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Brentford 2022

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Policy and Commitment

  • Brentford has a sustainability strategy and a sustainability policy in place. The strategy is currently used internally as a reference point to implement change throughout our operations, and the policy, which summarises the strategy and our commitment to protecting and enhancing the environment up to the year 2030, is viewable on the club’s website: https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/sustainability
  • Progress against KPIs will be reviewed quarterly at senior level with an annual report setting out progress against the commitments. The Strategy will be updated at regular intervals to ensure it continues to focus on the issues most material to the Club and its stakeholders
  • Brentford also has a separate environmental policy in place for all employees to abide by, which is included within the Staff Handbook
  • The creation of the strategy has been influenced by global and industry frameworks, including the UNFCC Sports for Climate Action Network. As part of our strategy, we are committed to setting a net zero carbon target and to supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • The Club’s Community Trust organisation have also joined the UN Football for the Goals initiative and the Sports for Development Coalition. Their business plan is aligned with the United States Sustainable Development Goals as part of promoting overall sustainability
  • To meet local planning policy objectives, we instructed BREEAM assessments of the stadium that assessed the environmental quality of the designs including the detailed evaluation of the sustainability of the Energy, Water, Transport, Materials, Waste, Ecology, Pollution and Management practices adopted at the site – https://www.greengage-env.com/case-studies/brentford-fc

Clean/Renewable Energy

  • At the stadium, Solar path optimisation enhances the efficiency of the rooftop photovoltaic installation generating more clean power and reducing operational emissions
  • The panels are operational and will generate 71,190 kWh per year
  • Up to 30% of the electricity generated will be used on site and will save 36.7 tonnes of carbon emissions each year: https://www.photonenergy.co.uk/brentford-football-club
  • For the training ground, the club’s long-term aspiration is to operate a net zero carbon training site by using renewable technology and low-embodied carbon materials. There are also plans to create a bore hole on-site and install photovoltaics on the roof of the training centre

Energy Efficiency

  • Brentford has a coordinated approach to implementing energy efficiency across our different sites. The Club is compliant with relevant national legislation, including ESOS and SECR, and the stadium has a BREEAM certificate of “Very Good” https://www.arup.com/projects/brentford-community-stadium
  • The stadium has a comprehensive Building Management System (BMS) in operation which provides detailed monitoring of energy consumption and easy central control of plant and equipment. Sensors control lighting in the stadium based on occupancy and there is an energy-efficient lift system in operation. Brise soleil shading and overhangs are in place to help to cool the stadium building and there is glazing designed to minimise winter heating needs.
  • Learning around different aspects of sustainability, including energy efficiency across different club sites, are shared at the club’s sustainability working group made up of staff from around the club
  • We have introduced QR codes in place of physical team sheets within the hospitality areas to save energy and paper, and there is an ongoing strategy in place to minimise the use of paper tickets and move to digital tickets instead
  • During the planning and construction of the stadium, a range of environmental and sustainability services were provided by Greengage in support of the Masterplan application to redevelop a constrained west London site into a mixed-use residential, hotel, commercial and sports entertainment venue. This included the assessment of the EIA screening, scoping and the project management of the delivery of all stand-alone reports and EIA chapters produced for the assessment
  • Greengage worked closely with the design team to provide an effective strategy to minimise energy use and carbon dioxide emissions which resulted in the Brentford FC design improving upon regional carbon dioxide reduction targets. As the development programme was staged the Energy Statement dealt with both detailed and outline aspects of the development
  • The new training ground was constructed using reusable, low-carbon construction materials (for example, the gym is a wooden (reusable) structure). This minimised energy used during construction and means that the training ground’s ongoing carbon footprint and energy usage will be minimised
  • Sensors control lighting based on occupancy to save electricity, and laundry and washing machines are set up to save energy where possible.
  • The Club have also maximised the operational use of the stadium by leasing the pitch to London Irish Rugby Club and recently have hosted UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 games. Thereby reducing the need for further stadiums to be built and supporting a circular economy.
  • LED efficient lighting is installed in the stadium and electric mowers are used for pitch maintenance (and will also soon be used at the training ground)

Sustainable Transport

  • We promote the use of public transport to and from the stadium through the provision of extensive travel advice on the club’s website – https://www.brentfordfc.com/fans-and-community/visiting-the-stadium/
  • Active travel is also encouraged for both staff and fans with bike racks available at the stadium and head offices
  • Recharging points are available at the stadium within the car parks
  • A cycle-to-work scheme is in place for all staff across different club sites
  • We conduct regular post-match fan surveys. From our analysis, 60% of home fans this season either use public transport, walk or cycle to attend home matches. This finding is reported publicly in the sustainability page on the club’s website: https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/sustainability
  • At the training ground, we have 25 electric vehicle charging points installed. One of our further ambitions to build on is to be a good neighbour with low local impact through the careful management of traffic, noise and pollution

