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BBVA Stadium has also transformed everyday practices such as waste management. The challenge was not only to segregate waste, but also to ensure that all suppliers of everything, from food to cleaning products, operated to sustainable standards. Club de Futbol Monterrey has begun incorporating environmental conditions into its vendor contracts, from recyclable packaging to reusable or compostable products.
“We even ask them for documents indicating the final destination of the waste,” says Molina.
The stadium has eliminated about 90 percent of PET plastic during matches, through soft drink dispensers and the use of reusable cups. As for water, the number of meters has been increased from 6 to 20, and irrigation has been adjusted with predictive analysis to determine when and how much to irrigate.
This efficiency is beneficial, but large amounts of water are still required. The official regulations for this year’s World Cup require that matches be held on natural grass, as it is considered to provide better conditions for players to perform. Irrigation is done with potable water instead of treated water.
Since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, FIFA has had guidelines on the environmental efficiency of stadiums, such as responsible water use, but some of its own requirements are not always consistent with the sustainability goals promoted by the organization.
“Previously, irrigation was done using treated water, but today, potable water must be used to care for the lawn,” says Rocha. Drinking water is more expensive and limited in availability in a city known for water shortages.
Artificial turf fields also require water for purposes such as temperature control, using about 900 liters (238 gallons) per day. But natural grass needs nearly 50 times more, requiring up to 50,000 liters (13,209 gallons) of watering per day. In comparison, the average daily water consumption per person in Mexico is 150 liters (40 gallons), meaning the stadium uses the daily water supply of 333 people.
The BBVA Stadium Operating Certification was not just a matter of complying with indicators, it was about changing operational habits in a city with complex environmental conditions. Ensuring environmental quality in Monterrey, with its high levels of pollution and extreme temperatures, was a major task.
The indoor environment is one of the accreditation criteria. Although the stadium is mostly open, it had to provide hygienic conditions in enclosed areas such as offices, locker rooms and VIP areas.
“One of the most important challenges was environmental quality, but also comfort: people were comfortable, in terms of their health, temperature, and even psychologically,” says Rocha. To achieve this, ventilation systems with special filters, pollutant sensors and turbines have been implemented to improve air flow in the stands. The stadium invested more than 1 million pesos (about $57,400) in a carbon dioxide extraction system.
BBVA also went through a cultural shift as part of the accreditation process. Coordinating over a thousand suppliers, raising employee awareness, and changing daily habits is work that continues long after certification.
