Commercial Gaming Companies Go “All In for the Environment” on America Recycles Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As a part of its “All In for the Environment” campaign, the American Gaming Association (AGA) today released a paper, titled “The Commercial Gaming Industry’s Commitment to Environmental Sustainability,” quantifying the substantial commitments to environmental sustainability and energy conservation made by the commercial gaming industry. The paper was released to coincide with America Recycles Day (Nov. 15).

“The findings in this paper clearly demonstrate that gaming companies and their employees are dedicated to environmental sustainability,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., president and CEO of the AGA. “Their recycling and conservation efforts have not only had a positive impact on the environment, but they have also streamlined and cut costs for their businesses.”

According to the paper—derived from a survey of nine commercial casino companies and industry suppliers—respondents combined to recycle nearly 68,000 tons of material in the previous 12 months, or the equivalent of what nearly 100,000 average American households recycled in that time. All of the companies surveyed have a program in place to recycle or minimize the use of: cardboard, toner cartridges, batteries, paper, fluorescent light bulbs, plastic, scrap metals, waste oils, aluminum, glass, paper products, construction waste, plant material, food waste, soap and polystyrene foam. Also, as a result of energy conservation efforts, respondents estimate savings of roughly 191 million kilowatt hours during the past year, which equals what nearly 17,000 average American households used in 2010.

Respondents estimated that they saved more than 750 million gallons of water in the last year—the equivalent of what nearly 5,200 households would use during that time period. To do so, responding companies cited use of low flow faucets, automatic faucets in public restrooms, low flow showerheads and low flush toilets.

A majority (56 percent) of companies surveyed had the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) status for at least one building in their portfolio of operations or are in the process of submitting applications to gain certification. Among those that currently do not have any LEED properties, 80 percent say they intend to pursue certification for future construction projects. And every responding company indicated they actively procure low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paints, glues and carpets, environmentally friendly cleaning products, and ENERGY STAR certified equipment.

Along with improving companies’ competitiveness, the vast majority (83 percent) of respondents say the implementation of their environmental sustainability program has lowered their company’s cost of doing business.

While the findings from this survey should not be construed as completely comprehensive of all industrywide activity with respect to environmental sustainability initiatives, they do provide a valuable depiction of what is currently taking place at a significant number of companies within the sector. It shows that, whether through recycling and waste minimization or energy and water conservation, the environmental sustainability programs in the commercial gaming industry are some of the most progressive and forward-looking of any sector in the U.S. today.

In addition to the release of the paper, the AGA is adding new content to its website, including an infographic illustrating the findings of the survey, as well as case studies highlighting the specific efforts of individual gaming companies. These, along with the full paper and in-depth information on the survey’s results, can be found at: http://www.americangaming.org/social-responsibility/all-in-campaign-headquarters/all-in-for-the-environment.

“All In for the Environment” is a part of the larger “All In” campaign—a year-long effort that has showcased and quantified the CSR contributions of the commercial gaming industry. The initiative has focused on industry successes relating to four areas of CSR: philanthropy, environmental sustainability, responsible gaming and diversity. The “All In” campaign highlights the significant role industry—as well as individual companies and employees—play in bettering communities and the environment. For additional information about the “All In” campaign and how gaming companies are helping communities across the country, please visit: http://www.americangaming.org/allin.

For all the latest AGA and industry news, including updates about the “All In” campaign, follow the AGA on Twitter via @AGAupdate and “like” us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/americangaming.

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The American Gaming Association (AGA) is the national trade association for the commercial casino industry. In addition to representing the interests of its members on federal legislative and regulatory issues, the AGA serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.