Sustainability Is a Team Sport: Reflections from the Green Sports Alliance Summit
By Zena Harris, Founder & President, Green Spark Group
In a time defined by complex challenges—social, environmental, and economic—it's clear that the word “sustainability” doesn’t always capture the full scope of what’s possible. Across the country, people are engaging with the concept through lenses like innovation, clean tech, workforce development, and talent retention. But underneath all of it lies the same core idea: building a better, more resilient future.
At the Green Sports Alliance Summit, that message came through loud and clear. Here are some key takeaways that continue to resonate:
Sustainability is a team sport. From multi-team efforts like NFL Green to embedding sustainable practices directly into contracts, sports organizations are showing how collaboration drives impact.
Purpose is powerful. Whether it's the Muhammad Ali Foundation’s work on compassion or the call to action from Count Us In and Earth FC, the summit emphasized how purpose-driven initiatives energize fans, athletes, and communities alike.
People want to be part of something bigger. They want to root for the team, fight for a cause, and take part in something positive. That’s the true heart of sustainability—uniting people in shared action, just like sports always has.
Art and athletics share emotional immediacy. They inspire, move, and motivate. When harnessed together, they multiply influence and make change feel not just possible—but personal.
This is a new frontier for sustainability—one full of exciting opportunity. When organizations lean in with authenticity, strategy, and brand purpose, the business case becomes clear. It's not just good for the planet—it’s good for people, performance, and profit.
