Philly Leader

Today, World Ocean Day draws attention to the critical need for protecting our water resources. Although not as longstanding as Earth Day, the day is gaining recognition. In 2021, the Eagles football team, through their Go Green initiative, partnered with The Ocean Foundation. This collaboration made them the first U.S. professional sports organization to offset all team travel carbon emissions by restoring seagrass and mangroves in Puerto Rico's Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Eagles Vice President of Fan Experience and Sustainability, Norman Vossschulte, has been proactive in seeking solutions for environmental challenges. "When the ocean is in trouble, the rest of the Earth will be in trouble," Vossschulte stated. He emphasized that focusing on ocean health can lead to broader environmental benefits.

Last month, Vossschulte was joined by other Eagles executives and Lindsay Arell from Honeycomb Strategies on a five-day expedition to Puerto Rico and Vieques. They observed firsthand how hurricanes have devastated mangrove habitats—critical ecosystems that support biodiversity and combat climate change by storing carbon dioxide.

Vossschulte described the trip as a "life-changing" experience that underscored the urgency of ocean conservation. "It's really important," he noted about understanding ocean dynamics and its impact on life on Earth.

In Philadelphia, Vossschulte is eager to apply his insights from Puerto Rico. He highlighted waste management as a key area of concern: "Every piece of trash we throw away has a very high likelihood of finding its way into the ocean." Simple actions like refusing plastic bags or using refillable cups are steps individuals can take to reduce waste.

"Every small action, if taken by all of us, can make a huge difference," he concluded. "Never think that one small thing is insignificant."