Championship

Policy and Commitment

• Launched a sustainability webpage and has pages for: Our Commitmemt, Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Transport, Single Use Plastics, Waste Management, Water Efficiency, Biodiversity, Education as well as Communication and Engagement. The sustainability webpage can be viewed here: https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/more/more-sustainable-operations
• A sustainability working group representing all areas of the club meets regularly to update, review and plan progress.
• Sustainability is one of the 6 key themes for Burnley FC for the 2022/23 season, as voted for by the club’s staff.
• Burnley FC in the Community has a designated Trustee sustainability champion, a sustainability policy and action plan, as well as an internal working group, which feeds into and shares best practice with the whole club working group.
• Is working with East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce to calculate the club’s carbon footprint.Is an EFL Green Clubs member.
• Is an EFL Green Clubs member.

Clean/Renewable Energy

• 100% renewable energy at the stadium and training ground through renewable energy provider
• Feasibility studies are being conducted around the installation of solar at the stadium, and on Burnley FC in the Community sites.

Energy Efficiency

• Club is ESOS compliant and has undergone energy audits to identify energy saving opportunities and carbon reduction strategies across the Stadium and training ground.
• The club has recently gone through a comprehensive electrical network refurbishment.New equipment allows the localised monitoring of energy consumption. A scoping exercise is currently underway to allow the remote monitoring in real-time of energy consumption. The electrical upgrade has provided a larger power supply meanin that the club no longer relies on a diesel generator to supplement supplies on a matchday.
• LED lighting used including floodlights.
• Phased program of replacing older lighting with more efficient LED lighting with any new lighting installations required to be LED. The Stadium Press Room and Multi-Faith Room have both been converted to LED lighting. To date around 90% of stadium lighting is LED.
• Since 2013 Burnley Football club has partnered with an energy management consultancy, to become a more sustainable and energy efficient club. This includes the provision of an energy use monitoring platform for the Stadium and Training Facilities.
• Club is working with its energy partner to identify solutions to reduce its energy waste and carbon output and improve performance of electrical equipment across the estate. The club has introduced standard operating procedures across all match day functions which give specific instructions to staff in the areas of start-up and shut down processes, in order to reduce the amount of time of peak energy consumption
• Electric mowers are being introduced in the Stadium and Training Ground, as existing petrol mowers reach the end of their life. This reduces unnecessary waste. Three petrol mowers were replaced by electric during the 21/22 season, with a further three being added at the beginning of the 22/23 season, taking the total to six.
• Grow lights at the stadium were replaced at the beginning of the 22/23 season, with a model that is around two thirds more efficient that the previous models. The previous lighting rigs were sold on, preventing the need for dispoal.
• The training ground heating and air handling is managed via a Building Management System, ensuring maximum efficiency. A Building Management System has also been installed into the North Stand Executive area as part of its refurbishment, which will ensure maximum efficiency in the use of heating and lighting.
• Working with consultancy to implement BMS’s in other areas scheduled for refurbishment or by retro-fitting
• All heating and air handling units which are not managed by BMS are on timer systems, ensuring that they are only in use when needed.
• Cleaning products have been changed to a high concentrated formula which is diluted on site via a dispensing system. This reduces bulk and weight when being transported and reduces the volume of waste
• All oil fired boilers have now been decommissioned and replaced with high efficiency gas fired boilers and hot water systems – 2021/22 pre-season.
• The gas boiler in the Bob Lord Stand has been replaced with an electric boiler. This will remove around 66,000kWh of gas consumption annually, and reduce energy consumption by an estimated 40% (26,300kWh)).At the same time, the heating system has been zoned to ensure higher levels of efficiency in the areas heated. Obsolete pipework has also been removed to reduce the amount heated.
• The Jimmy McIlroy stand has seen three brand new gas boilers installed.At the same time, the heating system has been zoned to ensure higher levels of efficiency in the areas heated.  Obsolete pipework is being removed to reduce the size of the system that requires heating.
• Temperature reducing valves have been installed through the North and Jimmy McIlroy Stands, reducing the amount of hot water that needs to be produced.
• A scheme to super-insulate areas of the stadium and training ground is currently being designed
• All PC’s/Laptops in the main club office are set to a 1 minute standby setting.

Sustainable Transport

• Accessible by train and bus. Matchday information for supporters always includes information on sustainable travel methods.
• Work closely with local bus companies, supporting public transport methods where possible
• The club provides bike racks and storage boxes for staff and visitors at the stadium to encourage less people to travel by car and staff are encouraged to participate in the Governments ‘cycle to work scheme’
• Showers and changing facilities provided for ‘cycle to work scheme’
• Burnley FC have also introduced a salary sacrifice scheme to facilitate employees to purchase electric vehicles.
• There are three Electric Vehicle charging points at the Stadium
• ‘Car share scheme’ established and operated by the first team players, where they have purchased a minibus to transport themselves to and from training sessions during the week.
• No matchday unreserved parking on stadium car parks. Since the 2021/22 season, the number of parking spaces available for reservation has been reduced by around 55 spaces.
• The buggy that staff use to travel around the training ground is electric
• Where travel between the stadium and training ground is required by players and playing staff, a mini-bus shuttle service operates, reducing the number of car journeys that are made
• A detailed travel plan is to be developed and will highlight sustainable methods of travelling to the stadium and training ground
• Charging points are scheduled to be installed at the training ground during the summer 2023.

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

• Introduced reusable cups at Turf Moor which will remove around 150,000 single use plastic cups from waste every season.
• Additional water fountains have been installed at the training ground to encourage the use of refillable bottles.
• Removed the supply and use of single use plastic water bottles at the training ground. Single use plastic water bottles are prohibited in first team training areas. The club has provided playing, coaching and back room staff with reusable plastic bottles.
• Further investigation is taking place at the stadium to introduce a similar scheme
• Removed the use of plastic carrier bags in the Clarets Store and replaced them with recyclable paper bags with purchase; previously around 5,000 plastic bags a year were issued
• Burnley FC Hospitality have replaced single use plastic straws with biodegradable alternatives
• Burnley FC Ground Catering have replaced plastic cutlery with wooden alternatives.
• Spray bottles are now refilled from dispensers, rather than being single use, previously, around 3,000 single use spray bottles a year were purchased
• A process to review how usage of plastics and look for alternative products, or work with suppliers and changing their processes in all areas of the club is ongoing.
• Where water bottles are used, these are now 100% recycled.
• Turf Moor offers free feminine hygiene products in all its toilet facilities. Since the start of the 2022/23 season, these products have been changed from regular items to sustainably produced.
• In the 2022/23 season and for the first time, the Junior Clarets gift did not contain any plastic items.

