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Crystal Palace 2022

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Policy and Commitment

  • As part of our ESOS and SECR compliance we are developing strategies and initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption
  • A reduction in expected carbon dioxide emissions of at least 35% above that required by the 2013 Building Regulations, is incorporated into the final design of the Club’s Academy development, which opened in 2021
  • We have established a new steering group, with operational board level representation, to agree on the Club’s overarching sustainability policy. A sustainability working group was set up in October 2022 and will report in 2023. We are committed to publicising the policy and updates through Club channels.
  • In 2021, we joined the GFA (Global Football Alliance) which facilitates the sharing of ideas and best practice amongst clubs around the world. We have engaged with member clubs to learn about their sustainability initiatives
  • Sustainability will be embedded into the Main Stand redevelopment; planning permission was granted for the project in 2022.

Clean/Renewable Energy

  • Our new energy supplier, appointed in October 2022, generates electricity from 100% renewable sources
  • Plans to install solar power at our Academy site in summer 2023 and evaluating installs at our Training Ground and Stadium
  • Two electric mowers purchased for the Stadium in August 2022 and petrol-powered machines will be phased out
  • Kit van and Academy vans replaced with newer lower emission Euro 6 compliant models.

Energy Efficiency

  • Building management system in place can be remotely operated and the building temperatures monitored and adjusted automatically etc.
  • All lights across all sites are being replaced with LED with the aim of becoming 100% LED operational. This was included in the training ground refurbishment in July 2022.
  • Stadium floodlighting is LED. We are evaluating investment plans to replace any non-LED lighting in the stadium concourse.
  • The major redevelopment works at our Academy site had energy efficiency embedded in the design e.g. low energy lighting controlled with timers and motion sensors, efficient hot water heating boilers (Lochinvar Eco charger cylinders), ambient heating controlled with timers, room thermostats, and sensors
  • Across the business, we have installed remote electricity sensors that allow us to monitor consumption at a detailed level. This is being used to identify wasteful practices and to drive cost effective investment in energy reducing initiatives. We implemented revised practices at our Croydon retail store, which have led to significant energy savings.
  • We have a plan in place to address energy efficiency issues relating to freezers, hot water dispensers, cooling systems and air conditioning at the Stadium and Training Ground, which were identified in our ESOS audit
  • Full survey conducted of AC optimisers and Boiler optimisation to reduce energy consumption.

Sustainable Transport

  • Public transport advocated
  • The Club provides extremely competitively priced coach travel to the vast majority of away games as a sustainable option for our travelling supporters
  • A fan travel survey is conducted after every home match to report on modes of transport used by supporters: with more than half of home supporters (53%) stating they travel by public transport – and this figure is lower due to several train strikes this season) – see publicised information here
  • A recent matchday fan experience survey conducted by Premier League polled 1,008 CPFC supporters along with 31,000 Premier League attending fans across all clubs (research conducted between 10 Oct 2022 – 30 Nov 2022, by Yonder and the Premier League). It found Crystal Palace fans over index on train travel to both home matches and away matches. In 22/23 season, 43% of Palace fans polled travelled to home matches by train, with 56% travelling by train for away matches. Personal car usage is considerably lower than the league average amongst Palace fans polled on matchday habits, with 35% using their car for home matches and 31% for away respectively – see publicised information here
  • The matchday guide publicised on the Club website encourages all supporters to avoid driving to matches and promotes cycling; the Club does not provide matchday parking
  • At the Club’s Academy, 20% of all car parking spaces provision will be provided with active Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCP), with passive provision for all remaining spaces. There are 34 covered cycle parking spaces
  • There is a policy that the team will not fly unless absolutely unavoidable. The team have taken only 3 domestic flights in the last 12 months, all due to train strikes / lack of trains. This season: Newcastle (A) evening KO, no trains available;  Man United (A) flew due to no trains after the match. Last season: Everton (A) one way, no trains available (Stayed overnight to enable train travel next day)
  • A travel plan is in place, which includes a travel plan co-ordinator promoting alternative methods of transport and 12-month monitoring
  • Staff are encouraged to car share
  • The club offer a cycle scheme to allow staff to purchase bikes on preferential payment terms.
  • Bicycle storage free onsite
  • Rail travel is the preferred option for players to travel to away matches, otherwise they travel by coach
  • Electric vehicle points are planned at the Stadium and training ground
  • Sustainable transport strategy drawn up in 2018 when the Club initially sought planning permission for a new main Stand

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

  • Single use plastic removal policy in place
  • All plastic cutlery has been replaced with wooden or non-plastic; paper straws used
  • All coffee machines throughout the business have been changed from individual capsule to ground bean to further reduce plastic usage
  • Water machines in all offices to ensure less use of water bottles by staff and players
  • All bags provided at the Stadium for retail purchases (merchandising etc) are paper, not plastic
  • 20,000 plastic membership cards phased out and replaced by mobile ticketing except for use by supporters with special needs or disabilities requesting them – fewer than 2,000 now in circulation.

