Policy and Commitment
- An Environmental Policy is in place at Cambridge United Football Club and can be found on the website under the club’s policies https://www.cambridgeunited.com/club/club-policies/
- Significant environmental impacts at the stadium have been categorised into priority areas: energy, waste, water, transport, procurement, marketing and communications, and stadium improvements and development.
- Working with internal stakeholders including its contract partners (in particular catering, cleaning and waste management) and external stakeholders (including Cambridge City Council) and its sponsors, it will endeavour to improve its performance.
- The club will try and work with its suppliers to ensure that they recognise and reduce the environmental impact of their products and transportation.
- Washroom paper items have been changed to sustainably sourced, certified products.
- Is an EFL Green Clubs member.
- Won the inaugural Environmental Sustainability Award at the 2022 EFL Awards.
Clean/Renewable Energy
- Does not currently use renewable or clean energy.
Energy Efficiency
- Motion sensor LED lights have been installed at the stadium.
- The Building Management System (BMS) at the stadium has been correctly set to ensure empty rooms are not being overheated or cooled by the introduction of a sealed control thermostat. This has further reduced the use of energy.
- Thermostats for hot water and office temperature have been set to minimum ‘safe’ levels.
- The club will work with contractors to further reduce the energy usage and CO2 emissions of the Abbey Stadium.
- Security lighting at the rear of the East & South stands has been linked to motion detectors to enable lighting to be switched off when not in use and steps to transfer over to LED lighting is underway with further changes in the future planned.
- Installation of P.I.R motion sensors to the lights within all the stadium toilets – Habbin Stand, North Terrace, Directors’ toilets and corporate toilets has been completed and will reduce the usage of electricity demand on the environment.
Sustainable Transport
- Public transport (bus and train) to the Abbey Stadium is promoted on the club’s website.
- Cycle racks are provided within the stadium.
- The club received more second hand cycle racks that have been installed on the east stand car park and these are used both on match days and weekdays by staff and visiting guests.
- The minibus is routinely used as an alternative to cars to reduce the number of vehicles being used.
- The club encourages staff to walk or cycle to work and to only travel to meetings where absolutely necessary.
- Staff have been reminded that they should aim to use public transport wherever possible, rather than driving/using taxis.
- Coaches depart from the Abbey Stadium for first team away matches.
- A Voi e-scooter rack has been installed at the Abbey Stadium outside the Club Shop. Supporters can use the following discount codes:
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- CAMUNITED – 1 x 15min free for all New Users
- CAMUNITED_VOI – 3 x 20% off a ride existing users
- Surveyed people’s transport usage via a 2022 EFL Supporters Survey which took into account matchday travel.
- Supporters that have difficulty using public transport because of disability, infirmity or age can now get to the Abbey Stadium on matchdays for £3 a trip via Cambridge Dial-a-Ride minibuses. A friend or family member can join as an official escort and are charged an additional fare of £5.
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- To eliminate unnecessary wastage of plastic & cardboard cups, staff are encouraged to use their own mugs and plastic bottles when drinking hot drinks and water.
- The club’s retail stores are now using more environmentally friendly plastic bags which will biodegrade over time.
- The 22/23 season home and away shirts use hummel’s ECO8 technology. Each shirt is manufactured from high-performing polyester produced from up to eight recycled plastic bottles.
Waste Management
- Works with Mick George Ltd to divert at least 95% of waste produced at the stadium and its offices from landfill.
- The club does not own its training facilities, but works with owners Clare College to support Clare College’s Environmental Policy.
- A recycling scheme for paper, cardboard, cans & plastics has been in operation since Spring 2008 with a recycling company this continues and Mick George Ltd have undertaken this role since 2013.
- Recycling for all the cardboard and plastics from the stadium, catering facilities, shop & programme sellers are in place for collection by Mick George Ltd recycling company.
- Further bins have been supplied from Mick George Ltd to ensure greater quantities are collected.
- Cardboard boxes used for deliveries of stock for the shops are re-used or recycled when possible.
- Pallets are returned to the supplying company for re-use or the timber is recycled by donating timber to allotment holders.
- Grass cuttings from the playing surface are recycled as compost and used by Allotment Holders.
- Hand dryers have been installed in a number of washroom areas to eliminate the use of paper towels.
- Product changes to toilet rolls, hand towels, have also been made to ensure the most bio-degradable and least damaging environmental products are used, when possible, within the stadium.
- Continues to work closely with its waste removal contractor to further increase the level of waste diverted from landfill.
