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Brighton and Hove Albion 2022

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Policy and Commitment

  • Environmental statement on website: https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/club/club/environmental-statement/
  • We have a clear club policy statement on the website, which outlines the club’s commitment to a sustainable business.
  • Recruiting a sustainability manager (all being well to start April 2023)
  • Established a Sustainability Committee/working group formed, starting to engage with third party agencies to help us develop a framework to assess/audit where we currently are as a business, identify any major gaps/red flags, and start to develop a strategy with realistic targets and commitments
  • Sustainability is a standing agenda item within clubs Ethics Committee (two Main Club Board members and two Women’s Club Board members part of this committee to ensure alignment and engagement with Main Board)
  • The Club continues to work with an external consultant; a sustainability and business and human rights consultancy with expertise in modern slavery
  • Updated Modern Slavery Statement (sitting within Ethics Committee work), updated Jan 2023 https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/club/club/modern-slavery
  • No current net zero target; this will be part of the new sustainability managers responsibility and they will start to develop and formulate a strategy including targets based on robust data and meaningful realistic achievements

Clean/Renewable Energy

  • Electricity remains green electricity at all the facilities, stadium, offices at the stadium and training ground. It is renewable for business 100% (Electricity backed by UK REGOs (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origins) or European GoOs, (Guarantee of Origin) from a blend of sources including hydro, wind, solar, biomass and landfill gas
  • Reduced our gas offsetting for the year to 899.1 tC02e – a reduction from 1197 tC02e last year, which highlights the success of some of our energy savings measures across site
  • We have over 400 Solar panels on the training ground building’s rooftop
  • We fully offset our carbon emissions in relation to gas which has included a project in Zambia. The project reduces CO2 emissions by reducing non-renewable wood fuel consumption and GHG emissions of households by replacing traditional charcoal cooking stoves with more efficient Holy Cooks stoves (in partnership with thetreeapp.org)
  • For the 23/24 season we will be encouraging members to opt to stop receiving their membership pack and instead opt to plant 5 trees in our Albion Forest in Ecuador. We will be doing this with our partners TreeApp.org with the support of our three Ecuadorian international players Moises Caicedo, Jeremy Sarmiento and Pervis Estupinan.

Energy Efficiency

  • Systematic energy efficient plans in place with Cube Controls (Building Management System Operators) and BCR Associates (Energy Consultants) to further assess, monitor understand our usage across the facilities, enabling us to identify and introduce further reductions and enable greater energy efficiency
  • Monthly reporting included within this, and additional metering installed to enhance data available
  • Training Ground (TG) as well as the Amex is also BREEAM certified as very good
  • An ongoing programme of lamp/lighting changes across both the stadium and training ground to LED equivalent to reduce power consumption costs by up to 50%. (Internal lighting – 60% at Stadium & 80% at TG; External lighting – 100% at Stadium)
  • Looking to introduce clip monitoring to further understand our utility usage on site
  • Ground staff have electric mowers for use at the stadium and training ground
  • LED floodlights in stadium and training ground
  • Changed lighting system in Indoor Football Dome at the training ground to LED
  • Lighting in most internal areas of the stadium and TG are sensor activated
  • External lighting at stadium and training ground changed to LED
  • Time clocks in use for external lighting along with sensors so will only activate when it gets dark
  • Air conditioning also has time management controls to prevent being left operational for extended periods of time.