Waste Management

• The club has a waste management strategy where all recyclable or recoverable waste is removed by the waste handler.
• Work closely with waste collection providers to ensure the club’s ambition to be a zero-waste organisation is embraced and worked towards.
• Annually less than 3% of waste goes to landfill.
• Unrecovered waste is incinerated and used to generate electricity
• Burnley FC developed a partnership with a company that recycles IT equipment.  Old IT equipment is either broken down into component parts and recycled or is refurbished for reuse. In return for the club’s old equipment, the recycling company donated trees to be planted on Burnley FC and Burnley FC in the Community sites. These were planted during the Winter 2021/22 tree planting season.
• Burnley FC has also developed a partnership with a furniture recycling company, with the aim of ensuring that old/broken furniture is fully recycled, or refurbished for re-use, rather than it going to landfill.
• Plastics, cardboard and glass are separated at source and are then further processed at the recycling plant.
• Recycling bins are used at the stadium and training ground, but these aren’t supporter/customer facing.
• Used cooking oil is recycled into bio-diesel.
• Flyaway mowing is practiced on some of the training ground pitches, meaning that cut grass does not become waste to be disposed of.
• The club is in the process of ensuring that all new purchases/products are accompanied by a sustainable disposal strategy. If a sustainable disposable solution is not possible, strict criteria will be required to be met before purchase is authorised
• The Clarets Store stock a range of 100% recycled merchandise including school bags, rucksacks, and sports bags.
• Clarets season cards will no longer be re-issued every year saving around 12,000 plastic cards being send out via post each season.
• Burnley FC Ticket Office have removed competition branding from paper tickets meaning that they can be used for any league or cup game, reducing the amount of unused/waste tickets.

Water Efficiency

• The club is making an effort to reduce water usage across all areas.
• A strategy of ensuring that the purchase of new equipment takes into account its efficiency in the use of water.
• The stadium has undergone a programme of toilet cistern replacement in its concourse areas.  New toilet cisterns now use between 3 and 6L on a dual flush system compared to the 11L single flush cistern they replace. One corporate area has also undergone a complete refurbishment with similar reduced capacity toilets installed and all cisterns replaced.
• 90% of concourse urinals are now waterless.
• Consumption reduction devices are fitted to all taps throughout the stadium and training ground
• The club has an extraction licence for the River Calder from which 25m3 of water per day can be extracted, when flow levels are sufficient. Extracted water accounts for around 10% of total water usage on site, reducing consumption of treated water.
• Wastewater from the training ground is treated on site and discharged to the River Calder. No waste or surface water is sent to water treatment works
• Rainfall is measured, and technology is being used to accurately predict the weather. By ensuring that pitches at the stadium and training ground are only watered when it hasn’t rained, or when no rainfall is forecast the amount of irrigation water is reduced.
• A new wash off area for grounds machinery at the training ground has a water recycling mechanism which reduces the amount of clean water taken from the mains.

Plant based/low carbon food

• Vegan and vegetarian options are available in hospitality areas and at the training ground
• Vegan options are being investigated with the intention of introducing in kiosks during the 2022/23 season. The catering department to date have sourced vegan lager and cider.
• Vegan friendly non-alcoholic beers/lagers and ciders have been introduced across all stadium outlets.
• Vegetarian options are available via concourse and fan zone outlets on a match day
• Oat and soya milk options are available in the club’s corporate areas on matchdays and non-matchdays.
• Approximately 50% of food suppliers are local. Work with catering suppliers to ensure where possible, the procurement and supply chain is sustainable with produce locally grown. For example, beef is sourced from the Ribble Valley (10 miles away), match day pie provider is also 10 miles away

Biodiversity

• The training ground is habitat to a number of protected species, snipes, bats, voles, newts and various flora
• Regular surveys are undertaken to ensure that the activities of the club are not having a detrimental effect on these species
• Landscaping work is planned to ensure that species of plant and tree are used that are supportive to the habit
• In 2023 pitch treatments were changed to organic products
• Ground staff have undergone hedgehog awareness sessions and mowers are labelled with warning signs.
• East Lancashire Beekeepers society have assisted with information about providing new habitats and food sources for bees and other pollinators in non-playing areas of the training ground and also Burnley FC in the Community sites.This is work in progress, led by ground staff at the clubs training ground.
• Planters on the stadium footprint have been specifically requested to be planted with pollinator friendly species.
• Non-Lethal bird control methods (hawks) are used within the stadium to reduce nuisance birds and avoid unintended impacts on non-target protected populations
• At Burnley FC in the Community’s, Whitehough Outdoor Centre, military veterans have designed, built and delivered a variety of eco-projects on the 22 acre site, this includes pond renovations, and habit building such as the ‘Bugingham Palace’ project.
• Aligning with the club mascots Bertie and Bella Bee a ‘Bee Bomb’ is included in the Junior Clarets gift for the 2022/23 season.

