Nov. 13, 2007
Center Valley, Pa. - In the first step of an effort to lead the way in environmental protection and promotion, the Patriot League has begun giving out backpacks from the Earthpak company to all of its 2007-08 League Championship participants.
The backpacks are part of a campaign from the Patriot League to incorporate more environmentally friendly practices into the way League Championships and general League affairs are conducted. The Patriot League is taking the initiative in becoming an educator and leader in environmental protection and making a difference in the environment, with the backpacks as the first piece of the "environmental campaign."
The backpacks are provided to Championship participants through a partnership with the Earthpak company, which is a "forward thinking and environmentally conscious" organization that "turns discarded plastic soda bottles into a valuable commodity." The backpacks are made in the USA out of five recycled 2-liter soda bottles, and approximately 15,000 bottles were recycled to make the 2007-08 Patriot League Championship participant gifts.
"The environmental campaign is a unique opportunity for the League to assume a leadership role in raising awareness about this important cultural concern," said Joanna Kreps, Patriot League Associate Executive Director for Sport Management and Governance/Senior Woman Administrator. "Protecting the environment certainly goes beyond athletics, but it is exciting to find positive ways that athletics can be used to draw attention to the issue."
"We are grateful for the relationship that has begun with the Earthpak company and look forward to finding other ways to use their products."
The Patriot League will work in conjunction with its eight member administrations and Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC) to continue to make efforts and formulate ideas in becoming more "green" in the way business is conducted.
The Patriot League continually demonstrates that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing its high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.