Sustainable Transport

  • Club is committed to advocating for sustainable transport options especially for match days through various schemes as detailed below
  • Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club offer home and away fans free subsidised travel on buses and trains within the Free Travel Zone (approximately 30 miles from the stadium): https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/club/stadiums/the-amex-stadium/transport/free-travel-services
  • All season ticket and general admission tickets holders benefit from this
  • Environmental statement page shares travel scheme and that over 80% of fans come via sustainable travel means funded by the free scheme
  • We track annually the percentage of fans taking various modes of transport to games and report this annually via various relevant organisations such as the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG), SGSA and Brighton and Hove City Council. Average splits for transport use on match days in past 3 seasons (Covid impacted) up to 2021-22 season;
    • Trains                                 42%
    • Park and Ride                   15%
    • Coaches/Minibuses         16%
    • Parking                               15%
    • Walking                              5%
    • Scheduled City buses       6%
    • Cycling                                0.5%
    • Motorbikes                        5%
  •  Subsidised bus travel scheme for staff
  • Secure bike racks available at Training Ground and stadium for staff and fans
  • Have installed four electric vehicle charging points at the stadium via EDF and Pod Point (plan to commence installation at the training ground in 2023)
  • Security, grounds team and maintenance teams use electric buggies at the stadium
  • No specific targets for team travel at this stage; continue to assess team travel arrangements and needs on a season by season, game by game basis
  • On occasion over past 12 months (as of March 2023), team has driven rather than flown to several venues that we would have historically flown to. Mindful of optimal team preparation and recovery for players in what are busy schedules and are geographically challenged to some extent with being able to effectively get via other transport means in a safe and secure way

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

  • Strategy in place to reduce/remove single use plastic from all operations
  • Our home and away Nike kits are made from 100% recycled polyester fibres, making it our most sustainable shirt to date.
  • We have introduced a new lyfe cycle cup (https://www.lyfecycle.com) on match days which is fully recyclable within the regular recycling stream and will biodegrade within two years if they were to escape in nature, leaving behind no microplastics and toxins. The message on the cups is “Recycle this cup before it self-destructs”. This will be used for our draught beer which will account for over 20,000 SUP plastic glasses per match day.
  • All food packaging is now 100% recyclable and a proactive scheme to separate food waste in our kiosks is in place
  • Eliminated plastic straws, stirrers & cutlery for match days
  • As part of the ‘On the ball’ campaign to provide free sanitary products for people attending our venues as well staff and female players, we have introduced plastic free ranges – in place at both the stadium and TG
  • Removed plastic carrier bags from club shop
  • Staff Restaurant at stadium is SUP free
  • At training ground eliminated plastic straws, stirrers & cutlery, plant-based cutlery/cups and take away containers are used
  • Bottle lids collected and distributed to Lush
  • Pie supplier has changed their internal wrapping from SUP to alternative

Waste Management

  • Waste management strategy in place
  • Zero waste to landfill operation as a club
  • Use of microfibre cloths to reduce reliance on paper products.
  • Implemented 100% digital ticketing and have reduced season ticket cards from over 24,000 to just 1,200 cards. We are no longer using physical printed ticket stock either for home tickets and all of these are sent as downloadable tickets to your phone
  • The first club in the PL to trial away tickets on mobile, which happened for the game against Watford at home in August 2021. The system requires some refinement but we are committed to moving away from issuing 3k physical tickets and instead moving to mobile away tickets to remove the environmental impact of the ticket stock and distribution etc
  • Further trials delivered for our away matches at Everton and Manchester City this season (2022/23) with smaller scale trials at the Amex against Arsenal and Liverpool
  • Introduced separate cardboard and paper waste disposal at the Stadium to maximise this area away from other recyclables
  • All offices have general waste and recycling options available throughout the training ground and stadium.
  • We have separate bins for feminine hygiene, clinical/PPE waste and sharps boxes
  • Recycle wood and pallets through Brighton wood store who re-use to make furniture and other items
  • Battery, lamp and copy toner, IT equipment recycling schemes in place with any money gained going to Albion in the Community (clubs’ charitable trust)
  • Green waste is disposed of at Brighton composting centre for recycling into fertile compost
  • Amex Lounge guest passes at the stadium on match days now are based on recycle material passes via partnership with https://www.idcband.com/recyclable-passes/
  • We produced a sustainable fan membership pack for over 18k members with a notepad made from rPET, a bamboo pen, plus seed sticks. The packaging was all fully recyclable
  • Match day digital signage this season has been used to promote recycling, advertise the diversity of our food offering, highlighting vegan vegetarian and specialty items
  • Will be replacing our paper dispenser systems with updated versions that reduce the amount of paper used and also the amount of waste we generate.
  • We recycle all old club match and training kits via a number of overseas charities, passing on these to adults and children across the world. Partners include.

