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Chelsea 2022

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Policy and Commitment

  • The Club has public facing sustainability commitments and actions displayed on the club website home page: https://www.chelseafc.com/en/environmental-policy
  • A formal sustainability policy is in draft form and is under review for sign-off. This document is a further step to setting in place a centralized sustainability strategy for the club
  • Chelsea FC is not currently a signatory of the UNFCCC Sport for Climate Action Framework but is currently undertaking a full GHG emissions review. Decisions on joining external frameworks will be based on the results of that review
  • The change of ownership in 2022 has caused some delays in implementation of the club’s sustainability plans. Despite interruptions, the club undertook the BASIS sustainability assessment and received its BASIS accreditation in November 2022. The club is continuing its work with Seymour·Associates to improve understanding of our environmental impact. Work is underway to update and enhance the club’s sustainability policy and set the path to a centralized strategy
  • The club is in the process of hiring a dedicated sustainability manager to coordinate the club’s strategy and help implement more sustainable practices

Clean/Renewable Energy

  • Chelsea FC purchases 100% of its energy from renewable sources. All natural gas used is offset by UN approved certified carbon offsets. Verified by Sport Positive

Energy Efficiency

  • The Club’s approach to energy efficiency has not changed substantively since last year’s submission
  • The approach remains to take every practical opportunity to increase energy efficiency with redevelopment and refurbishment opportunities
  • The Building Management System is actively managed and regularly checked to maximise efficiency and reduce wasting energy, and money
  • CFC/all site operates on a Building Management System programmed to reduce energy use and optimise energy efficiency with set points checked regularly
  • LED lights throughout all CFC properties, including flood lights
  • During pandemic we worked on further reducing our energy output while the sites were closed
  • Training facility meets ‘excellent’ BREEAM standard (advised 2019)

Sustainable Transport

  • The Club actively and visibly advocates for fans and staff to use sustainable transport options

  • Chelsea encourages fans on their way to games to use public transport or other more environmentally-friendly means, including putting travel information on the club website. For certain away games the club provides coach and train travel to encourage less car usage
  • Sources advising against car use and promoting walk, cycling and public transport include: Getting To Stamford Bridge | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club (chelseafc.com) / 4522_Matchday_Information_22_23_AW_2.0_1.pdf (chelseafc.com)
  • Travel options are mentioned in the Club environmental policy on the main club website: Environmental Policy | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club (chelseafc.com)
  • A sustainable transport policy for fans is planned for 2023-24 season. The car share scheme stopped before COVID. We do not have plans to bring it back because it was set up before social media and now we find fans communicate between themselves to find ride shares.
  • The Club has a sustainable transport policy for staff which offers an interest free season ticket loan. The Club operates a hybrid working environment where those in roles that are able to can work two days a week from home, reducing the need to travel. Our travel policy encourages people to think about why they need to travel and are there better options

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

  • The Club has reduced or removed single use plastic products from operations including:
  • Up to 20,000 non-branded reusable cups have replaced single-use plastic pint cups on match days
  • 2,000 reusable cups have been provided for staff
  • Plastic bags have been removed from retail units
  • Switched from plastic bags to linen bag to store up to 1,500 catering staff belongings
  • Plastic sauce sachets removed from site
  • Plastic straws removed from site

Waste Management

  • Therefore 100% of waste is diverted from going directly to landfill
  • Chelsea FC’s waste management strategy/system segregates recyclable waste across all club sites and operational areas, including catering and retail to achieve a 40% recycling rate (approximately) over the last year
  • All other waste is sent for incineration with energy recovery

Water Efficiency

  • The Club doesn’t have a formal policy or strategy to reduce mains water use, but actions have continued to be taken consistent with last year’s submission.
  • The Club collects and uses rain water at the Cobham training Ground.

Plant based/low carbon food

  • Plant-based (vegetarian and/or vegan) options are available to fans in all areas of the stadium at every game, including in hospitality areas
  • Supporting information:
    • Vegan options available at all bars and kiosks across the stadium in General admission areas as standard, with our signature plant-based dish being our home made onion bhaji burger
    • An extensive plant based is offered to pre order via our CFC express app
    • In addition to vegan options available in hospitality lounges that form part of the standard menu we also have an additional 3 course plant-based meal that is offered as an alternative in any lounge across all hospitality areas should any guest require additional options
    • 66% of all dessert are vegan as standard
    • Plant-based food options are available to staff and players across all sites
  • Supporting information:
    • All Chelsea and Levy hospitality staff eat from hospitality area where, as mentioned above there are extensive plant-based options
    • We work with the club nutritionist and generally 1/3 of the players food is plant based
    • The Club have any sustainable sourcing policies in place for food and beverage
  • Supporting information:
    • Procurement and use of MCS 1-3 or ASC assured fish
    • All poultry and egg procurement for Levy/CFC uses the most sustainable sourcing scheme
    • 90% seasonal and UK sourcing for all fruit and vegetables