Waste Management

  • Zero waste to landfill – waste management company does not use landfill
  • At all sites waste is separated into general, dry mixed recycling, glass, and grass so our waste management company can maximise recycling and sustainability opportunities
  • To reduce food waste, on matchdays all hot food is sold at a 50% discount immediately after the final whistle
  • City Harvest charity collects unused food items for use in a local food bank
  • Food separated from other waste at the Academy
  • All offices in all sites use recycling bins only
  • To reduce the printing of matchday programmes, all Gold, Junior Gold and International Members (c6,500) receive a digital programme emailed to them/hosted on the website as part of their package. The Club also sells one-off digital editions for £1.99, which are promoted on social channels before home games – helping us reduce paper consumption.

Water Efficiency

  • Purchased remote water readers to monitor and effectively manage our consumption.  We have identified and repaired water leaks in our pipes using this system.
  • Our Grounds team uses sophisticated pitch condition monitoring systems and pitch irrigation systems to optimise water use at all sites
  • Purchased Ground equipment to wash down mowers, sprayers, buggies etc. Specified environmentally friendly equipment to ensure only clean water is returned to sewer, also uses a closed loop system that recycles water.1m litres potential saving p.a. for Academy and Training Ground.
  • A feasibility study is being conducted for rainwater harvesting for Training Ground and Academy
  • Waterless urinals for Stadium toilets are being explored.
  • Washdown bays at all sites are soon to be closed loop systems, enabling recycling of any water used, with no contaminates being discharged.

Plant based/low carbon food

  • Vegan and plant-based food options are offered to fans in all areas of the stadium and are always made available to players and staff
  • 33 kiosks in public catering, there are 23 that serve hot food and wherever there is hot food there is a hot vegan option. E.g. vegan pie, vegan sausage roll, plant based moving mountains burger or vegan pizza.
  • Hospitality options include Vegan hospitality options, e.g. wild mushroom bao bun with garlic aioli & pickled red onion, aubergine cannelloni with petit ratatouille, polenta and salsa verde, confit onion with israeli cous cous, vegan salted caramel brownie
  • Plant-based milk is made available to staff at the Training Ground and central London office
  • Vegetarian and vegan options are offered to all Academy / Training ground staff at their canteens

Biodiversity

  • 120 new trees are being planted at the Club’s Academy site to improve biodiversity
  • Construction of a compensation ditch at the Academy, creating a vibrant environment for wildlife

Education

  • Palace For Life Foundation delivers the Planet Super League programme in local primary schools and shares via social media – this 6-week programme educates young people on key areas of sustainability including diet, transport, energy and waste, and engages local families with environmentally friendly actions/ challenges to help earn points for their club.https://planetsuperleague.com/
  • The club recently marked World Wildlife Day, which encouraged supporters to consider their environmental impact.

Communication and Engagement

Sustainable Procurement

Sponsorship and Ownership

  • OWNERSHIP
    • Ownership/Stake/Country/Info:
      • Steve Parish – 18% – UK
      • Joshua Harris – 18% – USA
      • David Blitzer – 18% – USA
      • John Textor – 40% – USA
    • Information:
      • Steve Parish began his career working in computer graphics. He went on to buy a stake in a company called Adplates Ltd, assuming control of the business and renaming it Tag Worldwide, transforming it from a London-based business to a global production powerhouse with 2,800 employees in 13 countries. He sold the business to Deutsche Post DHL Group’s Williams Lea in 2011.
      • Joshua Harris is American private equity investor and philanthropist who co-founded Apollo Global Management, one of the world’s largest alternative investment firms
      • David Blitzer is Global head of tactical opportunities at the private equity firm Blackstone Group and is co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
      • John Textor is American businessman. He is the retired Executive Chairman of fuboTV, Inc. (following its merger with Textor’s Facebank Group, Inc.), a sports-centric OTT streaming company.
    • Source of Income:
      • Steve Parish – Production
      • Joshua Harris – Private equity
      • David Blitzer – Private equity
      • John Textor – Disruptive technologies, creative content, and digital distribution business models for media, entertainment, and the internet
  • 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 Crystal Palace F.C. staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 14th March 2023
To see information from 2021, click here