Education

• Burnley FC and Burnley FC in the Community will work together to support young people from the community in the delivery of the Premier League Inspires Challenge. This year the Challenge asks young people to investigate and present opportunities for their football club to operate in a more sustainable manner
  • Two members of Burnley FC staff and two members of Burnley FC in the Community Staff have participated in a L1 Introduction to Sustainability qualification with Lancashire Adult Learning.This course will now be offered to all members of staff who wish to participate.
  • Burnley FC in the Community has a wide range of environmental activities at Whitehough which will be used as part of the ‘protect the planet’ challenge. As part of this challenge, young people will be asked on the Community’s programmes to learn about its bug hotel ‘Bugingham Palace’ which was built by participants on its Veterans Programme, and the positive impact of insects on the environment and our need to protect them and provide safe spaces for them. As part of this programme, the young people will be encouraged to create their own Bugingham Palace at home and share pictures with Whitehough to be displayed in the classroom. This will form part of a competition with the winning participants able to attend an event at Whitehough later in the year celebrating their positive impact on the environment.
• Burnley FC in the Community is looking to deliver the Protect the Planet Challenge around Earth Day in April 2023 to allow a combined effort to raise awareness around environmental sustainability. The Community will then look to continue this theme throughout our delivery with an appeal to sponsors for reusable water bottles to help the waste of single use plastic bottles at Premier League Kicks and Limitless Clarets Sessions.
• Burnley FC staff will have the opportunity to participate in sustainability awareness workshops with the club’s supporter group – Sustainable Clarets. These will be delivered with the intention of embedding sustainable operations into the decision-making processes across all departments.

Communication and Engagement

• A page has been built on the Burnley FC website which illustrates the Sustainability Policy, the club’s action plan, and celebrates the work that has and is taking place. https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/more/more-sustainable-operations
• A supporters group ‘Sustainable Clarets’ has recently been established. The club will engage with the group in respect of informing them of the club’s work and progress, and where appropriate, also to utilise the knowledge and expertise of individuals in informing the club’s decisions and priorities
• Matchday information for supporters always includes information on sustainable travel methods.
• Burnley FC took part in the Green Football Weekend.Participation included asking supporters to consider how they travelled to the fixture, the running of a Pledgeball Fixture, and interviews with club staff and Sustainable Clarets which featured on the BBC and Sky.
• Burnley FC in the Community are part of Planet Super League as part of their schools programme (winning the competition in Summer 2021).  This project encourages and engages with the club’s fans and the wider community to make positive behaviour change in their own lives and homes. On request, the club supports Burnley FC in the Community in the next round of the Planet Super League competition via the club’s media channels.
• Burnley FC in the Community has been nominated for the Red Rose Awards for their work in the areas of Environmental, Social and Governance Initiatives.
• The ‘Keep the Clarets Warm’ initiative, set up in response to the rising costs of energy, recycles clothing to ensure that members of the community are able to access warm clothing over the winter.
• All staff email footers contain a ‘Think before you Print’ message.
• Supporters completed a survey on sustainability as the club aims to be more environmentally conscious. The survey covered various topics including fans attitudes towards climate change, the connection between football and sustainability and perceptions around the club’s sustainability pledges.
• Teamed up with environmental charity Pledgeball in an ongoing effort to be more environmentally friendly and to encourage matchday supporters to change their behaviours.
• Supported WWF’s 2023 #WorldWithoutNature campaign by removing the nature elements from the club’s crest for the day.

Additional information

Information sourced directly from Burnley F.C. staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 07 March, 2023.

Policy and Commitment

• A page dedicated to Sustainability can be found on the club’s website here: https://www.watfordfc.com/sustainability. The page includes a Water Policy, Energy Performance Policy, Environmental Policy, Biodiversity Policy, Waste Management Policy and Single-Use Policy.
• The Environmental Policy can be viewed on the website here https://www.watfordfc.com/storage/114504/Environmental-Policy.pdf
• The club is going through the application to be a signatory for UN Sports for Climate Action
• Will adhere to a 2030 reduction target and a 2040 Net Zero target. To be publicly announced soon after completion and acknowledgement of application.
• Announced a long-term partnership with leading global energy management and net zero consultancy ClearVUE, who will support the Hornets’ ambition to achieve net zero.

Clean/Renewable Energy

• 100% of electricity comes from a renewable source.
• Solar panel installation has now been completed at the training ground.
• Completed a drone survey for feasibility of solar on roofs of the stands at Vicarage Road.
• Commissioned CHP+ (combined heat and power) with utilisation of waste heat at training ground with additional 1500 litre water tank and heat exchanger unit for dome heating. This is due for completion in March 2023.

Energy Efficiency

• Energy Efficiency policy can be viewed on the club’s website here: https://www.watfordfc.com/storage/114501/Energy-Performance-Policy.pdf
• Clearview energy management system has been integrated to all sites. Analysis and findings for reduction shared with departments regularly and discussed at monthly sustainability working group meetings.
• ESOS and SECR complaint.
• Currently an estimated 70% of all lighting across sites is LED. The club’s policy is to fit LED for all new installations and old failed lighting.

Sustainable Transport

• Continues to advocate Train, London Underground and Overground above driving.
• There is no parking available for fans at the ground and street parking is restricted for local residents with matchday permits.

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

• Single Use Policy can be viewed on the club’s website here: https://www.watfordfc.com/storage/114765/Single-Use-Policy.pdf. The policy aims to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of Single-Use Plastic products within all Watford Football Club’s premises.
• Switched to reusable cups in November 2019.
• Eliminated single use plastic cutlery by switching to wooden alternatives and paper straws.

Waste Management

• Waste Management Policy can be viewed on the club’s website here: https://www.watfordfc.com/storage/114510/Waste-Management-Policy.pdf
• 100% of waste is diverted from landfill – general non-recyclable waste is sent to incineration for power production.
• Continued collaboration with catering partner and waste company to split and reduce waste and recycling of all waste streams inc., cardboard, mixed plastic (recycled), food and grass (bio-digestion).
• All recyclable waste is separated into cardboard, mixed recycling, food and glass streams for recycling.
• Recycling stations in offices.
• On 18^thMarch 2023, the club will trial new recycling stations for plastic bottles, and mixed recycling on the Rookery concourse, prior to a rollout stadium wide. This will complement the reusable plastic cups.

Water Efficiency

• Water Policy can be viewed on the club’s website here: https://www.watfordfc.com/storage/114498/Water-Policy.pdf. The policy aims to drive reduction and conservation.
• Water logging devices have been fitted to meters and can now be analysed through Clearview for insights on usage patterns, as well as opportunities for measured reduction.
• Monitored and balanced use of water borehole at training ground.
• Investigating rainwater harvesting systems.

