When thinking green, NASCAR isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. The racing giant has made plenty of changes to be one of the rising leaders in green culture.
NASCAR first began it’s efforts in going green in 2008 by encouraging fans to recycle and plant trees with special programs. The Green Clean Air Tree Planting program uses donated trees to plant in every market that NASCAR competes in. More than 6,000 trees were used in the program but to some that wasn’t enough. Starting out new to the green world proved to be difficult for the company when they received backlash and an ill-fated response in it’s green initiative, but the company’s next move would be it’s biggest yet.
In 2011, NASCAR made the announcement that they were changing from unleaded fuel usage to an Sunco’s ethanol blend fuel during it’s races. Using less imported oil and boosting the speeds of their cars with ethanol, the switch helped the company tremendously. In just three years, the company celebrated it’s 5 million mark using the biofuel.
Sales in the gas went up, proving that NASCAR’s influence on their fans was greater than anyone would have thought. After all, the company inspired many of their partners like Coca Cola and UPS to go green as well. Coca Cola has recycled more than 15 million containers since joining the cause.
According to the Huffington Post, the green effect hit homes across the country. A 2012 study proved that fans are 100 percent more likely to go green in the household.
“What has happened, is that five years after we started NASCAR Green, we have learned that in focusing on the fans and our corporate partners and how they can become more green was the right thing to do,” said Dr. Micheal Lynch, VP of NASCAR’s green platform.” In a time period when the country moved in a green direction, NASCAR fans have gone twice as far.”
NASCAR continues it’s stance on green culture with it’s annual Green Summits. Speakers include green advocate and former vice president Al Gore, NASCAR’s chairman and CEO Brian France and more. Check out more of their upcoming projects here.