Biodiversity

  • The Club maintains natural areas at the Cobham training facility, including trees, shrubs and a lake, to support nature and local ecosystems

Education

  • The Club has provided education programmes including environmental sustainability and/or climate change to staff, players, fan groups and/or young people.
  • Staff 
    • In 2022, the club worked with Seymour Associates to deliver 4 educational sessions on environmental sustainability for staff (two general staff sessions, one for Meetings & Events, and one for Commercial Sponsorship).
  • Young people
    • Secondary School Activities
    • PL Inspires
      • In 2022, delivered social action projects 8 of our schools through the PL Inspires Challenge. This was a competition-based activity, consisting in a youth social action that challenges secondary school pupils to design and develop a project focusing on ‘Protecting the Planet’. The format consisted of workshops, sessions led by the young people, and a final event to showcase the great work done, held at Stamford Bridge.
    • Key takeaway stats:
      • 148 hard-to-reach pupils engaged in an average of over 8 hours’ worth of social action relating to sustainability.
      • 28 participants on the sustainability social action were disabled.
      • One of our schools creating a fully-functioning eco-garden that is still used today, and has become a key breakout space in their school community.
    • Earth Day Challenge
      • 100 participants also took part in our Premier League Inspires Earth Day Challenge, again implementing social action in their local school communities using the themes outlined by the ‘Dirt is Good Project’.
    • Details on Planet League.
      • 79% of pupils recognized the event was relevant and helped them with their learning.
      • 80% of participants were inspired by the event.
    • We have developed our PL Inspires Challenge provision further this year (2023)– and our pupils and schools are all currently engaging in their projects at their respective schools – stats so far are:
      • 2 launch events held at Stamford Bridge, attended by 60 participants.
      • 4 schools so far engaged with the challenge.
      • 90 pupils have so far completed a presentation on their ideas as they begin to implement their sustainability ideas within their local school community.
      • 61 hours of social action has so far been carried out.
    • Primary School Activities
      • Delivered 19 social action projects across the year relating to sustainability in our network of primary schools, on our PL Primary Stars programme. These consisted of a minimum of 6 sessions across 6 weeks to enable and empower pupils to address an identified environmental issue. Each project would also consist of a whole school assembly. Key takeaway stats include:
      • 221 participants directly engaged in social action.
      • Over 4000 primary school children engaged in sustainability activities through Chelsea FC. Foundation at some point throughout the academic year.
      • 83% of participants reported high level of enjoyment.
      • Over 65% have felt inspired and engaged.
      • 60% believe that sustainability is an important issue.
      • Over 50% of pupils engaged in activity with Chelsea FC Foundation now know what to do to make their school sustainable thanks to the activities that we have delivered.
  • Planet League was also promoted throughout our schools network by the Foundation. We drove engagement through internal competitions, workshops and assemblies.
    • Chelsea FC finished 4th in the Planet League Green Football Cup with a total of 4,741 goals.
  • We are also planning to work in collaboration with Fulham FC Foundation to highlight our work – in line with our game taking place on Green Football Weekend. This will consist of schools visiting each other to share best practice, facilitated by ourselves.
  • Academy
    • Joined by Billy Gee (Academy Player) for a PL Inspires Protect the Planet Challenge Session
    • Going to be joined by men’s first team player on 2nd February who will be on our judging panel at one of our school finals – all participants will present their social action project ideas and player will interact and help choose a winner who will go onto represent Chelsea at the national PL Inspires Challenge.

Communication and Engagement

Sustainable Procurement

  • The Club doesn’t currently have a formal sustainable procurement policy in place
  • The club has taken steps to reduce the environmental impacts of goods purchased, including 
    • Energy – green energy for both gas and electricity through Brook Green.
    • All lighting replaced with LEDs.
    • Reusable plastic cups on the concourse.
    • Reduction of plastic waste around site including plastic cups and plastic waste.
    • Focus on waste segregation with our waste partner.
    • Our catering and cleaning partner, Levy, has multiple initiatives running to reduce their impact on the environment (e.g. bio-cleaning products, locally sourced food and wines, reducing dairy in their offering at our sites).

Sponsorship and Ownership

  • OWNERSHIP
    • Ownership: 100% by Clearlake Capital
    • Information: Chelsea’s ownership consortium is led by LA Dodgers part owner Todd Boehly. Although he is the face of the group, it is backed by investment firm Clearlake Capital, and other deep-pocketed partners, including Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, and Boehly’s Dodgers partner Mark Walter
    • Country: USA
    • Industry: Private Equity
    • Source of Income: Todd Boehly: Investments in insurance, asset management, technology, sports, media, real estate, and the consumer sector // Clearlake Capital: Software & Technology, Energy & Industrials, Food & Consumer Services
    • Links: https://clearlake.com/portfolio/
  • 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 Chelsea F.C. staff
Information updated 23rd March 2023
To see information from 2021, click here