Sporting KC teams up with Huhtamaki to enhance sustainability efforts at Children’s Mercy Park
Sporting Kansas City today announced a new five-year partnership with global packaging leader Huhtamaki as the club’s official sustainable packaging provider.
As a leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions to billions of consumers around the world with a global network of manufacturing and distribution units, Huhtamaki has its North American office in De Soto, Kansas. The company’s first sports partnership in North America includes naming rights for Huhtamaki Shield Club at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas and community initiatives for the region through support of Sporting Sustainability and The Victory Project.
“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with Huhtamaki, an organization with a long-standing reputation for excellence in sustainable food packaging,” said Jon Moses, Sporting Kansas City’s vice president of corporate partnerships. “We are thrilled to be working closely with a global leader in Huhtamaki and a world-class stadium at Children’s Mercy Park on an issue so important to Sporting Kansas City. Together we will achieve a more sustainable future.”
“We share the same vision of creating a sustainable guest experience with our innovative culinary approach and overall in-stadium food and beverage initiatives,” said Marc Mulherin, Sporting Kansas City’s vice president of hospitality, and sustainability efforts will be a continued approach for the 2023 season and be beyond.”
“We applaud Sporting KC’s sustainability efforts and are excited to work towards Zero Waste at Children’s Mercy Park. In partnership with Sporting Kansas City, we will demonstrate the circularity of packaging designed to protect food, people and the planet,” said Ann O’Hara, President of Huhtamaki North America.
“Sustainable packaging starts with the end in mind. At Huhtamaki we design all our packaging to be recyclable or compostable. Our packaging ensures food is delivered safely and conveniently to consumers and can then be recycled and composted to protect our planet,” said Michael Hodges, Huhtamaki’s Vice President of Sustainability and Communications.
The partnership between Sporting Kansas City and Huhtamaki focuses on a shared commitment to building a legacy of sustainability. Together, the companies will strive to further reduce the environmental footprint of Children’s Mercy Park stadium operations by incorporating Huhtamaki’s innovative products, with the goal of limiting waste by moving to compostable and recyclable products in all premium areas pass over
In addition, Sporting Kansas City will aim to introduce composting camps at other club-operated soccer facilities in the area – including the Central Bank Sporting Complex, Compass Minerals National Performance Center, Compass Minerals Sporting Fields and Swope Soccer Village – while also implementing strategic messaging -Campaigns raising awareness of compostable practices.
With a 100-year history, Huhtamaki operates in 37 countries and participates in the UN Global Compact. The company delivers next-generation smart packaging and specialized sustainable solutions to protect food and beverages on-the-go and on the shelf, to ensure hygiene and safety, promote accessibility and affordability, and eliminate food waste.
The Huhtamaki Shield Club is a premier indoor destination designed for guests to enjoy an authentic Kansas City experience in an air-conditioned lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and a midfield view of the playing field. The 5,920-square-foot space is highlighted by the installation of an eye-catching dormant moss living room wall and the area is complete with local cuisine, multiple bars, a SportingStyle team store, an outdoor patio and 13 HDTV screens. The Huhtamaki Shield Club is located on the west side of Children’s Mercy Park at the hall level and is accessible via private entrances from Mazuma Plaza or UMB Premium Entry for Sections 106-108 ticket holders and fans with UMB Field Club tickets. Executive Level or Audi Sport Club.
Led by manager Peter Vermes and captain Johnny Russell, Sporting Kansas City’s home game schedule begins March 11 against the LA Galaxy at Children’s Mercy Park. Season tickets are available by calling 888-4KC-GOAL or at SportingKC.com. Additional ticket packages and promotions are available, as well as single match tickets for the club’s first eight home games of the regular season.
Huhtamaki is a global leader in providing sustainable packaging solutions to consumers around the world. Our innovative products protect on-the-go and on-shelf food and beverages and personal care products, ensure hygiene and safety, ensure accessibility and affordability, and help prevent food waste. We integrate sustainability into everything we do. We are committed to achieving carbon neutral production by 2030 and designing all our products to be recyclable, compostable or reusable. Our BlueloopTM sustainable packaging solutions are world leaders and designed for circular economy.
We are a participant in the UN Global Compact, Huhtamaki is rated “A” in the MSCI ESG Ratings Assessment and EcoVadis has awarded Huhtamaki the Gold Medal for its sustainability performance. To do our part to help address climate change, we have set ourselves science-based targets that have been approved and validated by the Science-Based Targets initiative.
With 100 years of history and a strong Nordic heritage, we operate in 37 countries and 116 operations around the world. Our Care Dare Deliver values guide our decisions and help our team of approximately 19,000 employees to make a difference where it matters. Our net sales in 2022 amounted to 4.5 billion euros. Huhtamaki Group is headquartered in Espoo, Finland and our parent company, Huhtamäki Oyj, is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. written down. Learn more about how we protect food, people and the planet at www.huhtamaki.com.