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Leeds United 2022

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Policy and Commitment

  • Leeds United is implementing a sustainability strategy and policy
  • Leeds United will promote Leeds Climate Commission’s goals, including the objective of making the city of Leeds net zero by 2030

Clean/Renewable Energy

  •  Energy not currently from renewable sources, but will be 100% provided by renewable energy from July 2023 (Sport Positive verified)

Energy Efficiency

  • Building management system in place on all premises
  • Decreased consumption in heating, lighting & electrical equipment remotely controlled
  • LED lighting (inc. floodlights) & high-efficiency building services systems in place at Stadium and Academy intelligent controlled. New, efficient undersoil pitch heating installed
  • We have replaced several broken-down gas kitchen appliances to electric ‘A’ Rated, reducing natural gas consumption along with the carcinogens produced when using gas fired appliances.
  • Gas fired Boiler replacements are more energy efficient ‘A’ rated.
  • Electric hand mowers have been used since September 2020

Sustainable Transport

  • Stadium promoted as ‘Public Transport Destination’; shuttle bus links, good pedestrian connections, regular transport updates. Driving not advised.
  • There are secure bike racks at Elland Road
  • Electric vehicle charging points planned for 2023/24 season

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

  • Moved to 100% digital ticketing so no tickets are posted or printed, have to be presented digitially within e-wallet
  • In 2022 Elland Road introduced approx 75% paper cups (with paper lids) which are plastic-free, recyclable, compostable, biodegradable and PFAS free, this includes the lid
  • During games for drinks, LUFC use 75% paper cups with paper tops and the remaining 25% are reusable plastic pint glasses that are washed after every game and reused
  • Water bottle refill stations in staff areas and training ground
  • Wooden cutlery and wooden stirrers
  • For away games, first-team players are served food in reusable containers with metal cutlery and linen napkins

Waste Management

  • Club staff verified below info from 2020 is still correct
  • 100% of waste received on site is weighed and recorded. Once the container is tipped it goes through both a manual and mechanical separation process, this ensures that we maximise the segregation of each waste type. The remaining wastes are bulk loaded either for further recycling and re processing, The residual waste that cannot be processed further is no longer sent to landfill it is sent for “RDF” – Refuse Derived Fuel that generates substantial energy to homes and businesses
  • To further maximise the food waste going for Green Energy, LUFC have 30 x 240 Litre Wheeled Bins that are placed around site in the relevant areas – These are then collected using a bin wagon which then tipped directly at the Green Energy plant as oppose to tipping it in your Compactor and us segregating at our Waste Transfer site

Water Efficiency

  • Additional bore hole installed at Thorp Arch for irrigation
  • Club staff verified below info from 2021 is still correct
  • A water audit report has been completed and water efficiency policy in place (not confirmed if this extends to all sites)
  • Waterless urinals at Stadium and Academy
  • Drainage & extraction system inc. attenuation pond & on site bore hole that extract water at Academy. 2 No. attenuation tanks at Stadium

Plant based/low carbon food

  • Introduction of herb garden at Thorp Arch which is used by chefs
  • Club staff verified below info from 2021 is still correct
  • Locally-sourced catering including cheese, meat, fish and vegetables.
  • Sponsorship deal with No Meat Company – rolls etc.
  • On the concourse, there are locally-sourced and vegetarian options
  • A vegan option is now available

Biodiversity

  • Recent remedial works undertaken on the pond. Increasing rainfall recapture/ capacity along with the biodiversity within and surrounding boundaries
  • Club staff verified below info from 2021 is still correct
  • Created an area with wild flowers, trees and bug hotel

Education

  • Planet League activities:
  • Stage 1 – Planet League Tournament, October 2022
  • The Leeds United Foundation showed their support for Britain’s biggest climate action football campaign, the Planet League Cup.
  • The Cup kicked-off on 10 th  October and consisted of a unique five-week sustainability tournament where Leeds United Foundation / Leeds United football fans scored goals for by completing green activities. These green activities ranged from a number of different things, such as having a meat-free meal, using the car less or filling up reusable bottles with tap water.
  • Each week throughout the tournament the Foundation focused on a particular theme, such as energy, food or travel, with the main aim to win the Planet League Cup. Also the individual that is also able to score the most goals throughout the five weeks had the opportunity win a holiday in the UK.
  • The Foundation encouraged participants and families through our wide range of programmes to take part in the campaign, with every green activity completed being added to the club’s tally with the aim of winning the Planet League Cup.
  • Results
  • Leeds United Finished 6 th in the Planet League cup with 151 families/ participants / Schools engaging in the tournament, completing 1950 Green Actions, scoring 4863 Goals, with an impact on KG Co2 of 8792, and in turn planting 502 trees..
  • https://www.leedsunited.com/news/community/30669/foundation-continue-work-with-planet-league-campaign
  • Stage 2 – Green Football Weekend
  • Leeds United / Leeds United Foundation participated in the world’s biggest football campaign to tackle climate change, Green Football Weekending joining a group of 80 professional UK clubs in the battle to protect our world.
  • From 17 th January 2023 – 5 th March 2023, through the club’s official charity, Leeds United Foundation shared the initiative through all programmes within Education, Sports Participation, and Health and Wellbeing.
  • Through 9 different programmes within Education, Sports Participation, Health and Wellbeing – the Foundation shared the initiative with 232 Primary Schools and 70 Secondary Schools.
  • Results
  • Leeds United Foundation finished 3 rd scoring a total of 9392, with 201 families / parents / schools signed up supporting a saving of 6147 KG CO2
  • Sustainability School Conference
  • The Foundation worked with one of our partner Schools – Outwood Academy, Hemsworth to host a Climate Change, Sustainability Conference at Elland Road.
  • 24 Schools attended, with 100 pupils from year 7 to post 16 engaged in the event, with 50 staff from across all Schools
  • Each secondary academy within Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) sent representatives from their student council to take part in the Student Voice Conference.
  • Participants were given the opportunity to network with those across the Trust, hear from experts on sustainability and share their thoughts and ideas about how they can tackle climate change at the event at the stadium in Elland Road.
  • Ideas included the banning of plastic cutlery; the launching of a litter-picking programme and the reduction of plastic equipment, specifically pens.

Communications and Engagement

Sustainable Procurement

  • All conferences and events now use eco-friendly pens made of cork and wheat straw

Sponsorship/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 LEEDS UNITED F.C. staff
Information updated 14th March 2023
To see information from 2021, click here