Barclays Center and NYCB LIVE to Eliminate Use of Plastic Straws at All Events

BROOKLYN – Barclays Center and NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum will eliminate single-use plastic straws at all events by 2019, becoming the first sports and entertainment venues in the New York area to make this commitment. The move will divert from landfill the combined 5.5 million straws used annually by the two venues. Levy Restaurants, the venue’s food and beverage provider, will offer guests a strawless lid or alternative-material straw option, which will be compostable, upon request.

“Since opening Barclays Center, sustainability has been a priority and a core value for our company,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of BSE Global. “I want to thank BSE Advisory Board member Adrian Grenier, co-founder of Lonely Whale, for inspiring us to be a leader in this movement.”

This initiative is an added facet to the already robust sustainability platforms at both venues. Barclays Center was the first arena in New York to be LEED® Silver Certified and, in partnership with waste management technology company Recycle Track Systems (RTS), uses composting and single-stream recycling solutions in the venue. The arena’s culinary paper products, provided by Eco-Products, are compostable, and the venue’s green roof, the largest on any entertainment venue nationwide, reduces the amount of storm water runoff from the building by close to two million gallons per year.

In 2013, the U.S. Green Building Congress awarded LEED® Silver Certification for New Construction to Barclays Center for its sustainable design and construction methods. Barclays Center was recognized in five environmental categories, including: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality, along with innovation and design.

NYCB LIVE, which reopened in April 2017 after a $180 million renovation, features a striking steel façade that is made of nearly 100% recycled material, while some 50 percent of the demolition material from the renovation was diverted, sorted and recycled. The venue worked with Ecologic Solutions to install electro-chemically activated cleaning technology, utilizing salt water and electricity to produce an all-purpose cleaning detergent and sanitizer disinfectant onsite, reducing the amount of packaging and waste associated with these purchases.

National Grid is the presenting sponsor of the Barclays Center Green Program, which reemphasizes Barclays Center’s commitment to the beautification of Brooklyn communities through a variety of events.

AEG 1EARTH, AEG’s leading company-wide sustainability program, has served as an advisor on this initiative for both venues. Today, more than 80 sports and entertainment venues, teams and festivals around the world track monthly environmental performance metrics through the AEG 1EARTH program.

BSE Global will be eliminating single-use plastic straws in its corporate office as well.