Chicago Cubs Highlight Eco-Friendly Food Practices and Wrigley Field Efforts at Aspen Ideas: Climate Summit

CHICAGO (WLS) — The city of Chicago is in the sustainability spotlight this week, as the host of the Aspen Ideas: Climate Summit.

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The conference is a major gathering of global thinkers, business leaders and policymakers focused on practical climate solutions.

Organizations such as the Chicago Cubs are reimagining their effect beyond their playing fields and discovering innovative methods to reduce waste and repurpose materials.

“How cool of a story is it to say that, ‘hey, this was in Wrigley Field at one point’, and now, you know, we’re reusing it into something else,” stated Maria Sapienza, analysis and planning operations for the Chicago Cubs.

Sapienza participated as one of several panelists discussing their organization’s climate initiatives. She specifically referenced the 2023 renovation of Wrigley Field’s roof.

“I talked about one of our big projects of reusing the wood from our roof projects that we replaced our whole roof a couple years ago,” Sapienza said. “So, where is that going to go? How do we reuse it? Literally, tons and tons of waste that could have gone to waste, but instead it went to good use.”

The Cubs and other large event organizers also deal with tons of leftover food.

“There really isn’t a strong food recovery infrastructure in the city,” founder and President of Bright Beat, Stephanie Katsaros said. “So, when we’re talking about an event that is the highest security clearance possible. How do we get nonprofit organizations to come in and get the food?”

Bright Beat is a consultancy that builds partnerships and programs focused on sustainability. She served as an advisor for the Democratic National Convention last summer.

“There were over 25 community organizations that we were able to feed the surplus food at United Center, McCormick Place and Navy Pier, which were all venues for DNC events,” Katsaros said.

While event organizers acknowledge the politics that surround climate conversations, it’s their hope that elected officials educate themselves on climate solutions to best serve their constituents.

“They want to keep the electricity on,” said Greg Gershuny, the co-director of Aspen Ideas: Climate. “They want to have people drinking clean water. They want to make sure want to make sure that the air isn’t causing asthma for their kids. And I think that really unites people.”

ABC’s Linsey Davis held a conversation with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker Monday night, as well.

The Aspen Ideas Climate summit wraps up Tuesday but is set to be back in Chicago for at least the next two years.