Kolkata team bats for sustainability at Eden Gardens

In a season where boundaries weren’t the only things being smashed, the Kolkata-based T20 team has scored a major environmental win off the field. During their home matches at Eden Gardens this season, the team diverted 84.9% of stadium waste away from landfills — setting a benchmark for sustainability in sports.Stadiums, often associated with large crowds and even larger waste volumes, became unlikely sites for positive change this season. Through a carefully designed waste management programme across seven home matches, the team and its partners showed how sport can be a springboard for environmental consciousness and community action.

Over 35,000 kg of waste managed

Between the first five home games, over 35,113 kilograms of waste were kept out of landfills thanks to segregation, recycling, composting, and donation efforts.

A total of 200 waste bins were installed across the stadium to encourage fans to separate waste at the source. Volunteers and a dedicated ‘Green Team’ assisted spectators and kept the stands litter-free.The programme also included training sessions for food stall vendors and catering staff to ensure proper sorting of materials like paper, plastic, aluminium foil, and food scraps. A waste sorting team managed over ten categories of waste, all of which were sent to local recycling or composting units.

What happened to the waste?

The initiative was supported by strong anti-litter messaging, visual campaigns, and consistent on-ground engagement to promote responsible fan behaviour.

"A platform for change"

Speaking about the initiative, team co-owner Juhi Chawla said,

“Cricket has the power to unite and inspire, and we believe it’s also a powerful platform to promote sustainability. It’s not just about cheering for our team—it’s about coming together to protect the planet we all share.”

The team also acknowledged the contributions of volunteers, on-ground partners, waste workers, and fans in making the campaign a success.Earlier this season, under the team’s broader ‘Runs to Roots’ campaign, they introduced eco-friendly jersey packaging made from biodegradable materials — a step that further reinforced their commitment to sustainability.

By combining high-stakes cricket with low-impact living, Kolkata’s home team is setting an example that other franchises — across sports — might just follow.