Plant based/low carbon food

• All food sold at the stadium is sustainably sourced with vegan options available at kiosks and hospitality. Dishes include broccoli, cauliflower and cheese pie (ve), The Shroom burger (Mushroom based burger) (ve).
• Cheese burgers are now 50% beef and 50% mushroom.
• Training ground food options are mostly sustainably sourced. Vegan options are available.

Biodiversity

• Biodiversity Policy can be viewed on the club’s website here: https://www.watfordfc.com/storage/114507/Biodiversity-Policy.pdf
• Partnership with Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust to implement a management plan for all sites to make them nature reserves.
• Spring/Summer 2023 will see a site wide survey to understand fauna, flora, species and numbers of animal and insects, before implementation of strategies to refrain, reduce, restore, renew.
• Multiple projects delivered via club’s community trust NCS and PL Inspires programmes such as:
• Creating a garden space in Adeyfield Academy to increase access to green spaces for students, wildlife and insects.
• Local litter picks around the schools’ grounds and community areas to reduce pollution and waste – The Collett School, St Luke’s & Parmiters School.
• Upcycling damaged footballs into hanging baskets in Sir John Lawes Catholic High School – used in the school eco garden and local area.
• A three meter border has been implemented around the perimeter of the training ground which will not be cut and will be allowed to grow wild.
• Hedges at the training ground are to be cut on top which will allow for growth and fruit-bearing at the side for local wildlife.
• Through its energy contract, in June 2020 Watford contributed to Open Energy Market and Cool Earth’s partnership, protecting 6.40 acres of rainforest in Northern Peru.

Education

• Education on topics of global warming, sustainability, recycling etc delivered to primary and secondary schools via community trust programme:
  • Includes Premier League Inspires Challenge – environmental sustainability introduction and planning sessions in six secondary schools.
  • Worked closely with one of PL Primary Stars partner school to align its delivery model (around plastic pollution) with the aims of their eco council members. Led to positive actions which saw the club adapt its delivery to include matters that the pupils were noticeably interested in, including lessons around school pollution levels where pupils learnt about the effects that car fumes can have on the environment.
  • During the project, supported these pupils by creating litter groups which related to the club’s passion of reducing plastic pollution and related this to the pollution from factories that produce these materials. Additionally, the club incorporated the pupils findings into class assemblies with the goal of educating and inspiring their classmates around the effects pollution is having on the community.
  • The groups have since gone on to achieve the following:
  • Four pupils have signed up for local community social action projects at their local community centre
  • 100% of pupils have been asked to lead the school councils termly meeting around climate change to governors in March.
  • 100% of pupils achieved their school council award (school target of time spent independently learning about the subject).
• Educational delivery programmes to the Hornets’ workforce will also help drive Watford FC’s medium and long-term push to keep developing great habits, which support an increased sustainability profile across the club.

Communication and Engagement

• Dedicated sustainability page on the club’s main website: https://www.watfordfc.com/sustainability
• The Environmental Policy can be viewed on the website here https://www.watfordfc.com/storage/114504/Environmental-Policy.pdf.
• Raised awareness of the club’s environmental efforts through an article in the Mirror: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/watford-green-football-weekend-bees-29143034
• Participation and promotion of Planet League competitions and Green Football Weekend.
• Environmental updates to all staff and players via the club’s intranet. E.g. encouraged staff to score green goals across Green Football Weekend as part of the club’s participation in Planet League.
• Social media posts were used to promote reusable plastic cup use. Large displays behind cup return bins at the stadium.
• Will host the Dutch FA in March for the club’s home fixture vs Birmingham City. The club will give a presentation on sustainability at Watford FC and share ideas.
• Actively promoted the Watford FC x ClearVUE NetZero Partnership on YouTube. The video raises awareness of the current climate crisis and the importance of taking action.

Additional information

Information sourced directly from Watford F.C. staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 07 March, 2023.

Policy and Commitment

• Dedicated sustainability webpage with sustainability strategy: https://www.canaries.co.uk/club/sustainability.
• Member of BASIS (British Association of Sustainability in Sport) and attend regular workshops with the intention of producing a long-term policy and strategy.
• Study visits with other BASIS members foster such opportunities, with the club conducting visit to the All England Tennis Club (home of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships) in February 2022.
• In-house sustainability working group which was established in 2019:
  • From in-house strategy set up to continually reviewing and discussing short, medium, and long terms goals that working towards as a group.
  • Communicate internally with staff, and externally with fans regularly on ways they can get involved.
  • Created a Supporter Panel in 2019, to ensure there was a platform in which to communicate directly with the fans on topical issues – which includes sustainability.
• Is an EFL Green Clubs member.

Clean/Renewable Energy

• NCFC uses electricity that is 100% generated from renewable sources.
• The installation of 192 solar panels across the newly erected Academy and gym buildings has provided a source of clean, renewable energy.
• Has four electric lawn mowers which are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

Energy Efficiency

• Building management system across all sites.
• A brand new LED floodlight system has been installed at Carrow Road for the 2022/23 season reducing CO2 emissions and light pollution.
• Most lighting installed is either LED or HF florescent. Most of the emergency lighting is LED throughout the stadium.
• Additional LED lighting will continue to happen at the Lotus Training Centre.
• The fitting of occupancy sensors in the majority of the concourse areas also prevent lights being left on.
• Currently working on phase 3 assessments in preparation for the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme. At Carrow Road, voltage optimisation is in place to reduce energy costs.
• At the Lotus Training Centre, solar energy transmittance and light transmittance values of the external glazing were carefully considered for the new Academy building in order to control solar gains and to maximise daylight respectively, therefore reducing the need of electric lighting.
• The energy strategy for the development proposals at the Academy has at its core, the reduction of energy use through effective ‘fabric first’ energy efficiency measures and efficient (low power) services solutions. Through analysis using IES (Thermal Dynamic Simulation Software) the scheme achieves Energy Performance Asset Rating ‘A’.
• The building is sustainably heated by air source heat pumps coupled with Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery and on-site energy is generated by a 62-kilowatt array of photovoltaic panels.
• Is preparing for the phase three assessments of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS).
• The club is looking to review existing office equipment.
• Has the objective to reduce the club’s baseline electricity consumption by two percent.