Water Efficiency

  • Water efficiency management strategy in place
  • Bottled water purchase needs for technical teams via Life Water (100% recyclable and carbon neutral) where every bottle of water we use deliveries 1000 litres of clean drinking water to a community in need (primarily Africa)
  • Use of percussion showers and taps across both venues to reduce waste water
  • Ground water recycling at Training Ground via pitch irrigation system
  • Reusable water bottles and coffee cups issued to all members of staff along with installation of water fountains across stadium and training ground.
  • Waterless urinals in public concourses at Stadium
  • Water provisions are linked to lighting in kiosks and toilets to prevent unnecessary usage
  • Continued to increase the number of water fountains on site in public concourses and staff areas at stadium for match days and training ground
  • Grounds workshop staff use ecofriendly wash down units for tools which recycles water

Plant based/low carbon food

  • Stadium
  • Vegan & vegetarian options are available in all catering areas, local suppliers used, also we are also encouraging suppliers to remove SUP from packaging
  • Over 30% of our food offered on a match day is vegan or vegetarian
  • Working with Quorn to create carbon neutral dishes designed to be 100% carbon neutral
  • Staff feeding kitchen working with a new system called ‘lean path’ which weighs food waste every day and measures output to encourage less waste
  • Engaged with innocent smoothies as a child and environmentally friendly recyclable option
  • Match day digital signage this season has been used to promote recycling, advertise the diversity of our food offering, highlighting vegan vegetarian and specialty items
  • General admission concourse dietary options are all advertised via the digital signage above each respective outlet dishes include vegetable Tagine with wild rice and vegan piglets offers
  • Every lounge has a vegan/veggie option and full dietary menu in the restaurants
  • Match day General Admission concourse offers 7 hot options, 3 of which are plant based 1 of those has none of the known allergens and is gluten free also (Hot Dog Cheese Burger, Chicken Pie, Steak Pie, Vegan/Veggie Pie, Vegan Roll, Vegan/Gluten Free/Diary Free special (such as vegetable tagine)
  • Training Ground
  • Staff and players daily food options at the stadium and training ground provide for all dietary needs including vegan/plant based
  • Fish supplier is local to Sussex (Shoreham) and guarantees provenance that all fish purchased is caught within the quota limits set by the United Kingdom and European Union and is therefore sustainable
  • Meat supplier is Sussex based (Bexhill) and fruit and vegetable supplier is based in Brighton

Biodiversity

  • Training ground development has engendered the planting of an extra circa. 1000 trees/bushes on site as part of the landscaping programme
  • As part of the training ground facility extension programme that concluded summer 2021, all ecology elements within BREEAM programme were complied with including appointing ecologist and complying with all ecologist recommendations
  • Installed bird nesting boxes on the stadium roof.
  • Have repurposed areas of the training ground with planting schemes.
  • Looking to introduce wild flower area of training ground with academy attendees
  • Use of Eco friendly products with one shot systems to reduce packaging and waste
  • Removed use of fixed aerosol air fresheners around our venues
  • Developing 5 point plan to ensure our sites are more bio-diverse
  • We are currently investigating options and benefits associated with a green waste biodiversity proposal which our Stadium Head Grounds person has produced. This could utilise green waste form our stadium, training ground and the country park being built next to the TG with which we have an associated interest
  • Agreement with ticket stock provider that when Away teams request paper tickets, they identify and capture the equivalent costs in CO2 emissions from paper/print purchases and plant in native woodland, through the Woodland Trust and the Woodland Carbon scheme

