"The Phoenix Coyotes have created a companywide green initiative amid growing public concern for the environment.

The Phoenix Coyotes Going Green initiative since July 30 has had the company focusing on raising employee awareness of ways to save the environment.

"As a company, we want to get on board with the ecologically right thing to do," said Jeff Holbrook, executive vice president and chief communications officer for the Coyotes.

Thea Crum, vice president of client services for the team, helped lead the changes - including using the double-sided option on copiers to save paper, and replacing plastic-foam cups with 32-ounce plastic cups that employees reuse.

Crum said she is noticing a difference in the office since the initiative started. Employees are turning off lights and computer monitors and closing blinds.

"When I was leaving the office one night, it looked like a different environment," Crum said. "It was like a cave in here, it was great."

The company created a committee of 20 from all departments to find other ways to reduce waste that employees and visitors to Jobing.com Arena produce.

As a way to reduce waste from concession stands, the arena will use biodegradable cups made from corn, which decompose in a few months.

"You'd swear it was a regular plastic cup if you saw it," said Doug Moss, Coyotes president and chief operating officer. "These are really incredible things."

Plates and bowls will be made of molded fiber from 100 percent recycled materials, and the utensils will be made of vegetable starch.

ARAMARK, a food-services facilities-management company, is working with the Coyotes to provide the new utensils, plates and cups by October, when the hockey season starts."