Sustainable Transport

• Actively advocates for fans and staff to use sustainable travel via available public transport routes.
• Most prominently, during the club’s ‘Greenest Matchday’ fans were asked to come to the ground via bus.
• Electric car points have been installed at the Lotus Training Centre.
• Currently exploring electric car options to offer staff the opportunity to do a salary sacrifice.
• Cycle racks available at both sites.
• Has a cycle to work scheme in place for staff to take advantage of. Staff can now get an electric bike as well as a push bike through the cycle to work scheme.
• Staff are encouraged to attend digital meetings whenever possible to avoid unnecessary travel.
• Directors and Executives no longer take separate flights and now travel with the first-team squad and staff to reduce the club’s carbon footprint.
• The Academy too has reviewed it’s travel to fixtures. Whilst hampered somewhat by a geographical remoteness, it has pioneered ‘triangular fixtures’ playing two teams at central venues on the same day, to reduce the number of miles travelled without impacting the playing minutes available to the players. Besides the saved coach miles for the teams, it further saves thousands of miles of car travel for supporting parents and guardians travelling to watch.
• Conducts annual fan travel surveys.

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

• Single Use Plastic reduction policy in place across all sites.
• Match days are single use plastic free. The club introduced cardboard recyclable water cartons, cups, lids and food boxes, leading to over 100,000 single-use plastic items no longer in operation each season.
• Working with sustainability partner Kotkamills, the club no longer uses condiment sachets or straws.
• The club now use wooden sporks; plastic ones have been removed.
• Takeaway matchday food is served in a Kotkamills plastic-free product.
• Club suits are in the process of being rolled out to staff which are made from recycled polyester using recycled plastic bottles with a fully traceable manufacturing process. The suits are made using renewable energy and fewer harmful chemicals with a reduced carbon footprint. Each suit will save 45 bottles from entering landfill.
• The club shop and Fan Hub only use recyclable paper carrier bags and offer a selection of environmentally friendly items.
• All staff have been issued with reusable coffee cups and water bottles.

Waste Management

• Currently recycles more than 50% of its waste and zero waste goes to landfill.
• Active waste diversion system is in place and the club currently has five collections in food waste, paper and card, plastic, cans and tins, glass, and non-recyclable waste.
• New bins on site externally at the training ground and internally in the staff offices now at both sites to support waste segregation.
• At the Lotus Training Ground there is a compost heap for raw food and grass cuttings. Compost is in turn used to feed the on-site allotment producing the club’s own organic fruit and vegetables to supplement the players’ daily food menu.
• Recently implemented PaperCut’s software-based printing solution at both sites which will help the club to save money and be more sustainable.
• All staff are encouraged to only print when necessary. Default setting on all printers is black & white and double sided. The paper used by the club is 100% recycled.
• Delia’s Canary Catering targets this season are to:-
  • Reduce food waste by 10%.
  • Reduce where possible non-recyclable products purchased from our suppliers by 33% and continue to look for more environmentally conscious products.
  • Improve customer recycling rate by 60% with the introduction of segregation bins in concourses and hospitality lounges.
  • Improve back of house recycling rate by 80% with the introduction of segregation bins in back of house areas.
• Together with technical kit partner Joma, the club worked hard to make this seasons shirt as sustainable as possible and are delighted to have produced a shirt where the fabric is made from fully recycled polyester.
• Continuing to work alongside its sustainability partner, Kotkamills, industry leaders providing fully recyclable, sustainable paperboard made from wood that is traceable and sourced from controlled forests
  • Uses the message of #GreenerTogether to promote the work this partnership is doing within the club.

Water Efficiency

• A water efficiency policy is in place at both Carrow Road and the Lotus Training Ground.
• Both locations utilise bore holes for pitch irrigation.
• The Lotus Training Ground pitch collects all water used for pitch irrigation which is then recycled for further pitch irrigation and awaste to water system is used to washdown all grounds machinery.
• In times of low rainfall, there is another bore hole where water is taken.
• This system was part of the extensive renovations at the Training Ground between 2018 – 2020, and whilst incurred significant additional cost to implement, highlights the commitment to embed sustainable practice within the club where feasible.
• Waterless urinals have been installed at The Lotus Training Centre, with a view to exploring further areas of Stadium that could utilise similar systems in the future.

Plant based/low carbon food

• All restaurants at the stadium include a vegan option and vegan pies are available throughout the concourse areas.
• As part of the club’s ‘Greenest Matchday ‘ it engaged with fans and offered a discount of vegan pies.
• At the Lotus Training Ground there is a vegan option served daily, in addition to meals being sourced from local suppliers and homegrown produce via the on-site allotment and herb garden.
• Use locally grown produce from local suppliers as well as home-grown produce from the on-site allotment.
• A player nutrition app also exists and is available to all staff which has several recipes that feature plant-based options. This App is available to all staff and players at the training ground and is regularly updated by the club’s Nutritionist to encourage people to cut down on meat consumption.

Biodiversity

• A biodiversity strategy has been implemented to increase biodiversity at both sites and was publicised in the club’s annual report and across all sites.
• At The Lotus Training Centre, a herb garden, on-site allotment, worm and insect hotels, bird feeders, beehives and over 250 wildflowers distributed to Junior Canaries during the Greenest Matchday are all initiatives implemented by the club. The honey produced by the beehives will then be used for First Team players and staff.
• Over 645 new and semi-mature trees and more than 800 fresh plants, hedges, bushes and flowers were planted at the Lotus Training Centre.
• Will continue to plant trees and ensure plants, animals and ecosystems are conserved and protected.
• Dedicated Gardener whose responsibilities include furthering our biodiversity and wildlife appreciation where possible.
• In 2021, to coincide with World Environment Day, the club and its sustainability partner Kotkamills planted 26 trees in Pyhtää, Finland, to mark Finnish professional footballer Teemu Pukki’s goal tally from the 2020-21 season.

