Building A Sustainable Tennis Paradise
Our Mission
As the world’s largest two-week combined tennis event outside of the four Grand Slams, the BNP Paribas Open has a responsibility to be a global leader in sustainable practices for sports and entertainment properties. Our mission is to develop and execute meaningful sustainability strategies that drive change in our own community and inspire action outside of it. We continually lessen our environmental impact through an emphasis on three key pillars:
Strategic Sustainable Partnerships
The BNP Paribas Open is dedicated to partnering with brands and vendors who have a proven track record of commitment toward protecting the environment.
Some examples of these Strategic Sustainable Partnerships include:
BNP Paribas
Since 2021, our title sponsor, BNP Paribas, has supported tree planting initiatives through its Aces for Trees program. Two trees will be planted for every ace served throughout the tournament and an additional two trees for every social media share using the hashtag #Aces4Trees and tagging @bnpparibas. This program assists the American Forest Foundation in planting trees in family-owned forests to increase carbon storage, mitigate wildfires, improve wildlife habitat, protect clean water sources, increase sustainable wood supplies and support rural communities.
Laykold
Laykold, the Official Court Surface Provider of the BNP Paribas Open, shares the tournament's commitment to ensuring a sustainable future. While setting the golden standard for pace precision and accuracy, Laykold also stands alone as the only surface provider to use recycled tennis balls in its court systems.
Sodexo Live!
Sodexo Live! is a key hospitality partner of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and the BNP Paribas Open. Sodexo Live! is the first food service company to align its business with a commitment to limiting global temperature rise, and employs a comprehensive strategy which includes energy efficiency, waste reduction, local sourcing and recycling.
Sodexo Live!'s sustainability initiatives for 2026 and 2027 include:
In 2026 the continued path of Aquafina Water Aluminum Cans-Led to the reduction of 124,731 plastic bottles in Retail and 32,202 in Suites tallying 156,933 from the site.
Voss Sparkling Water Slim Aluminum Can compared to San Pellegrino Plastic Bottle; eliminated 15,389 units.
Aluminum Cups in Suites, 21,000 plus distributed this past season.
Poured Wines in Retail-For the 2nd straight year of Packaged Aluminum, Maker Wines; 23,646 Units Sold. Removed 3,940 Glass Bottles and 329 12-Slot Wine Boxes of Cardboard.
We will continue to work with local charitable houses on product donations at the end of the event, over 22,000 pounds with The Ronald McDonald House and Local Food Banks in 26.
Streamlined Premium Dining Menus-Catering, Player’s, Suites-With our amended approach to cross utilizing products between the three departments the trickle effect limits the number of items purchased, volume of on-premise inventory, dwindling the amount of deliveries/fuel consumption, diminishing potential food waste & recyclables, building our efficiencies by 4%, reducing trash services in the range of 5% to 7%.
Enhancing the use of Eco-Friendly, Biodegradable, Recyclable, Compostable, Plant Based, Plant Fiber, Palm Leaf Disposables, Use of Souvenir Cups instead of One -Time Use Plastic, etc. Further assists in the company’s vision in sustainability, we factor another 1 to 2% to adopt use of, elevating to over 95% of the total site.
Eventscape Flowers
The Official Flower Provider of the BNP Paribas Open annually donates flowers to local nurseries and holds plant sales after the tournament ends, to ensure that all plants used at our venue have a home beyond their two weeks at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Waste Management
Our tournament pays careful attention to the amount of waste that we generate, and we seek solutions that both minimize overall waste production and repurpose waste effectively.
What we're doing to mitigate waste effects:
Over the last five years, the BNP Paribas Open has implemented a comprehensive digital transformation plan across a variety of tournament resources for consumers:
Digital tickets and digital parking passes
100% cashless venue
100% recyclable and/or compostable food packaging for concessions
Single use plates and cups in Luxury Suites are 100% compostable
18 different compostable concession food and carry trays
Retail plastic bags are reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable
Each day throughout the tournament, staff and Burrtec Waste Industries comprehensively sort all trash from the venue, identifying any and all materials for recycling/repurposing.
Energy Efficiency
What we’re doing to maximize energy efficiency:
All stadiums at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden have been classified by the California Energy Commission as ‘Energy Efficient’ under the department’s Title 24 Standards
As of 2021, the venue has shifted to using exclusively LED lights on the property –highlighting our facility’s ongoing commitment to using energy efficient resources