Water Efficiency
- The installation of a borehole for the training ground for two pitches for irrigation has reduced the mains water usage.
- Water saving measures have been fitted to a number of the toilets and run times have been minimised on a number of push taps.
- Further motion sensors have been installed in the male toilets and were found to be satisfactory in performance and reduction in water consumption.
- Plans to install waterless urinals within a new development in May 2023.
Plant based/low carbon food
- Plant-based alternatives are offered to players, at each of the tea bars at the stadium and also at the training ground.
- Vegan Hot Dogs are available within concessions.
- Vegan option for players is porridge with mixed fruits, nuts & seeds
- Lunches include: vegan soups, Bulgogitofu with Asian greens and braised rice, Chickpea & pea meatballs with Italian passata & penne pasta, Harissa Roasted aubergine & peppers with cumin rice & salsa Verde, Sweet & sour chili Tofu with lime and coriander rice & Asian greens, Cajun halloumi with fajita wedges and roasted corn on the con with chunky salsa, Jerk roasted butternut with rice & peas, tomato jerk gravy & spring greens, Asparagus, leek & spinach risotto with tender stem broccoli, Spiced bean burger with chipotle mayo, Cajun wedges & grilled corn on the cob, Quorn bolognaise with spaghetti & charred broccoli, Quorn & red bean chilli with piri piri rice and roasted corn on the cob. All salads (on the menu’s provided) are vegan.
- Baxter Storey (the clubs catering contractor) purchase products as local to the stadium as is possible and tries to use ingredients that are in season as well as offering a high percentage of vegetable and fruit based meals.
Biodiversity
- Hedgerows along the boundary of the Habbin Stand/Coldhams Brook are no longer cut back and removed. The club now manages the hedgerow and relays the hedge trimmings to assist with nesting birds and wildlife.
- The club are also mindful to help the wildlife around the stadium and have introduced a number of nesting boxes within the stadium boundary.
- The creation of a bug hotel has also been undertaken that has seen bees using the area during the summer of 2022.
- Ground staff have stopped using peat-based products, avoid chemical use when possible and always try to use the most environmental products available.
- The club has further reduced the use of chemicals to maintain the playing surface and stadium surrounds with all weed removal now undertaken manually or with the assistance of a tiller.
Education
- The Community Trust delivered its newly formed social action project ‘Ocean Rescue’ in four schools last year. Ocean Rescue is a Premier League Primary Stars social action project based on reducing ocean plastic pollution. Pupils worked in groups to make posters, performances, fashion shows, presentations, sculptures and short films, to highlight the dangers of plastic pollution. A participating school sent letters to the Government to further raise awareness and received written responses in reply. Following the project, one school conducted a review of its single use plastic usage, including suppliers of materials, to become more ocean friendly.
Communication and Engagement
- An Environmental Policy is in place at Cambridge United Football Club and can be found on the website under the club’s policies. https://www.cambridgeunited.com/club/club-policies/
- Held and promoted an “Abbey Clean Up” to clear litter around The Abbey Stadium.
- In April 2022, worked with Pedal to the Pitch to encourage fans to cycle to its home matchday vs Morecambe. This was promoted via an online matchday guide and a Twitter post.
- Cambridge United Football Club won Planet League’s CUP26 trophy, football’s biggest-ever climate competition. The competition saw thousands of fans, families and schools complete a series of goal scoring climate actions to protect the planet.
- Cambridge United’s Community Trust has a page on its website dedicated to the club’s involvement in Planet League’s Schools vs Climate Change competition.
- Hosted a celebration event for free, to raise awareness of the Chisholm (Cycle & Walk) Trail and encourage its use when travelling to games.
- Staff are regularly reminded of the need to conserve energy where possible (i.e., switching off PCs, monitors, lights etc).
- Copier paper and envelopes used are made from recycled paper when possible.
- All outgoing emails now contain a reminder for recipients not to print out unless absolutely necessary.
- Staff will be encouraged to participate in the environmental work undertaken by the club and to make suggestions as to how the club’s environmental performance could be improved.
- Regular communications will be sent to staff reminding them of the need to minimise the use of energy and water.
- The club will attempt to maximise the awareness of its staff regarding environmental issues by using internal mail, posters and the internet.
- The club will use the power of its brand to promote a message to supporters by encouraging them to act in an environmentally friendly manner where possible.
Additional information
- The club is planning its new training facility with renewable energy in mind.
- New building plans for the training grounds are in line with BREEAM standards.
Information sourced directly from Cambridge United F.C staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 07 March, 2023.
