Policy and Commitment
- The club’s environmental policy can be found on the website under its ‘First Time Fan’ page: https://wiganathletic.com/fan-information/first-time-fan/.
- Is an EFL Green Clubs member.
Clean/Renewable Energy
- The club has engaged with renewable energy providers with a view to installing solar energy at the stadium and is planning to explore the installation of solar energy at its training ground.
Energy Efficiency
- Had an ESOS phase two survey carried out and is in the process of working towards ESOS phase three.
- The club has engaged with an external energy efficiency consultant to look at areas for further improvement.
- Has committed to change all general internal lighting within its facilities to LEDs. 75% of the stadium internal lighting has now been converted to LEDs along with a large proportion of the external lighting. The remainder will be completed within the coming months. Once the stadium internal LED lighting project has been completed, the next process will be to focus on the training grounds.
- Installed an energy tracking system that will allow management to pinpoint areas of high electrical usage and enable the club to explore opportunities to reduce electrical energy in specific areas. The system is relatively new and is already having a significant impact on energy reduction.
- Trials are currently being carried out with regards to the stadium pitch growing lighting rigs. The club has recently imported new innovative growing lighting rigs that use a fraction of the energy needed by more conventional lighting rigs.
- The club is looking to replace the light fittings of its current lighting rigs with more energy efficient units.
- Plans are in place to replace the stadium flood lighting system with a more efficient system.
- The club has recently installed the first of its energy efficient hot water boilers.
Sustainable Transport
- Public transport (train and bus), active transport (walking) and carpooling to the DW Stadium are advocated in the club’s ‘Useful Information For Supporters and Visitors” document which can be found on the website https://wiganathletic.com/fan-information. The club is currently updating the document to explain how supporters can travel to the stadium using all modes of transport including walking and bicycle routes.
- Is working with the local authority to make foot and bicycle routes more accessible to various areas of the community, including the stadium.
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- Has started a program at the training ground of using water fountains and personalised bottles instead of single use bottled water.
- Where possible, the club will reduce the use of single use plastic products by replacing items such as cutlery, straws, food receptacles, disposable cups and drinks stirrers that are traditionally made from plastics or polystyrene, with eco-friendly alternatives. The club’s catering service partner also adopts the same strategy.
Waste Management
- Mixed general waste only is processed and segregated accordingly. The waste is moved on for a Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) process which sees a recycling percentage of above 95%.
- Dry mixed recycling stations can be found throughout the office facilities and cover cardboard, paper, plastic bottles, other clean plastic, shrink wrap and cans.
- Has engaged with a specialist glass removal company.
- Ensures its food service provider safely separates food from general waste and employs a specialist company to have food waste collected. Once collected, food waste is processed through anaerobic digestion facilities.
- Ensures waste electrical and electronic equipment is removed by a suitable contactor.
Water Efficiency
- New systems are being explored to improve aerators for percussion taps, censors on urinals and capturing of rainwater for pitch irrigation.
- More water efficiency strategies will be identified once the club’s ESOS report has been completed.
Plant based/low carbon food
- Concourse catering includes a Cheese and Onion Pie.
- Food service partner Sodexo ensures foods are responsibly / sustainably sourced as part of its procurement policy.
Biodiversity
- Had discussions with the Ribble Rivers Trust to explore opportunities of enhancing nature in the nearby river bank.
Education
- Recently invested in two courses on environmental awareness which are accessible via the club’s in-house training platform and are available to all staff and players.
- Wigan Athletic Community Trust launched its own Sustainable Schools Project in partnership with Commhoist, which was offered to 10 partner schools. The aim is for each school to create an eco-council, discuss, create and eventually implement their idea(s) over a minimum of six weeks on how to make their school more sustainable. Pupils will produce and deliver a presentation to a panel of judges showcasing their sustainability project at a semi-finals event and if successful, a finals event at the DW Stadium. The winner will be awarded a £500 cash prize which they will use to help support their winning idea, whilst also receiving three additional sessions from Community Trust staff. The project is pupil led with Community Trust staff facilitating a minimum of six weekly workshops to support, educate and empower the pupils to create and deliver their own sustainability programme, by the time that they present at the finals.
- As part of the Community Trust’s participation in Planet League’s CUP26 competition, staff pushed the programme in their respective primary schools by delivering workshops on climate change, whilst encouraging pupils and teaching staff to complete environmentally mindful challenges.
- The Community Trust delivers an “Extra Time” project that runs at Wigan Youth Zone and Leigh Miners Rangers on a weekly basis for people aged over 55. Participants receive visits from external partners regarding energy saving and cost savings for heating and energy. Over 120 people have received workshops and have been given a reusable cup.
- The Community Trust will be offering The Premier League Primary Stars’ sustainability challenge ‘Protect the Planet’ to at least two partner schools.
Communication and Engagement
- The club’s environmental policy can be found on the website under its ‘First Time Fan’ page: https://wiganathletic.com/fan-information/first-time-fan/.
- In May 2022, Wigan Athletic U18’s scholars Charlie Hughes and Joe Adams visited a school to assist with their Premier League Inspires Challenge presentation around making the DW Stadium more environmentally friendly.
- Engaged with the local authority’s Business Support Team Leader from the Parks and Streetscene Services to carry out a litter pick and tidy up of local footpaths, roads and wetlands. The event involved members of staff, fans, the local authority and young people.
- The Community Trust participates in Planet League’s competitions that uses the power of football to raise awareness to positively affect climate change. For CUP26, Wigan Athletic finished 4th and saw Latics supporters complete over 400 activities which resulted in 938 goals scored, over 650 trees saved and over 11,000kg of CO2 emissions saved.
Additional information
Information sourced directly from Wigan Athletic F.C. staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 07 March, 2023.