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

  • Brentford is committed to eradicating single-use plastic across different club sites
  • Across all sites, including the training ground, reusable water bottles were presented to all players and staff – https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/september/brentford-end-single-use-plastic-bottles-at-training-ground/
  • In the stadium, Biodegradable paper pint cups and reusable plastic glasses are used in bars where there is no glassware and fully recyclable “Peelacup” paper cups are used in places where there is no draught beer. Single-use plastic cups are not used on matchday. Paper straws have also replaced plastic and single-use plastic stirrers and sachets have been removed. Sustainable wooden cutlery and bowls/plates are used. Therefore, all single use plastics have been removed from the fans’ matchday experience
  • In the kitchens, air-tight containers are used to reduce the amount of cling-film used
  • Our Retail stores have changed their mailing bags from plastic to fully biodegradable and have removed single-use plastic cups from the store. This means that Retail have removed single-use plastics across their entire operation
  • At head office, a soda machine has recently been installed to minimise the use of single-use plastic bottles (on top of all staff members having reusable water bottles, as detailed above)
  • At the training ground, the club has recently entered into an agreement with a supplier to provide single use plastic bottles for the players for use in training and recycle them in bulk. There is a concurrent behavioural piece around educating players on sustainability and the long-term aspiration is to move away from single use plastic. However, this is regarded as the best “short-term option” to ensure a “virtuous circle” journey and ensure full recycling. Training ground staff use reusable bottles, as detailed above.

Waste Management

  • Brentford has a waste management programme in place across the club. A pillar of our strategy is to commit to promoting circular economy practices throughout all sites and to manage resources sustainably
  • A waste strategy was produced as part of the design for the building of the stadium and is in operation. This means that zero waste is sent to landfill, and the general waste streams that cannot be automatically sent for recycling goes to an “Energy from Waste” facility in Kemsley where it is burned to produce electricity.
  • In terms of recycling, recyclable waste goes to Suez Materials Recovery facility in Mitcham where it is separated and sent for recycling. Through reporting, we judge that 70% of waste generated by the club is recycled through here rather than being sent to the “Energy from Waste” facility
  • The “Too Good To Go” app has been publicised amongst the club’s fanbase to improve recycling, with 157 bags so far this season being saved under this scheme, and our catering partner, Levy, target operational kitchen food waste as under 1% of food produced
  • Our Retail stores recycle also recycle their materials, with two recycling bins in place and a third on the way, and an improved recycling system is in place at head office and the training ground. There is also a current project underway to move to a digital ticketing system for matchdays to reduce the use of paper within the grounds of the stadium (including through implementing QR codes instead of paper teamsheets in the hospitality areas)
  • We are part of Utilita’s nationwide ‘Football Rebooted’ campaign – their mission is to rehome at least one million pairs of quality football boots across the UK, to stop them ending up in landfill. That’s the same as taking 7,000 cars off the road for a year, in carbon reductions

Water Efficiency

  • The club has a coordinated effort in place to reduce water wastage and enable water reuse across all sites of the organisation, which forms part of the “Nature” pillar of our strategy
  • At the stadium we reduce in water consumption using low-flow fittings for WCs, wash hand basins, urinals, and showers. Solenoid valves are linked to PIRs shut off the water to facilities that are un-occupied and leak detection is provided to shut off the water supply in the event of leakage. These low-water initiatives are also in place at our head office and the training ground
  • We have installed three pure water stations around the stadium site, which provide filtered and mineral-enhanced chilled water from our regular mains supply
  • We are working on the creation of a water borehole at the training ground, which will provide us with our own private water supply and will also help to reduce carbon emission
  • At the training ground, seven low water consumption appliances have been installed to aid circularity and water efficiency

Plant-based/Low Carbon Food

  • Brentford offers sustainably sourced, plant based food options across all sites
  • On the concourse, vegan options are available in every bar, with options such as a vegan Cornish pasty
  • In the Hospitality section, vegan options are available on every menu with dishes such as Sweet Potato and Spinach Curry Pie, Wild Mushroom Gnocchi. Where meat/fish forms part of a plated meal, it is accompanied by 60% minimum plant-based food. A vegan-only food offering was piloted in the hospitality area of the stadium during our FA Cup fixture in January 2023 for Veganuary, and other vegan options were offered elsewhere throughout the stadium
  • Vegan options are also available for staff/media feeding, with vegan/plant-based foods accounting for 75% of media and staff feeding. Players also have access to all vegan options
  • Levy UK, our catering partner, have committed as a business to going zero carbon by 2027. They use local and seasonal produce wherever possible (for example, a minimum of 80% seasonal fruit and vegetables), and have delivered a 50% reduction in beef consumption through changes to their menu and highlight the low carbon options on the menu to fans. They also share unused food items that can be reused through the “Too Good To Go” app