Education

• Visited other sites for the club’s research and ideas with an internal working group aim to increase the numbers and variety of visits this year.
• Academy players receive education on sustainability as part of the scholarship programme while the club is looking to repeat the ‘Greenest Matchday’ initiative on a regular basis and use it to further raise awareness among players, staff and fans.
• Utilise on-site projects to actively get the club’s Schoolboy players involved as a part of their life-skills programme. The sessions form an important strand of the Academy’s ‘Player Voice’ and ‘Dual Career’  programmes, whereby the players are supported and given the freedom to develop interests in areas they are keen to explore outside of football.
  • This is a yearly programme, led by Player Care team, with an hour dedicated each week within each player’s timetable.  Each week, the staff newsletter contains a piece on sustainability either as an education piece, task, or competition.
• The Academy players have been at the forefront of the club’s drive on sustainability, helping to support the wider social action plan of our Community Sports Foundation. As part of the Premier League Inspires Challenge, Scholars’ have attended a local community School to engage with students who designed and planned positive changes for the environment, and the club.
  • During this time the Academy players’ provided students with a detailed account of how the training ground, club and Foundation are working cohesively together, to drive positive change. But, also providing an honest and reflective account of areas within the club that they feel could benefit from initiative and innovation, to help the club become more sustainable.
• The students took time to design their projects for the challenge, under the supervision of our Foundation staff, and presented their ideas to a judging panel. Exploring external companies that can support us in both education and furthering our progress through our short-, medium- and long-term goals.
• Is an active member of BASIS (British Association for Sustainable Sport) which involves the club sharing its knowledge and resources as educational tools within a working group.
• Dedicated webpages and news include educational information and videos on sustainable developments across the club.

Communication and Engagement

• Dedicated sustainability webpage with sustainability strategy: https://www.canaries.co.uk/club/sustainability.
• The Junior Canaries website features a number of ideas and initiatives to engage with our younger fanbase https://www.juniorcanaries.co.uk/sustainability
• A supporter guide has been made available to advise fans on good practice.
• Club wide objective this season is to find ways to protect the club’s resources and adopt sustainable environmental and financial practices.
• Actively engages with fans and dedicated an entire matchday against Leeds – to ‘Greenest Matchday’ where discount was offered to those fans travelling by public transport. Also promoted the benefits of reusable cups/water bottles and offer a discounted price on these to encourage fans to purchase them.
  • Guide released for fans to go greener.
• Finalist in the BASIS awards this season for ‘Club Strategy/Strategic Leadership’ with a key focus on the club’s approaches to reducing single-use plastics and overall active developments in adopting more sustainable practices.
• Club partners are encouraged to take on the same principles of sustainability and implement changes in their own businesses.
• Internal commitment made within in-house strategy to educate the next generations on sustainability through our Academy, Junior Canaries and Community Sports Foundation, and individuals and department leads have also been tasked to pledge ways in their personal and business life to reduce their impact on the environment.
• Involved with Planet League, which supports fan engagement on sustainability in their own lives.
• The club was shortlisted for the Sustainability Award at the 2022 Football Business Awards for its partnership with MM Kotkamills, which is developing a pathway to a greener future.
• Has a designated page on its website titled “How you can get involved” with tips on how NCFC fans can become more sustainable in their everyday lives. Tips cover; Sustainable Shopping, Saving Energy, Daily Habits and Sustainability in Business. https://www.canaries.co.uk/club/get-involved
• Supported WWF’s 2023 #WorldWithoutNature campaign by removing the nature elements from the club’s crest for the day.

Additional information

Information sourced directly from Norwich City F.C. staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 07 March, 2023.

Policy and Commitment

• Launched Project Whitebeam – a group-wide project between the club, Bristol Bears Rugby Club, Bristol Flyers Basketball Club, Ashton Gate Stadium and Bristol Sport, to tackle all areas of environmental sustainability. The project is broken down into five distinct areas; climate change, waste, water, biodiversity and air quality. Further science-based policies will be developed in each of these key areas over future years. Project Whitebeam can be viewed on the club’s website here: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/city-launch-project-whitebeam/
• Signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and high ambition track with Race to Zero targets of a 50% reduction of CO2e by 2030 and net zero by 2040.
• Appointed JRP Solutions to provide a carbon audit, including scope 3 emissions. Benchmark year is set as 2022/23.
• Is an EFL Green Club member.

Clean/Renewable Energy

• The Ashton Gate Stadium has 750m² of solar panels on the Lansdown Stand roof. These are outperforming their design and generating around 113,415kwh per year. All energy produced by the solar array is consumed on-site at the Ashton Gate Stadium. The stadium’s carbon emissions have been reduced by 20 percent with an estimated cost savings of £150,000 predicted over 20 years. The stadium design to reach those savings will save 124 tonnes of carbon per year.
• The Robins High Performance Centre (Robins HPC) incorporates renewable energy in the form of the latest heat pump technology. By design, 91.72% of the Robins HPC’s overall energy demand is met from air source heat pumps and air to water heat pumps, which heats the water in the building.
• The club has advised Sport Positive that it does not believe its use of renewable energy is over 40%.
• The Robins HPC is a zero-gas facility.
• The Robins HPC’s electricity contract was being renewed in November 2022. A policy is in place whereby all energy renewals must get at least one quote from a renewable energy supplier.

Energy Efficiency

• Ashton Gate Stadium’s redevelopment was rated as BREEAM very good.
• Is ESOS compliant with its ESOS Phase 2 report completed in October 2020.
• Both Ashton Gate Stadium and Robins HPC have Building Management Systems to carefully manage energy usage and cut consumption.
• Low-energy lighting is used at Ashton Gate. The Robins HPC uses all LED lighting including inside the building and the floodlights.
• Ashton Gate Stadium has energy saving lighting throughout but is making further upgrades to LED lights in all locations as old ones expire. It is estimated that 85% of lights at the ground are LED.
• Ashton Gate and Robins HPC both have motion sensor lighting to reduce energy.
• Air to water heat pumps at the Robins HPC heats water for the building.
• Daikin has provided a controller in each room at the Robins HPC which enables air-con to be managed. This stops the high-performance centres from acting as one controller but enables a local controller to manage extract/supply. These are on timers to be off overnight.
• The Robins HPC and Ashton Gate (excluding Atyeo Stand) use modern eco-friendly hand-dryers without a heating element (Dyson Airblade V).
• All windows at Robins HPC and Ashton Gate are double-glazed.

