
MLS WORKS have also teamed up with Atlanta United for the week of service. Players and staff joined supporters at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a day all about sustainability. In sessions throughout the day they learned sustainable cooking techniques and toured the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, seeing all the eco-friendly features that made it the first sports stadium in the world to achieve LEED Platinum certification.
MLS WORKS Greener Goals helps to identify ways to reduce the league’s carbon footprint and raises awareness about environmental issues throughout the soccer community. A member since 2013, Major League Soccer and the Green Sports Alliance have formed a new League-wide partnership that will now include all MLS clubs as members, providing access to Alliance resources and enhanced support of the League’s effort to strengthen and promote healthy, sustainable communities in the United States and Canada.