Biodiversity

  • Biodiversity is a key pillar in our strategy (Point 4, nature) which sets out our commitment to supporting the regeneration of natural habitats and a healthy living environment across different club sites: https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/sustainability
  • We increased the ecology value of the new stadium site, including external planting around the stadium and an increase in species of 0.58 according to habitat type, area and species numbers when comparing the post-development and pre-development states
  • We added twenty trees at the training ground and will be planting and seeding grassland in the spring. We retained the existing scrub, hedgerows, and trees. We also plan to add beehives to the training ground
  • We have a partnership with Bees for Development, which is a global charity that makes ‘life better with bees’. Since 1993, Bees for Development has promoted sustainable beekeeping to combat poverty, help people to build resilient livelihoods and care for nature.
  • We created a Brentford FC x Bees for Development T-Shirt which was available to purchase via the club, with all profits from each £15 sale go directly to the charity – https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2021/april/brentford-fc-x-bees-for-development-make-life-better-with-bees/

Education

  • Brentford understands the importance of education regarding sustainability, which sits under the “Engagement” pillar of our strategy
  • We have a sustainability focus group which is made up of staff from across the business, and through that initiative will be running training for all staff on sustainability as well as more specific training focused on the efforts at Head Office on recycling and how everyone can play their part. We are currently hiring for a Sustainability Manager, which will increase the scope of education we can provide to staff, players, etc.
  • In May 2022, we partnered with a local school on a social action project to protect bees: https://www.brentfordfccst.com/premier-league-social-action-project-aims-to-protect-the-bees/

Communication and Engagement

  • Brentford’s main website has a sustainability page, which includes the sustainability policy and outlines the club’s commitment and efforts towards sustainability
  • The club actively tries to engage fans toward positive behaviours that reduces environmental impact in their own lives
  • Brentford highlighted its commitment to sustainability with a vegan food offering for Veganuary at a home fixture in January 2022. As part of promoting this, the club emphasised to fans that making a small change in their lives to what they eat could make a big sustainable difference (https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/brentford-to-promote-veganuary-at-west-ham-united-premier-league-game)
  • In November 2021, we announced that we would be rolling over our home kit for last season into this season. By extending the life of the kit, this was an innovative step designed to ease financial pressures on fans and to help the environment – https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2021/november/iconic-first-premier-league-home-kit-extended-through-202223/
    • This initiative, one of the most high-profile of its kind in the UK sparked a national debate, with sustainability at the heart of it – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-59477716
    • It generated over 40 articles across the globe with the club’s chief executive Jon Varney helping to set an example for fans and clubs to consider: “We also think this is a step in the right direction to help the environment a little. It can only be a good to reduce kit cycles where circumstances allow, and we will continue to work with Umbro to make sure the production of our kit is as sustainable as possible. It is only a little thing, but we believe it will help.”
  • We are part of Utilita’s nationwide ‘Football Rebooted’ campaign – their mission is to rehome at least one million pairs of quality football boots across the UK, to stop them ending up in landfill. That’s the same as taking 7,000 cars off the road for a year, in carbon reductions
  • Via our Trust and their partners, we have teamed up to help collect plastic waste from the River Thames. From 2019: https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/august/trust-plastic-clear-up/ – From 2020: https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/september/award-for-trust-partner/
  • In February 2023, Brentford finished 9th in the Planet League Green Football Cup, a nationwide campaign that aimed to encourage fans and participants from our Community Trust programme to become more involved with sustainability (https://www.brentfordfccst.com/brentford-push-for-top-four-planet-league-finish/). The campaign was also supported in videos involving members of the Men’s First Team, Men’s B-Team and Women’s B Team, with the aim of educating fans and Trust participants on sustainability

Sustainable Procurement

  • Brentford does not currently have a sustainable procurement policy in place, but the creation of a sustainable procurement policy is a short-term priority outlined in our strategy under the “Circularity” pillar
  • The club has taken steps to reduce environmental impact of merchandise in the last season, but does not have a full procurement policy in place
  • Examples of actions the club has taken include rolling the home kit over into this season and using sustainable, recycled mailbags in its Retail operations
  • We also intend to bring out more recyclable merchandise in future

Sponsorship/Ownership

  • OWNERSHIP
    • Ownership: 100% by Matthew Benham
    • Information: Matthew Alexander Benham (born May 1968) is a British businessman who is the owner of English Premier League club Brentford FC and FC Midtjylland in Denmark. He is also the founder and owner of Smartodds, a statistical research company for professional gamblers, and owner of Matchbook betting exchange.
    • Country: UK
    • Source of Income: Finance/Analytics/Gambling
    • Links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Benham
  • 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 Brentford staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 14th March 2023.
To see information from 2021, click here