Sustainable Transport

• Promotes the use of public transport (Public Bus, M2 MetroBus and Rail), E-Scooters, walking and cycling routes to the stadium.
• Has 96 cycle parking spaces behind the South Stand. There is also a free to use bike pump.
• Run regular Dr Bike workshops offering free bike repairs. The latest edition was in October 2022 (Bristol City vs QPR) and included a Clean Air Zone workshop.
• Bristol City and Ashton Gate staff have access to a cycle to work scheme.
• Robins HPC has bike storage options for training days & match days.
• Robins HPC and Ashton Gate have storage and showers available for staff who cycle to work.
• Bristol City Robins Foundation have begun offering mileage for staff who cycle to meetings and reworded policies to encourage sustainable transport ahead of car use.
• Available area at the stadium for future bike-share schemes.
• Are members of the First Bus Commuter Club which offers staff up to 10% discounts on local bus services.
• The team coach, official away supporter coaches and all matchday shuttle buses to Ashton Gate and Robins HPC are Euro-6 standard (European Union regulations where vehicles must meet a certain Euro emissions standard).
• The Ashton Gate matchday shuttle buses are all subsidised and very popular. There is also a service to the Robins HPC where City Women play. Ashton Gate and Robins HPC services all offer travel from £1 return are free for concessionary pass holders and under 5s. Group rates available.
• Prizes are offered for using shuttle bus including free tickets and free signed shirts.
• This season it is estimated that City fans will travel a combined 320,000-355,000km via club subsidised travel.
• Three dedicated supporter bus services operate from Winterstoke Road for Bristol City’s first-team home games.
• Work with Great Western Railway (GWR) on additional rail services for evening games from its nearest station, Parson Street. 8 of the first 12 football games of the 22/23 season have had additional services stopping at Parson Street for football fans.
• Staff and players at the Robins HPC have access to x10 EV charging points.
• Promotes transport services by running a ‘Getting to the Gate’ ahead of every match. Emails and toilet posters promote shuttle buses for every game.
• Parking is deliberately the fifth option on the website and visitors will have to scroll through shuttle bus, public bus, rail, cycling & walking sections first.
• An interactive route planner on its travel page shows how supporters can get to Ashton Gate by public transport regardless of where they are coming from.
• Cyclists can plan their journey to Ashton Gate via ‘Better By Bike’ (an external route planner provider) which can be accessed via a link on the club’s website and provides information on cycle lanes, bike pumps and elevation changes.
• On the ‘Travel’ section of the club’s website, supporters can click through to LiftShare website.
• The last transport survey was pre-Covid (April 2019) and showed for football, the following results; Car drivers 35.6%, Car passengers 18.2%, Walk 8%, Public Bus 12.9%, Matchday Shuttle Buses 13.3% [suspects fans that use public bus may have selected ‘Matchday Shuttle Buses’ as there are not this many supporters on the shuttle buses according to ticket data], Private Coach 0.3%, Train 8.1%, Taxi 1.3%, Cycle 0.8%, Motorbike/moped 0.1%, Electric/Hybrid car 0.2%, Other 1.1%.
• The survey also suggested (pre-Covid data): cycling had increased 400% in 7 years, shuttle bus patronage had increased 300% in 3 years, additional rail services increased from 0 to 22 per season and rail had increased from 3% in 2013 to 8.1% in 2019.
• Another transport survey will take place in the coming months and will dive deeper into the journeys to understand the carbon impact of the trips i.e., to know more about distance and vehicles.

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

• Currently not single-use plastic free. There is a stated policy in place to reduce single-use plastic where it is safe, practical and affordable to do so.
• A new Brita tap has been installed in the academy restaurant at the Robins HPC to avoid further single use plastic, pushing reusable bottles. This is in addition to 3 existing water fountains
• A free-to use water fountain at Ashton Gate is available for all fans in the coffee shop.
• Hospitality and events team at Ashton Gate now use re-fillable glass bottles.
• Single use plastic cutlery/straws are removed where spotted.
• Ashton Gate’s coffee shop uses Vegware and the crisps supplier is plastic free.
• There is now a charge for bags in the club shop.
• The club’s 22/23 home, away and Robin shirts are made from 100% Eco8 polyester where each shirt is made from up to 8 recycled plastic bottles.

Waste Management

• Primary waste provider ETM are zero waste to landfill and the club has confirmed that it has a waste management programme across all of its sites.
• Waste travels 500m from Ashton Gate to where it is sorted.
• Glass is recycled through Bristol Waste.
• Food from all sites (stadium and training ground) which can’t be donated goes to Keenan’s processing centre where it is converted into energy using anaerobic digestion
• Any leftover food which can’t be re-used goes to St Mungo’s women’s shelter less than a mile from the stadium. It is estimated that this season, including Bristol Bears Rugby games, this will divert approximately 3,200 food items from landfill.
• The Bristol City first team donate any surplus team food from away trips to a local charity. Over 2,950 meals have been delivered to 17 charities and 20 different shelters across the country over the last three seasons.
• Fruit and vegetable waste from the Robins HPC kitchen is composted on-site and used on the Robins HPC ornamental beds.
• Grass cuttings are composted in Bristol and turned into PAS100 soil conditioner and fertiliser which is then used on allotments in Bristol
• Confidential waste from Ashton Gate is recycled into toilet tissue and paper towels.
• Matchday programme is now digital.

Water Efficiency

• A ‘Water Savings and Efficiency Plan’ which covers Ashton Gate Stadium, Robins HPC (Bristol City’s training ground), Bears HPC (rugby training ground) and SGS College Arena (where Bristol Flyers train and play) is in progress.
• The Robins HPC use a ‘waste2water’ system for cleaning machines, which uses and then recycles the water. Machines are cleaned through a pressured hose, the water collected in a single drain, debris separated, and water then reused to clean the next machine.
• Water butts can be found at both the stadium and training ground. The water butt at the stadium takes rainwater from an outbuilding roof and is used on the plants within the car park area and wildflower area, as well as wiping down fences, signs and posters.
• Low water consumption taps and dual-flush toilets in Robins HPC and Ashton Gate.
• Ashton Gate has sensor-flushes on the urinals and Robins HPC has them in the first team changing room areas.
• There are a couple of waterless toilets in staff areas of Ashton Gate too.
• Ashton Gate has a water leak detection system.
• Soil Scout sensors in the pitch at Ashton Gate allow ground staff to monitor moisture levels to reduce water use across the pitch.
• The club’s 22/23 home, away and Robin shirts also hummel’s ZEROH20 – A dry-dye concept with zero water consumption and zero waste-water discharges.

