NBA Green Week - April 1-9, 2010

The NBA is taking steps to become a more environmentally-friendly organization and will continue to explore ways of improving in this area. NBA Green Week 2010 serves as a reminder for fans that each of us can help to reduce our environmental footprint and that every bit helps. The NBA has partnered with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for NBA Green Week 2010, which was held from April 1-9. During Green Week, the entire NBA family teamed up to generate awareness and funding to protect the environment as players wore special oncourt apparel, the league and its teams held auctions to benefit environmental preservation organizations, and teams and players participated in hands-on community service projects.

Activities

• NBA teams were heavily involved by taking steps towards "greening" their arenas and encouraged their fans to take part in greening initiatives.
• Each of the league’s 30 teams encouraged fans to participate in greening efforts by hosting community service events, including tree plantings, recycling drives, park clean-up days, and the renovation of Reading & Learning Centers using environmentally friendly materials. Teams also held in-arena Go Green Awareness Nights featuring auctions to support environmental protection programs and promotions to encourage fans to adopt green habits.
• adidas outfited all players with 50 percent organic polyester adidas shooting shirts featuring the NBA Green logo. Players will also wear NBA Green headbands, wristbands, and socks made from 45 percent organic cotton during games throughout the week to raise additional environmental awareness.

• NBA.com featured an online auction of Spalding basketballs made from 40 percent recycled materials and autographed by NBA players. The auction benefited NBA Cares community partners.
• In addition, league partner HP joined the Miami Heat, the Houston Rockets, and the Dallas Mavericks for special eco-friendly hands-on service projects throughout the week, including the refurbishment of homes with Rebuilding Together and a beach clean-up event.
• To further encourage fans to reuse and recycle during NBA Green Week, the NBA Store in New York City hosted “Recycling Dreams,” a footwear drive to collect gently worn athletic shoes. Customers who brought in shoes received a 20 percent discount on their purchase of new athletic shoes. All donated footwear went to Hoops 4 Hope, a global nonprofit organization that supports youth development across southern Africa with programs that teach life skills through the game of basketball.
• In addition, the NBA Store, NBAStore.com, and select team retailers featured adidas 100-percent organic cotton NBA Green T-shirts and hats; NBA Green socks, headbands, and wristbands made from 45 percent organic cotton by For Bare Feet; and Spalding basketballs made from 40 percent recycled materials, giving fans the opportunity to “buy green.”