Policy and Commitment
- The club has an environmental policy that can be found on the club’s website https://www.charltonafc.com/policies/environmental
- Is an EFL Green Clubs member.
- RSK is the club’s official sustainability partner and will help the club become more environmentally sustainable.
- The club has instilled a Green Team who will help to move the club’s sustainability measures forward.
Clean/Renewable Energy
- All energy received to the club is from 100% renewable energy sources.
- Has conducted a Monitoring and Evaluation Assessment (M&E) for solar energy at the stadium and is in the process of looking at options and feasibility to install solar panels.
- Purchases heating oil for its central heating system at the training ground. The club understands the impact that this has on the environment and purchases carbon offset tickets. The club is in talks with its fuel provider to consider moving to hydrotreated vegetable oil fuel (HVO).
- Is currently assessing the viability for the boiler systems at the site to use HVO fuel.
Energy Efficiency
- In June 2022, the club had an energy audit for both the stadium and training ground to aid the understanding of the areas where energy can be saved and to become more efficient.
- All of the club’s air conditioning systems are on Building Management System (BMS) panels at the stadium.
- The club’s undersoil heating system is situated on its own BMS panel.
- Installed landlord meters across both sites to enable the club to review energy consumption and provide information to different departments to help them reduce their energy consumption.
- Is currently in a phase of replacing all halogen light fittings at the stadium to LED fittings as noted on the clubs energy audit. The club is currently only purchasing LED fittings to replace lights and has moved away from halogen light fittings.
- Has recently changed all beer cooling systems in line with its new partnership with Asahi. This has allowed for newer more efficient cooling systems to be installed. Previous cooling systems had been in place for over 15 years.
- Purchased and installed new water boilers at the stadium. Previous water boilers were over 15 years old and newer models have allowed for efficiencies to increase.
- Installed new heating boilers at the training ground as the previous heating boiler system was 15 years old and inefficient.
Sustainable Transport
- A first-time visitors guide promotes public transport (train, tube and bus) travel to The Valley.
- The club’s Valley Express coach service offers supporters transport to and from SE7 from dozens of pick-up points across Kent and Sussex.
- Charlton’s ‘Valley Away’ is the only service to offer Charlton supporters coach travel to every away league match of the season and is run by the club. Special coaches with lifts can also be provided to cater for the club’s disabled supporters.
- For the club’s Greener Game on 25th March 2023, media communications will be going out to fans to encourage them to use sustainable transport.
- The club is currently conducting an electric charging point proposal with the help of RSK, which will allow for electric charging points at the clubs main car park. Within this proposal, the club is looking to have electric charging points for staff and to create a scheme to encourage staff to use electric vehicles.
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- The Community Trust has purchased reusable water bottles for all children at the training ground in an initiative to remove single use plastics.
- The club encourages its players and staff at the training ground in the reductions of single use plastics with posters and newsletters.
- Has a sustainability waste roadmap in place which helps to drive measures to help reduce waste and single use plastics.
- With the help of RSK, the club is currently in the process of purchasing reusable water bottles for all staff and players to reduce the use of single use plastics.
Waste Management
- The club diverts 100% of its waste away from landfill. All waste is sent to the sorting facilities of Countrystyle Recycling.
- The club does not have a waste management policy but has created a sustainability recycling road map with its waste provider Countrystyle Recycling. All waste that is taken by Countrystyle Recycling is recycled through their sorting facilities.
- Has purchased two recycling compactors at the stadium to aid the splitting of the waste streams and to reduce weekly bin collections to once per month.
Water Efficiency
- Thames Water conducted a survey at the stadium and training ground. Water controllers were installed on each of the urinals with PIR sensors to only flush and use water if the urinal is being used.
- Rainwater is recycled at the training ground. All rain water is diverted into a lake which is then used for irrigation, prior to using the mains water supply. The club ensures the lake is completely full before the summer period, to aid in the reduction of water use throughout the summer.
- The club created posters in partnership with RSK to ensure players and staff were aware about the importance of reducing time in showers to help save water.
Plant based/low carbon food
- Vegan options available all around the ground. These include a broccoli and vegan cheese pie or a vegan onion bhaji burger
- Vegans and vegetarian options for players and staff.
- Supply chain gather and source their food products from three local markets; Smithfield, Billingsgate and Spitalfields, through local suppliers.
- In 2020, the club’s curry night included a Thai green curry for vegans and vegetarians.
Biodiversity
- There is a memorial garden at the stadium for fans to use.
- Is currently in the process of planting new polar trees at its training ground site which are native to the area. The planting is due to take place within the next three months and will be across the club’s boundary fence line. This is being carried out in conjunction with Friends of Avery Hill Park.
- Has reduced the amount of fertiliser used by 60% following soil testing on a bi-weekly basis and by sending the club’s groundsman team on fertiliser use courses.
- The club has a new Upbeats Garden in place at the training ground for parents, fans and players to use.
Education
- The club’s Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion held a sustainability webinar for the EFL with the help of RSK. The webinar is available to all clubs to develop their understanding on sustainability and its importance.
- Held meetings with staff on energy consumption and ways that they think they could help with this.
- Workshops were held with RSK and Charlton Athletic Community Trust on sustainability.
Communication and Engagement
- The club has an environmental policy that can be found on the club’s website. https://www.charltonafc.com/policies/environmental
- Charlton Athletic Community Trust partnered with Ravensworth School and invited their Eco Ambassadors to present their ideas about during a cross-curriculum day at The Valley. The event took place ahead of the club’s Greener Game vs Sheffield Wednesday Football Club on the 25th February 2023.
- In September 2021, Charlton Athletic and the Charlton Athletic Community Trust partnered with Pledgeball for the club’s first ever Environmental Day. Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth fans faced each other in a ‘Pledge Off’ to see which teams of fans could pledge to save the most carbon emissions.
- Raised awareness of Rob Green and Dean Windass’ promotion of using smart meters.
- Encourages players, fans, staff and anyone involved in the club to save energy and be more environmentally conscious via a ‘Clean & Green – Be Aware, Become Efficient’ PowerPoint.
- Posters and flyers have been posted around the training ground in player changing rooms and canteens to help reduce water waste, reduce single use plastics and recycle.
Additional information
Information sourced directly from Charlton Athletic F.C staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 07 March, 2023.