Education

  • Charitable arm Albion in the Community (AITC) delivered the Premier League Inspires project via their secondary school’s programme, which challenges pupils to complete surrounding sustainability and environmental impacts. The challenge was as follows: “We would like you to create a social action project to help address environmental sustainability at your football club. In your teams, discuss what matters to you when it comes to climate change and environmental sustainability. What do you think the big issues for your football club might be? How might your ideas support what your club is already doing in this space? Think about how your social action might lead to actual change.”This challenge is for school teams of 5 students, with weekly sessions in school and an event at the stadium, for teams, schools and individuals to look at the challenge and create a social action project on Climate Change
  • We will also be hosting a Regional Event at the AMEX, where other clubs will join our winning team to present their ideas and learn more about climate change and how Football Clubs can become more climate friendly. (Our FT scholars programme plans to commit to this Inspires Project in 22/23 season)
  • Sustainability will form part of the all-staff induction programme from season 22/23 onwards
  • Albion in the Community have coordinated as part of the Premier League Inspires programme, schools to participate in a 6-week ‘Social Enterprise Challenge’, during which teams of school children will develop a social action project to help address environmental sustainability at either BHAFC or their own school. The ‘Protection of the Planet’ launch event at the Amex was delivered by Albion in the Community in partnership with American Express.
  • https://albioninthecommunity.org.uk/sussex-students-plan-for-greener-future-at-the-amex/
  • AITC have agreed to join 14 other Premier League Clubs to be a part of the Super League Organisation in conjunction with the Premier League to deliver via their schools programme the following National Schools Project
    • This project uses the power of football, fans and schools to help the community fan base raise awareness of environmental issues such as climate change, sustainability etc and empower change both at an individual level, family level and wider.
  • As part of our formal partnership with the Football Business Academy (FBA) the-fba.com in Switzerland, we have tasked 4 candidates to deliver their Student Business Project for Brighton & Hove Albion FC to “Identify and present a plan to enhance Brighton & Hove Albion FC’s commitment to environmental sustainability.”
  • We are building a network of staff sustainability champions to help engage and educate colleagues across the club
  • We are collaborating with our local universities and key sponsors to identify ways in which we can engage with the local community to support us on our sustainability journey
  • Boys U12s academy team Premier League Christmas truce project was built around sustainability and looking after the local environment. Activities included a beach clean in Lancing where the training ground is based.

Communication and Engagement

  • Environmental statement on website: https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/club/club/environmental-statement/
  • We have a clear club policy statement on the website, which outlines the club’s commitment to a sustainable business
  • We report our carbon emissions via the government’s Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) each year which is included within our directors’ report on the annual accounts
  • The club won a silver commendation in the Sustainability category at The Football Business Awards in May 2022
  • We will educate fans via our web and social channels and via matchday comms (programme, etc.)
  • Some examples of this include.

Sustainable Procurement

  • Our sustainable procurement approach is contained within the clubs Modern Slavery Statement (updated Jan 2023) https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/club/club/modern-slavery

  • We have updated our sustainable procurement policy which forms the basis of our revised sustainable procurement framework that addresses the risk of modern slavery. Alongside the policy, we have developed a sustainable procurement procedure which sets out the process by which environmental, social and economic factors (including human rights) will be built into the Club’s purchasing decisions, supplier selection and management.

  • Having developed our Supplier Code of Conduct, we will look to engage with our key suppliers and staff responsible for supply chain standards as part of an overall stakeholder engagement exercise following the risk assessment process. All new suppliers will be required to sign up to the Supplier Code of Conduct as a demonstration of their commitment to operating fair and equitable practices, whereby modern slavery is not tolerated. We will also incorporate the Supplier Code of Conduct into supplier contracts once it is approved.

Sponsorship/Ownership

  • OWNERSHIP

    • Ownership: 93.74% by Tony Bloom’s company; Brighton and Hove Albion Holdings Limited

    • Information: Anthony Grant Bloom (born 20 March 1970) is an English sports bettor, poker player, entrepreneur, owner and chairman of Premier League football club Brighton & Hove Albion and majority owner of Belgian First Division A team Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

    • Country: UK

    • Source of Income: Accumulated primarily through proprietary or value betting on sports events and holds significant property and private equity portfolios.

    • Links: https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/1245353

  • SPONSORSHIP
    • Click here for more information on club sponsors and sustainability

Information sourced directly from Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. staff
Information updated 14th March 2023
To see information from 2021, click here