In the 2022/2023 season, VTB United League with SIBUR support continues to evaluate teams according to environmental criteria as part of the Marketing Championship: from separate waste collection in arenas to socioal environmental projects with players participation.
The marketing championship is a stimulating part of the regulations, where club attendance, ticket sales and environmental efficiency are counted. After the end of the regular season, the League will summarize the results and in addition to the marketing bonus choose the most environmentally friendly club.
On March 13, 2023, Astana will host the first of 12 eco-games. VTB League will organise games with all teams participation until the end of the season. During the eco-games, the fans will be able to participate in the creation of an art object dedicated to basketball and ecology. Every fan can bring caps from plastic bottles with 28 mm diameter in different colors and take part in the art object creation. The creative group will assemble 12 parts into a single one and present them to the fans.
Maksim Remchukov, SIBUR Sustainable Development Director:
– SIBUR has been supporting the VTB United League since 2017, and every year together with our partners we try to draw the attention of fans to the importance of a responsible attitude to the environment. This season we invite the League’s fans to take part in a unifying environmental initiative, the creation of a special art object – a panel made of assembled plastic caps. Gradually filling in the panels at each of 12 games, fans will see how the small efforts of each individual lead to great results. Hundreds of covers will not end up, but will become part of a large art object. We believe that environmental protection is as much a team game as basketball.
Ilona Korstin, the VTB United League General Manager:
– Last year, Zenit and PARMA-PARI competed for the League’s most ecological club in the 2021/22 season and thereby pushed other teams to act. We saw a high activity among teams this season – interesting cases and many League participants found new partners with an environmental focus in the regions. Together with SIBUR, we continue the eco-games tradition and this season every fan can contribute and participate in the creation of an art object that will be mounted from plastic bottle caps. It will be a real team effort, which is very important in basketball.
Among the additional innovations of this year is the Eco–Ambassador. The eco–ambassador is the leader of the environmental movement among the players appointed by the club, who educates fans and players about environmental issues and is an active participant in the club’s environmental events.
On February 19 at the All-Star Game, the VTB United League and SIBUR organised a traditional environmental activation at the VTB Arena lobby. Fans could make a souvenir keychain with the help of a bicycle shredder and a mold in memory of the All-Star Game 2023. The same plastic bottle caps were used as the basis for the keychain.
Support your favorite team and contribute to environmental protection.
Schedule of upcoming eco-games:
March 13, Astana – Samara
March 17 MINSK – PARMA-PARI
March 19 Enisey – Astana
March 21 Samara – Avtodor
March 22 PARMA-PARI – Astana
March 25 Avtodor – PARMA-PARI
