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Aston Villa 2021

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Policy and Commitment

  • In November 2021 the club launched ‘Claret, Blue and Green’ which is the club’s pledge and commitment to environmental sustainability: https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/november/24/claret–blue-and-green–villa-make-environmental-commitment/
  • Whilst not currently a policy or strategy, the pledge outlined some of the steps that have been taken over the last 12 months, as well as looking at some medium term plans whilst the full Claret, Blue and Green strategy is developed
  • We have established a sustainability working group at Bodymoor Heath (BMH – club’s training ground), and another at Villa Park
  • Both groups are made up of staff in key positions, but also those with an interest in this area. There will be a small oversight committee that will coordinate the clubs efforts across the working groups, with two representatives from the club’s executive management group on the oversight committee
  • Catering and events partner Levy have a climate net zero commitment target of 2027.

Clean/Renewable Energy

  • In July 2021 the club started with a new energy supplier for both the stadium and training ground, which includes Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) for our electricity supply, guaranteeing that the carbon emissions rate for our electricity supply is zero (from a renewable wind source).

Energy Efficiency

  • Building Management System (BMS) in place and upgraded in 2021 with new system installation
  • Increased capacity now to make the whole training ground and stadium manageable on the BMS, with spare capacity
  • The club has completed and ESOS assessment through a third party (Valpack) and have notified the Environment Agency of our compliance.
  • Installation of stadium concourse LED lighting at approximately 40%
  • Full stadium controlled BMS to manage lighting, heating and gas remotely, so when not in use, can be switched off
  • Training ground BMS managed completely including floodlit pitches. 90% of stadium and BMH building lighting is LED and procurement exercise currently underway for replacement of stadium floodlights with LEDs at the end of the 21/22 season
  • Boiler replacement programme in place, with 50% of stadium boilers new, energy efficient boilers installed in last 18 months, running at approximately 20% more efficient than old boilers
  • All North Stand (function rooms and AVFC staff offices) have new BMS controlled air conditioning units, reducing energy usage and ensuring only turned on when rooms are being used
  • All petrol mowers at the training ground and stadium have been replaced with electric mowers

Sustainable Transport

  • Six new EV charging points installed at the training ground in last 12 months, now eight in total
  • Talks underway with EV charger suppliers to increase number of charging points in car parks at AVFC stadium (currently three charging points with one installed in the last year)
  • Procurement manage sourcing new Hybrid/ EV pool car fleet from supplier in preparation for end of current pool car contract
  • Staff season ticket loan scheme available for public transport travel season tickets
  • New hydro-power bus route, owned by private organisation
  • Fan Survey Questionnaire in place, asks about fans methods of transport to the stadium and environmental practices/ considerations away from football

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

  • Re-usable cups imminently due to be trialled on match days replacing single-use plastic
  • Reusable trays now being used in all concourses, with all cutlery now wooden, and all sachets replaced with condiment dispensers
  • Water now sold in cans in many places and for conferences, to replace plastic bottles
  • Plastic bottles at the training ground replaced with reusable water bottles

Waste Management

  • 5 Tonnes of carbon diverted from landfill through installation of two food digestors in main kitchens (2 kitchens out of 12)
  • Leftover staff food (packed lunches) donated to local charity organisations
  • Review of food portions within hospitality areas and match day staff to reduce food wastage
  • Food digestor ordered for training ground to reduce waste collections from 3 to 2 each week
  • Recycling bins in all offices at stadium and training ground, and to be installed on all stadium concourses from May 2022
  • Match day hospitality staff now partly made up of uniforms made from recycled plastic and all paper napkins in hospitality areas replaced with linen
  • This is offset from washing and transport of dirty linen by reducing number of table cloths used in hospitality areas by 50%.
  • 40% of hospitality areas now using digital ordering systems (as opposed to paper) and 100% of hospitality areas now use digital menus on screens as opposed to printed
  • AVFC IT equipment refurbished and donated to local school children who don’t have access at home. Headline partner (Cazoo) have also donated through the same initiative – in total about 55 laptops or computers
  • All bags now in AVFC retail store are made from recycled materials and are recyclable themselves

Water Efficiency

  • All urinals controlled by automatic flush sensors, so only flushed when used to minimise water usage

Plant based/low carbon food

  • Vegan food options at both the stadium and at the training ground for players and staff
  • Club catering and conference partner Levy now have 25% of the match day menu being plant-based
  • The club now have a ‘Mindful Meetings’ option for conferences and events, which offers organisers low-carbon food options including without red meat, vegetarian and dishes created with ingredients that would usually be discarded
  • Minimum of 80 % of seasonal fruit and vegetables sourced from Great Britain
  • Individual venue Climate Action Plan to be created with Levy by close season 2022
  • Levy (catering and events partner) have their own pledge to be net zero by 2027

Biodiversity

  • During the redevelopment of the academy and training ground there was a habitat creation programme
  • The club were gifted quarry land by HS2 to create a nature habitat, including tree and grass planting, felled trees and pond construction
  • Whilst not currently part of a formal biodiversity strategy, each large scale project will include biodiversity as part of planning and building processes
  • Aston Villa Foundation has a new allotment, primarily used by the Disability Football teams, and have adopted a mile-long stretch of canal towpath from British Waterways, which is maintained by Foundation social action participants and will eventually have access to free fruit and vegetables as part of planting plan for the area.

Education

  • The Aston Villa Foundation delivers environmental sustainability education sessions and encourages social action programmes in local schools as part of its Premier League Primary Stars project
  • The Foundation also actively promotes the ‘Planet Super League’ initiative, engaging schools and young fans, encouraging them to take part in environmentally friendly activities throughout the football season
  • New Foundation allotment used primarily by Aston Villa Disability teams for respite and food awareness/ education programmes

Communication and Engagement

Additional information

Information sourced directly from Aston Villa F.C. staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 22 January, 2022
To see 2019 information, click here