As the world grapples with global warming, many companies are focusing on sustainable efforts to help the world and the communities most affected by health ailments.
Lay’s is one of those companies and earlier this week the brand showcase its commitment to sustainability by opening the Lay’s RePlay field in Santa Ana, CA, their first such field in the U.S. The field is made with recycled Lay’s chip bags and packaging materials that are washed, shredded and converted into an underlying layer that is designed to be recycled at the end of its 10-year lifespan.
Soccer stars Mia Hamm and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández were part of the festivities and shared their joy for the field, program and the sport they love.
“As a UEFA ambassador, I am proud to be a voice for Lay’s RePlay,” said Hamm, a FIFA World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist. “Having access to community gathering spaces and safe playing fields must be a top priority for young people across the world. Soccer continues to see incredible growth, and with the Hispanic community being the fastest growing segment of our population – and arguably the most passionate about the game – beginning the Lay’s RePlay U.S. expansion in a key area like Santa Ana is a powerful moment.”
“The pipeline for healthy lives in the Hispanic community expands greatly when you have access to quality fields and equipment, and the Lay’s RePlay program is a game-changer,” said MLS player and LA Galaxy striker Chicharito. “As someone who lives and plays in Southern California, I’m looking forward to seeing the joy this field brings to families across the area.”
The field was opened in partnership with the City of Santa Ana and Pure Game, a local non-profit that teaches children life skills through mentorship and sports-based character education.
“Since 2021, Lay’s RePlay has had the privilege of creating beautiful soccer fields and programming to share with deserving communities across the globe. From South Africa, Brazil, and Mexico to the United Kingdom, we’ve been able to see the tremendous impact this program brings to aspiring athletes and families around the world – uniting people through a common love of soccer, providing a safe space to foster togetherness and minimizing our impact on the earth,” said Ciara Dilley, PepsiCo’s vice president of marketing for global food brands. “We are so honored to be able to play such a significant role in furthering the soccer journeys of young people here in the community of Santa Ana with the launch of our first Lay’s RePlay soccer field in the U.S.!”
This is the sixth Lay’s RePlay field to open around the world. The others are in South Africa, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Mexico. According to the release, they have been utilized over 25,000 times and “provide underserved communities with access to the beloved sport and state-of-the-art soccer fields since the program’s launch.”
Lay’s RePlay builds on work done by Lay’s and the UEFA Foundation for Children that delivered three artificial soccer fields in the Za’atari and Azraq Refugee Camps in 2017 and 2018 and have since provided 35,000 people access to the sport.
“Lay’s has been such an incredible partner to work with over the years and we are thrilled to support bringing the Lay’s RePlay program into the U.S.,” said Urs Kluser, general secretary for UEFA Foundation for Children. “Through our partnership, we are able to put our best resources forward and work together to gather communities around the world through the joy of the sport.”
Lay’s and their RePlay program is another example of why they call soccer The Beautiful Game.
