Policy, Commitment & Reporting
- The Club has a sustainability policy, which is not currently available on the website. The club website is undergoing a redevelopment in line with new club badge/ branding for the 2024/25 season.
- We have just received our first carbon footprint report from our external consultants and at the time of writing are in discussions with them regarding the development of our strategy according to our emissions report. The results of the report will be visible on the club website, but at the time of writing this publication has not been finalised. We are also committed to implementing the UEFA Football Club Carbon Footprint Calculator tool and will be attending an information event on the tool and its implementation at Arsenal in the coming weeks.
- Our external target in line with our submission to UEFA as a 2028 host venue a recycling rate of at least 50% (target 70%) with zero waste to landfill. Recycling rate was 20% in 2022/23, up to 42% now.
- Zero waste to landfill already in place with new waste management supplier contract. In addition, we are targeting a 25% reduction in waste generation per fan (current 0.545kg per fan per game, with aim of 0.4095 kg per fan per game).
- Club catering and events partner Levy have their own net zero pledge (by 2027).
Clean Energy
- Our electricity supply is 100% REGO backed, electricity is 70% of our total energy use. Sport Positive verified
- Currently we do not have any onsite generation provision, but there are ongoing discussions on a number of ways how this can be introduced in the Club’s estate. REGO certificate confirms the renewable energy applies to Villa Park and 7 additional sites, which covers all AVFC offices, training ground, shop and our new Brookvale Inner-City Academy.
Energy Efficiency
- We implemented a new BMS system and software package in August 2023, allows us to manage and monitor more efficiently. Within the stadium we have control of gas, lighting, electricity, air conditioning etc.
- Stadium floodlights were changed to LED lighting at the end of the 2022/23 season, and a programme of concourse LED lighting is underway.
- Our new Brookvale Inner City Academy (BVICA) is completely BMS controlled – air, heating, water, electricity. All of the energy and water usage can be broken down and usage monitored with the new system.
- Our grounds equipment at Villa Park stadium is all electric and now electric grounds maintenance equipment/ mowers in place at the training ground. In addition we have three new electric medical buggies.
- There are a number of energy efficiency improvements that are being implemented across the estate including:
- We have started the process of Changing out gas boilers to electric
- Passive light sensors in all toilets across concourse and stadium
- Heating pump systems supplying air into function rooms now use invertor as opposed to constant fans, which cuts down electricity usage
- Pilot scheme to install 13 amp plug sockets that can be controlled via BMS. This is currently being piloted in the Directors Club, with a view to rolling out elsewhere within the hospitality areas
- TVs across the stadium continue to be controlled by BMS system
Sustainable Transport
- As of this season (2023/24), the men’s first team now travel together to home games by coach rather than driving cars individually to the stadium.
- For every home game, we send a match day travel guide to supporters via the Club app. This provides guidance on fan travel to and from games (over 100,000 app owners), which includes modes of sustainable transport. We have a link with Transport for West Midlands (TFWM) which provides information on bus and train routes. The AVFC marketing team work actively with team at TWFM to update page and provide information for fans.
- The Club are working with WMCA on the redesign of Witton train station (closest station to Villa Park). This is a £25m redevelopment project that will see improved access and capacity for train travel to Villa Park for matches and events. As part of those conversations, AVFC are contributing land to the project located next to the station to create a more accessible and fit for purpose station to improve public transport capacity.
- We are in the final stages of entering into contract with a bus operator who will provide express city centre to Villa Park shuttle bus service, to be launched at the back end of this season. The Club will be subsidising this service.
- In terms of EV chargers, there are three located at Villa Park (no increase), two at the Academy/ Women’s section of the training ground (no increase) and 10 located at the main training ground (no increase). In addition, the new Inner-City Academy facility at Brookvale has eight new EV chargers on site.
- The new Inner-City Academy is located next to Witton train station and is also on a main bus route on the north of the city, making it easily accessible by public transport. In addition, the site hastwo new covered cycle parking areas which are operational supervised and secure. These are also promoted and encouraged for use on match days, as well as for site visitors during normal operational times.
- We do not currently have a sustainable transport policy across the club, but we do now have a full-time Transport Officer. The new Transport Officer is working with the fan advisory board (a committee made up of supporter group/ fan club representatives) in order to consult and input into our pending sustainable transport policy informing how we can offer more sustainable transport for fans.
- From a wider fan perspective, we undertake a Fan travel survey. This was last completed in 2022, which had3,000 respondents) and we are due to reissue the fan travel survey before the end of the season. 2023/24 fan travel survey results will be made public.
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- One Cup scheme implemented for hot and cold drinks in concourses and hospitality areas removing all single-use plastic cups from kiosks and hospitality, as well as in offices at both the stadium and training ground.
- No plastic water bottles on site at Villa Park, with water coolers in place in each office. Reusable bottles in effect at the training ground.
- Reusable trays now being used in all concourses, with all cutlery now wooden, and all sachets replaced with condiment dispensers. Recycling bins now clearly identified both in concourses and in concession stands with ‘waste champions’ working in kiosks.
- Single use plastic bottles removed from training ground and from kiosks within the stadium
- We have changed our waste management supplier and now mixed plastics, food waste and general waste is separated on site before it is removed.
Waste Management
- Have changed waste management company and now have zero to landfill contracts already in place with waste management company (Biffa), where all waste streams are recycled with waste converted into energy, recycled or recovered.
- Separate food, recycling and general waste bins now in all concourses for the public. Waste champions now positioned in each stand to monitor and support staff waste management in kiosks and hospitality areas. Recycling bins in all offices at stadium and training ground and now installed on all stadium concourses
- NFC ticketing system rolled out across the whole stadium in 22/23, eliminating the need for fans to print e-tickets. All tickets can now be
Water Efficiency
- Food digestor at training ground runs all water to the effluent plant, cleaning it and going back to ground on site
- All concourses now have waterless urinals, reducing water usage (although no statistics currently available to measure by how much).
- Our new Inner-City Academy facility has a leak detection system integrated into the BMS allowing us to isolate any leak and minimise water loss.
Plant based/low carbon food
- Vegan option on the concourses is curry potato and spinach pie
- Meeting for Change’ package rolled out across events/ external facility hires with commitment to 80% of produce being British grown; plant forward menus; zero waste; ethical sourcing practices.
- Klimat
Biodiversity
- The Brookvale Inner City Academy (BVICA) had a full Ecological Enhancement Strategy which set out the principles by which the development ensured a net gain for biodiversity, in compliance with the National Planning Policy Framework and local planning policy. The development was completed in September 2023. The strategy included:
Education
- There is no formal training given to staff or players, but there is an environmental sustainability presentation delivered at the new staff induction across the club.
- The Foundation has delivered a number of social action-led environmental sustainability programmes in local Birmingham schools.
- We use the vehicl
Communication and Engagement
- Internal environmental working group established, with quarterly cross-departmental meetings taking place to drive environmental practices and ideas. Aston Villa Represented on Premier League sustainability working group.
- The Club’s annual fan consultation survey on environmental sustainability matters last took place in February 2023 (next due in February 2024). The Results were not shared pu
Sustainable Procurement
- We don’t yet have a full sustainable sourcing policy, but we have acted to reduce our impact by adding an environmental assessment of suppliers into our decision-making process at the tender stage. We do have a Supplier Code of Conduct covering ethics, labour rights and modern slavery.
Information sourced directly from Club staff
Information updated 8th December 2026
