Since the stadium opened in 2002, Lumen Field has become a leader in sustainability and has been able to push the industry forward. This past season, Lumen Field was awarded Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) Gold Certification.

Through their efforts, Lumen Field helped found the Green Sports Alliance, which is a nonprofit that promotes healthy and sustainable communities through sports.

The two core pillars that drive the focus of Lumen Field, when it comes to sustainability, are Drive to Zero and Go the Extra Yard. Drive To Zero is focused on zero waste through on-site waste diversion, water conservation, and energy reduction. Lumen Field has a customized waste-sorting system called the MRFi, to efficiently separate materials on-site. Go the Extra Yard reflects the off-site efforts to create lasting environmental and social impact. Lumen Field’s sustainability efforts extend beyond the walls of the stadium through community clean-ups, education initiatives and support for local nonprofits.

To achieve TRUE Gold Certification, Lumen Field was required to track and demonstrate sustainable practices over a one-year period. Through the facility’s efforts during this window, the venue’s closed-loop recycling program diverted more than 6 million pounds of waste, or 93%, from the landfill. Since introducing the MRFi sorting technology in 2022, Lumen Field has streamlined the stadium’s ability to sort and properly discard waste, including compost, cardboard, aluminum, and plastic. The stadium has reduced waste sorting time following events from five days to 36 hours. When the stadium first began waste tracking in 2006, the facility recorded a diversion rate of only 4.66%.

The certification was awarded by the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the world’s leading sustainability and health certification and credentialing body, TRUE certification is a leadership standard that recognizes zero waste performance through sustainable resource management and waste reduction methods.

Lumen Field’s sustainability efforts stretch beyond sorting waste. On gamedays, a portion of the food at the stadium is provided by vendors within a three-mile radius of the stadium through the Home Taste Advantage program. This helps reduce emissions, lower air pollution, and shrink the organization’s carbon footprint. All food is served in fully compostable containers and utensils, reinforcing our commitment to zero waste and responsible operations.

The stadium also encourages fans to use sustainable modes of transportation like the Link Light Rail, Sounder Train, Metro bus and rideshare services. These options help to cut or even lower emissions, resulting in a cleaner and greener Seattle.

In addition to those efforts, Lumen Field supports the Puget Sound Restoration Fund and Protect Where We Play, a campaign done by the Ocean Conversancy to create lasting environmental and social impact through hands-on projects and meaningful partnerships.

From July 2025 to February 2026, Lumen Field’s sustainability impact was significant. 2,920 pounds of carbon dioxide was reduced, which is equivalent to planting 33 tree seedlings for 33 years. The stadium also helped save 214 miles of paper, which is farther than the drive from Seattle to Portland. And through KOLO Technologies, Lumen Field achieved a 53 percent waste reduction or paper, compared to the 15 percent baseline.

Lumen Field’s efforts continue to raise the standards on what sustainability for NFL venues looks like.