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Aston Villa 2022

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Policy and Commitment

  • Claret, Blue and Green pledge has been publicised and shared on club and external national media, as well as presented at Club networking events. We have commissioned a consultancy to work with us to measure our carbon footprint and a baseline data collection for 2021-22 is in the process of being calculated
  • Full strategy will be built out from data, so will be intelligence-led and allow us to identify and prioritise areas for improvement as part of the strategy. This will also allow is to consider net zero targets based on intelligence
  • Full environmental pollicy currently in draft. The policy will include overall environmental policy statement, sustainable transport, water efficiency, biodiversity and waste management/ reduction elements. Aim to have policy completed by 28 February in line with UEFA licence application deadline for 23-24 season
  • Once completed, strategy, reports and policies will be shared on club website. Media team currently considering best format and structure for environmental section on the website
  • No current AVFC commitments or Net Zero targets as we feel doing so without a strategy in place and understanding of where we are would be tokenistic. Catering partner Levy have their own Net Zero by 2030 pledge

Clean/Renewable Energy

  • Our electricity supply is 100% REGO backed so for market-based reporting the carbon emissions rate for our electricity supply is now zero
  • Renewable energy applies to Villa Park and 7 additional sites, which covers all AVFC offices, training ground, shop and other facilities. Electricity is 72% of our total energy use, 28% is Gas

Energy Efficiency

  • Stadium floodlights now fully LED lighting, LED lighting now in majority of concourse areas
  • Electric grounds equipment extended to training ground
  • Bamboo toilet roll trialled in hospitality areas and hand dryers installed in majority of toilets to reduce paper towel usage
  • All boilers in the Trinity stand have been replaced with newer, more energy efficient boilers – 9 boilers removed with 10 smaller units installed, which are built into BMS system
  • LED lightng throughout the stadium, with the exception of Trinity stand stairwells (which require scaffolding so will be done at the end of the season). All of this managed through BMS system
  • TVs throughout stadium in offices, concourses, hospitality areas and boxes now going a new BMS control socket to timezone TV usage and remove TVs being on unnecessarily

Sustainable Transport

  • Staff benefit offering on reduced rates via National Express to encourage travel via public transport. Discussions currently taking place with Octopus on staff EV discount scheme, and implementing Bike to Work scheme for staff
  • Fan travel via National Express bus discount scheme being trialled, which is aligned to member reward scheme with loyalty points being awarded for using public transport on match days
  • Strategic discussions with West Midlands Rail and West Midlands Comined Authority on £30m improvment and increased train capacity at Witton Station, as part of proposed stadium expansion, increasing train travel capacity and infrastructure for matches and events
  • Operating a ‘majority of the working week’ flexible approach to office working, which has reduced the environmental impact and number of vehicles on the road during the working week
  • Club has added an additional shuttle bus (AV1 running from Tamworth and AV2 running from Cannock/ Brownhills) to pick up and drop off fans along two local routes. New city centre bus route being trialled at home game v Brighton. NX providing hydrogen bus route for fans on main Walsall to City Centre route, past Villa Park
  • Full environmental pollicy currently in draft. The policy will include overall environmental policy statement including sustainable transport
  • Fan travel survey completed in July 2022, with over 7,700 respondees. Questions included mode of transport, journey times, reasons for chosen mode of transport, barriers to changing mode of travel and overall travel experience rating. Responses to be used in planning both for short-term (e.g. introduction of AV1, AV2 and new city centre bus route), as well as strategic discussions with WMCA. Sport Positive not advised if the results of this fan survey are publicised, so no bonus point attributed.

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

  • One Cup scheme implemented for hot and cold drinks in concourses and hosptiality areas removing all single-use plastic cups from kioks and hospitality, as well as in offices at both the stadium and training ground
  • Water now sold in cans at all concession counters, removing single use plastic bottles from retail outlets
  • All AVFC Store shopping bags made from recycled plastic
  • Single use plastic bottles removed from training ground with staff and players now using branded water bottles and water coolers as opposed to small disposable plastic water bottles

Waste Management

  • AVFC target of 50% recycling rate, zero waste to landfill and 25% reduction in waste generated per fan, all by 2028
  • 33% of waste is now recycled on site
  • Separate food, recycling and general waste bins now in all concourses for the public. Waste champions now positioned in each stand to monitor and support staff waste management in kiosks and hospitality areas. Recycling bins in all offices at stadium and training ground and now installed on all stadium concourses
  • Food digesters in place at the stadium and now installed at the training ground with aim to digest all food on site at stadium and training ground by end of 22/23 season, reducing volume of waste removed from site. Food portions revised to reduce the amount of food waste at each game and at all events hosted at Villa Park
  • Where possible, unused food (e.g. match day staff or corporate events) donated to local charitable organisations
  • Down to one waste collection each week, compared to three collections a week in previous years
  • Match day hospitality staff 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%.
  • Hospitality areas now using digital ordering systems (as opposed to paper) and all hospitality areas now use digital menus on screens as opposed to printed. Paper team sheets no longer printed saving 000’s sheets of paper at each home game
  • Promoting a ‘paperless office’ within HR and Payroll wherever possible, in order to reduce paper waste and need for recycling. Paperless menus now in corporate hospitality areas, and significant reduction in printed team sheets distributed in hospitality on match days. NFC ticketing system rolled out across the whole stadium in 22/23, eliminating the need for fans to print e-tickets. All tickets can now be downloaded as e-tickets in e-wallets, reducing the use of paper
  • All Staff contracts of employment, offer letters and onboarding newstarter paperwork are now electronic via Adobe Sign. All policies and HR related forms accessible electronically to be completed and submitted, reducing requirement to print out HR forms
  • Boot recycling bin now in fixed location at Villa Park. Fans will be encouraged to donate old football boots to be recycled/ re-purposed
  • Full environmental pollicy currently in draft. The policy will include overall environmental policy statement and waste management/ reduction elements