Plant based/low carbon food

• On a typical home match day, general admittance vegetarians can enjoy a choice of 19 food options (16 hot items including pies, pasties, hot-dogs, Ital [Caribbean], burgers, bao buns, sandwiches, paninis, noodles plus cold options of mezze box, sandwiches and salads). 14 of these options are also suitable for Vegans.
• Additional vegetarian and vegan options are available in hospitality.
• Over 50% of products sold at Ashton Gate travel fewer than 12 miles to the stadium. Key suppliers include cider from Thatchers – produced just 11.71 miles away, pies and pasties from Buxton and Bird – made 8.43 miles away and beers/ales brewed at Bristol Beer Factory just 350 meters from Ashton Gate. The partnerships and supply from Buxton and Bristol Beer Factory started in August 2021.
• Staff at the Robins HPC can purchase food in the staff canteen which has vegetarian and vegan options every day including multiple Vegan milk alternatives. This is also available for players, who also have vegan options at every away trip.
• The players only regularly eat at the stadium post-match, but a vegan option is always on their options list.
• Staff at Ashton Gate can purchase food from the Kofi Lounge (coffee shop) which has vegetarian and vegan options available every day including multiple Vegan milk alternatives.
• On a typical matchday, all of the top ten selling alcoholic beverages are also Vegan. Typical matchday items available to all home fans. Menus are subject to change and evolution.

Biodiversity

• Has a live Ecological Landscaping, Management and Enhancement Plan for the Robins HPC.
• Ashton Gate has a management plan which focuses on the brook which runs through the site with particular efforts on invasive species and wildflowers. The club is in the process of developing a new management plan based on the new ‘Landscape and Public Realm Plan’.
• Planted 290m2 of wildflowers adjacent to the Robins HPC.
• At the Robins HPC, the following has been installed; six bat boxes, six 1B Schwegler nest boxes on trees (with different diameters for different species), six dormice nest boxes, x1 bug hotel, 1 ladybird tower, x1 bee house and a raised vegetable plot which will be beneficial to local pollinators (another one is in the pipeline).
• Night flowering honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum has been planted at the Robins HPC to benefit moths.
• There is an area for amphibians and reptiles including a habitat pile in the grassland at the South East corner of the Robins HPC.
• An allotment is currently being created at the Robins HPC with soil prepared by Grounds Staff to ensure it’s ready for sowing in spring.
• There is a brook running through the stadium site which is planted with trees and wildflower mix.
• In early discussions with residents, Councillors and Avon Wildlife trust to turn a field that the club owns into some form of community nature reserve. Approx 15.4 acres.
• Promoted Hedgehog safety to staff and fans. The club is 2^nd in the Hedgehog Football League.

Education

• Initiatives are discussed at every ‘employee Town Hall’ meeting.
• Behaviour change is filtered down through email and staff posters.
• Staff have been sent a carbon calculator for personal use and included within staff induction process.
• Players have attended an environmental workshop and the club captain is the de-facto champion.
• The Robins Foundation, depending on the module of the course – provides education around all forms of sustainability including environment. They also operate social interaction groups in two local primary schools which plan and action environmental projects such as litter picking. They also deliver Sky Ocean rescue resource which is delivered through partner schools.
• Worked with three students from the University of the West of England to provide them with a “skills bridge” as they came in to discuss and work on the initial Project Whitebeam scoping exercise.

Communication and Engagement

• Launched Project Whitebeam – a group-wide project between the club, Bristol Bears Rugby Club, Bristol Flyers Basketball Club, Ashton Gate Stadium and Bristol Sport, to tackle all areas of environmental sustainability and this can be found on the website here https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/city-launch-project-whitebeam/. The club has plans to develop the page.
• Central Bristol has a Clean Air Zone starting November 2022. Ashton Gate and Bristol City have partnered with the CAZ team to run communications to supporters in the months building up and had CAZ staff at the stadium to provide information to supporters.
• In November 2022, Bristol City staff and players took part in their first river-clean-up operation in partnership with local Big Tidy project. This will be quarterly.
• Was the first professional club to partner with Pledgeball – an initiative that aims to mobilise football fans to bring about change to help preserve the planet.
• Won the inaugural Pledgeball League title where Robins fans pledged to save 432,731kg of CO₂e per year. Carried out significant work with Pledgeball to achieve this including website stories, in-bowl screen adverts, matchday interviews, programme features, toilet posters and Robins TV videos.
• Project Whitebeam has been launched publicly and fans engaged with through the likes of Pledgeball.
• Participated in the WWF’s World Wildlife Day 2022 by removing the Robin from its crest for the day to highlight the risk that nature loss presents to the planet.
• Been part of the Tusk Lion Trail – a global art installation in support of African conservation. The Ashton Gate lion is one of 47 individually curated sculptures launched in locations across the globe. https://www.bristol-sport.co.uk/news/the-lion-has-landed-at-ashton-gate-stadium/
• Raised awareness of Rob Green and Dean Windass’ promotion of using smart meters.
• The club has also engaged fans and staff on the topic of environmental sustainability through concourse screens, pitch side LED hoardings, Robins TV (the club’s TV channel), match day handouts, matchday programme, stadium PA announcements, stadium PA half time interviews, staff room/staff kitchen/staff presentations, Twitter and social media and conversations with Supporters Club and Trust.
• Media such as Sky Sports News featured interviews with players Zak Vyner and Ella Powell and men’s first team manager, Nigel Pearson all discussing sustainability over the course of Green Football Weekend. Additionally, the club was featured on BBC Radio Bristol features and Podcasts.
• WWF’s Carbon Calculator was included to fans in Green Football Weekend stories.

Additional information

Information sourced directly from Bristol City F.C. staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 07 March, 2023.