Shamu Goes Green

From shuttles fueled with hydrogen to dinner plates made from sugarcane, the 10 theme parks owned by Busch Entertainment Corp. of Orlando, FL - including SeaWorld and Busch Gardens - are launching initiatives to tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges in waste, food and fuel. All of the seafood served to guests - even the salmon fed to Shamu the whale - is now purchased from sustainably managed fisheries that promote environmentally responsible stewardship.

The environmental revamp extends to the parks' food utensils and plates. While these items have the look and feel of plastic, they are actually made from renewable sources such as sugarcane and vegetable starch. The company worked for more than a year to find eco-products that could meet the volume needs of the parks - which serve millions of guests each year - while staying in tact under the rigors of microwaves and freezers.