Water Efficiency

  • Waterless urinals trial taken place in Trinity stand and at Bodymoor Health training ground. Will be installed across all urinals at all sites Estimated water savings of 40-50% when all installed
  • New food digestor at training ground runs all water to the effluent plant, cleaning it and going back to ground on site

Plant based/low carbon food

  • Plant-based menus for staff and players at training ground amnd at staff canteen at Villa Park
  • Hospitality on match days is 30% plant-based food options, with 100% of desserts now vegan
  • For non-match day conferencing and events, 35% of food options are vegan.
  • Meeting for Change’ package rolled out across events/ external facility hires with commitment to 80% of produce being British grown; plant forward menus; zero waste; ethical sourcing practices
  • Catering partner Levy have their own Net Zero by 2030 pledge
  • Klimato labelling now standard across all menus for both match day and non-match day
  • Fully vegan trader introduced to food forecourt prior to games and fully vegan desert menu implemented for Green Football Weekend

Biodiversity

  • Full environmental policy currently in draft. The policy will include overall environmental policy statement and biodiversity commitment
  • As part of redevelopment plan, Villa Park will incorporate sustainability measures including rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic panels, lo-flo sanitary fittings, free drinking water on concourses, increased cycle parking, EV chargin points, green roofs and walls. Rainwater system to be utilised for outdoor water uses for landscape irrigation and indoor water uses for flushing
  • New Brookvale (indoor and outdoor 3G facility site) has a full Ecological Enhancement Strategy which sets out the principles by which the development will ensure a net gain for biodiversity, in compliance with the NPPF and local planning policy. . Development is well underway and will be completed in summer 2023.
  • EES for Brookvale includes:
    • A net increase in the number of mature standard trees across the Site
    • Creation of a flood alleviation area adjacent to the River Tame, with introduction of tree species suitable for the establishment of wet woodland and with wetland meadow planting.
    • Enhancement of retained habitats through under storey planting beneath hedges and trees, and creation of a mosaic of habitats, particularly on the western part of the development.
    • Planting trees across the Site especially within hardstanding areas
    • Create new opportunities for reptiles, amphibians, small mammals and invertebrates, through: o Creation / retention of wildlife corridors around the Site. • Creation and maintenance of log piles (hibernacula).
    • Creation and maintenance of a wildlife pond
    • Creation of wildflower meadow areas, particularly of value adjacent to the wildlife pond
    • Retain and enhance opportunities for bats and birds, through creation of the habitats as set out within the landscaping scheme, through careful management of the habitats, and through installation and maintenance of bird and bat boxes.
    • Control of invasive non-native plant species to ensure the native planting is retained and the net benefits delivered are not lost over time.
    • Periodic inspections of the Site’s planting by a suitably qualified ecologist to ensure the biodiversity and landscaping goals are being met, and to ensure remedial measures (if required) are implemented at an early stage.

Education

  • Foundation education programme delivered to over 500 pupils in build up to Green Football Weekend and delviering Premier League Inspires schools ‘Dragon’s Den’ events on improving club performance in this area. Protect the planet initiative run within Foundation disability football programmes
  • Club Staff Induction now incorporates a section on sustainability and the Club’s Claret, Blue and Green intiative – this raises awareness amongst staff and shares the Club’s aims to deliver on this agenda

Communication and Engagement

  • Executive lead for environmental sustainability appearing on Big Green Money Podcast with Sarah Meaden
  • Currently looking at implementing Environmental Sustainability section on the club website. This will be incporporated after club re-brand goes live (in July 2023)
  • Claret, Blue and Green branding being incorporated into full club re-brand and design, currently under way and implemented by 1st July 2023
  • Fan consultation and questionnaire undertaken in February 2023 as part of Green Football Weekend to gain insight into current understanding of club initiatives, attitudes and ideas towards sustainability. 150 resonses to date, with strwetch target of 1,000 survey responses
  • Internal environmental working group established, with quarterly cross-departmental meetings taking place to drive environmental practices and ideas

Sustainable Procurement

  • We don’t yet have a full sustainable sourcing policy, but we have acted to reduce our impact by adding an environmental assessment of suppliers into our decision making process at the tender stage. We do have a Supplier Code of Conduct covering ethics, labour rights and modern slavery
  • Full environmental pollicy currently in draft. The policy will include overall environmental policy statement and procurement policy statement, with environmental credential questions incorporated into the tendering process

Sponsorship and Ownership

  • OWNERSHIP
  • SPONSORSHIP
    • Click link here for more information on your club’s sponsors and sustainability efforts. Scroll along the sheet to find your club, they are in alphabetical order

Information sourced directly from Aston Villa staff
Information updated 17th March 2023
To see information from 2021, click here