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Montreal: August 3, 2024 - August 12, 2024
|
Toronto: August 4, 2024 - August 12, 2024

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Montreal : August 3 - 12, 2024
|
Toronto : August 4 - 12, 2024

For the past several years, Tennis Canada has been committed to the planet, working tirelessly to minimize its environmental footprint to become a sustainability leader in Canada and throughout the world by 2030.

In addition to achieving its core mission, it also wants to leave a lasting and positive legacy for fans, players and communities across the country. To meet that goal and lead the sustainable growth of tennis in Canada, the federation is committed to hosting world-class tournaments—the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Montreal and Toronto—that are environmentally and socially responsible.

Sustainability Reports

To learn more about our results, please consult our sustainable development reports.

PRIORITY AREAS

In light of the complexity of implementing a sustainability strategy and aligning it with its goals, vision and mission, Tennis Canada identified the four priority areas that are most relevant to the National Bank Open presented by Rogers' WTA and ATP events and essential to understanding our commitment to the environment and our communities.


Montreal's Sustainability Efforts

Waste and Water Management

  • Management of recyclable and compostable materials throughout the site
  • On-site sorting center
  • 75 to 80% recovery rate of residual materials generated during the tournament
  • Exclusive use of compostable or recyclable dishware
  • Ban on no. 6 plastic on the site
  • Collection and recycling of coffee capsules
  • Collection and recycling of 10,000 tennis balls through the Recycleballs.ca program
  • Reuse of artificial turf
  • Reusable bottles allowed on site
  • Re-use of posters and signage (removal of dates)
  • Reuse of court backdrop banners for various projects
  • Planting of native plants and flowers that require less water on the site

Social Responsibility

  • More than 31,000 free tickets given out during IGA Family Weekend
  • 216 free bleacher seats in Parc Jarry
  • Site adapted for families and people with reduced mobility
  • $32,950 donated to CDC Solidarités Villeray and Resource Action – Alimentation thanks to $0.15 per ticket sold
  • 1,103 KG of surplus food donated to La Tablée des Chefs and Employes and Citizens
  • Metal rings from ball cans sold and money donated
  • Surplus material (clothing, shoes, water bottles) donated to youth organizations
  • Official hotels all Green Key members
  • Park clean-up by Tennis Canada employees after the tournament
  • 26 volunteers from the Recyc-Québec green brigade on-site to help communicate and direct people to appropriate drop-off bins

Sustainable communications

  • Creation of a multi-departmental committee of Tennis Canada employees
  • Sustainable development messages displayed on giant screens during the matches
  • Publications on social media to share the tournament’s initiatives
  • Recyclable and compostable materials identified at key locations on site
  • Green team on site
  • Sustainable development plan mentioned when announcing the list of players
  • Implementation of an independent third-party audit system to verify our data

STM

  • Carbon neutrality
  • Offset energy use during the tournament (electricity, natural gas, propane and gasoline)
  • Offset air travel for all players flying into Montreal
  • Offset daily travel for all staff and volunteers over 10 days
  • Hybrid models for official cars
  • Electric carts to drive players around the site
  • LED lighting on courts 5 to 11
  • Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2023 reduced by 26.03% from 2022 to 207.1 tonnes
  • Spectators could travel back and forth by bus and metro for free throughout the STM network
  • STM tickets were provided to volunteers
  • Increased bicycle parking spots at Stade IGA
  • 4 in 10 ticket buyers said they used public transport to get to and from Stade IGA

Introduction of reusable cups and flutes throughout the site

New initiatives for 2023 include the complete phase out of single use cups, replaced with reusable glasses, the addition of three water bottle filling stations, and the creation of single use water bottle-free zones. The federation is still committed to achieving its target of 80-85% waste diversion rate and plans to achieve this with the creation of a public facing sorting centre to raise awareness to the cause, as well as with better messaging related to residual materials management. Additionally, Tennis Canada has a goal of implementing a sustainable procurement policy which would apply to all partners and suppliers.

Objectives achieved in 2023:
  • Introduction of reusable cups and flutes throughout the site.
  • Addition of three water filling stations.
  • Implementation of new circular economy for banners.

OFFICIAL GREEN PARTNER

For the past several years, Tennis Canada has joined forces with RECYC-QUÉBEC, the official green partner of the National Bank Open presented by Rogers, to ensure that the tournament continues to progress and position itself as a benchmark for sustainability across the globe.

Toronto's Sustainability Efforts

Waste and Water Management

  • Installation of more than 200 hundred tri-bins
  • Management of recyclable and compostable materials
  • Use of only compostable and recyclable flatware and cutlery
  • Collection of waste cooking oil and treatment of hazardous materials
  • 2,885 tennis balls recycled via Recycle Balls. In 2023, 1,400 balls collected from the NBO were recycled and repurposed within the brand-new centre court surface at Sobeys Stadium
  • Reuse of flooring materials
  • Reusable bottles are allowed on site with additional filling stations for visitors, volunteers, and employees
  • 8,039 water bottles refilled on-site
  • 3.6 KG of earbud sets used by fans on-site to access radio feeds were recycled via Electronic Recycling Association
  • Reuse of the posters and signage (dates removed)
  • Reuse of the banners facing the court
  • Indigenous plants and flowers requiring less water planted on site

Sustainability Social Responsibility

  • 31,935 free tickets given out during 407 ETR Family Weekend
  • Site adapted for families and people with reduced mobility
  • 1,111 KG of surplus food donated to Second Harvest
  • Surplus material (clothing, shoes, water bottles) donated

Sustainable communications

  • Creation of a multi-departmental committee of Tennis Canada employees
  • Recyclable and compostable materials identified at key locations on site
  • Implementation of an independent third-party audit system to verify our data

Carbon neutrality

  • Carbon neutrality
  • Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions reduced by 3% from 2022 to 362.2 tonnes
  • Offset energy use during the tournament (electricity, natural gas, propane and gasoline)
  • Offset daily travel for all staff and volunteers over 10 days
  • Spectators able to travel home for free throughout the TTC network
  • Hybrid models for official cars
  • Electric carts to drive players around the site
  • New bicycle parking spaces
  • LED lighting on Grandstand, Court 1 and Court 4

Introduction of reusable cups and flutes throughout the site

Objectives achieved in 2023:

  • Introduction of a sorting station at the Food Court.
  • Usage of reusable “EcoCups” in suites as a pilot program.
  • Repurposing signage by removing dates where possible so that they can be re-used year over year.
  • Trained staff and volunteers on sustainability initiatives.

MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

The success of our sustainability efforts depends in large part on public participation. Fans have the power to make a real difference during our tournament through small everyday actions that yield significant collective impacts.

RESIDUAL MATERIALS AND WATER MANAGEMENT

  • Sort your waste by placing the right material in the right bin! Our green team will be on hand to help.
  • Bring your reusable bottle and fill it up at our water stations.

ENERGY AND EMISSIONS MANAGEMENT

Take public transit to help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the tournament. In Montreal, use your ticket for free access to the STM public transit network on the day of the match. In Toronto, use your ticket for a free ride back home using TTC public transit network after the match.

If you have to drive, purchase carbon credits to offset the trip. The NBO works with Planétair.

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Make a donation to the Tennis Canada Foundation, which supports tennis development in communities across the country. Then grab a bite to eat - as a non-for-profit organization, Tennis Canada invests all net proceeds from National Bank Open back into growing the sport across the country.

KEEP EXPLORING

Tennis Canada would like to thank the Sustainable Events Council (CQEER) for its support in the development and implementation of our strategic plan.