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Everton 2021

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Policy and Commitment

  • A sustainability strategy and subsequent policy are in the process of being drawn up, utilising the expertise of external consultants who have engaged on the sustainability elements of the new stadium. https://www.evertonfc.com/evertonforchange
  • During the new stadium planning committee meeting, a commitment was made to strive to make the new stadium the most sustainable in the Premier League
  • Targets and commitments to sustainability form part of all new stadium procurement and services contracts

Clean/Renewable Energy

  • 31.9% of energy is produced through a company where a proportion of it includes Renewable Energy from off-shore wind farms. This purchasing applies to all sites
  • Energy is purchased through a company where a portion of it includes Renewable Energy from off-shore wind farms

Energy Efficiency

  • Building Management Systems (BMS) in place that centrally controls heating, lighting and energy usage at all sites
  • ESOS compliant across all sites
  • LED lighting systems installed wherever possible at all sites
  • At Goodison Park, this installation started in 2011, and LED lighting continues to be installed in all upgrades or projects, except for flood lights
  • All perimeter boards at Goodison Park are LED
  • Lighting motion sensor systems installed wherever possible at all sites
  • Pitch equipment fuel changed to a Alkylate petrol alternative that is significantly purer by being virtually free from Benzene and other harmful substances, thus being more user and environmentally friendly, and being Ethanol free and so preserving the life of machine components

Sustainable Transport

  • Advocating for fans to travel to matches via public transport through sharing of public transport options in the Goodison matchday guide
  • The Club renewed its active Bike to Work scheme running as part of the Government’s Green Transport Plan. Employees save up to 42% on the cost of a bike and other safety equipment and accessories up to the value of £1000. This is made possible by savings on Income Tax and National Insurance
  • Advocating for fans to travel via public or active transport has been included in the plans for the proposed Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium
  • Offer public transport pass loans to staff based in the Royal Liver Building (where the connections are available). These have proven popular, with an uptake of 17% of staff at the Royal – Liver Building taking advantage of the scheme
  • Incentive scheme in place to encourage car sharing
  • Electric Vehicle Charging points are currently being installed at USM Finch Farm. This will also be in place for the new stadium site
  • Staff at the Royal Liver Building have access to a car park that supplies Electric Vehicle Charging points
  • Club undertook a transport survey showing fans backed use of public transport, survey included asking fans  who travelled to games what transportation mode they used
  • Further investment in AV equipment, Microsoft Teams and Skype available at all sites to reduce unnecessary travel for meetings

Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal

  • Club-wide written policy on reducing single use plastic which is an objective of the Everton for Change campaign. Strides are collectively being made and this target forms part of decision making across all sites and business activities
  • Continuation of reusable cups on match days at Goodison Park. Over the course of the season, it is estimated Everton, with the help of staff and supporters will prevent approximately 75,000 single-use plastic pint pots from polluting the environment thanks to the introduction of reusable cups
  • At Goodison Park, catering partner Sodexo have changed all plastic cutlery used in the stadium to wood, straws to paper, vegetables are delivered fresh in cardboard boxes to reduce packaging
  • Reusable carrier bags that are 100% recyclable are now in all club shops
  • At Goodison Park, plastic cutlery has been swapped for wooden cutlery, plastic straws have been swapped for paper straws, individual plastic packet condiments have been eliminated, and vegetables are delivered fresh in cardboard boxes to reduce packaging
  • Reusable cup scheme launched November 2019: https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1477813/reusable-cups-introduced-at-goodison
  • Thermos Mugs provided for staff across all sites to help reduce the use of single-use plastic cups
  • Drinks bottles provided for staff in our new Royal Liver Building office to help reduce single-use plastic bottles
  • The club uses Aquaid water coolers (to encourage use of reusable water bottles), who supply and build drinkable water projects in Africa
  • Bean Coffee (Everton staff café in the Royal Liver Building office) has eliminated single use cups, reduced the number of pre-made sandwiches in plastic packaging and has eliminated snacks in plastic pots
  • Supporters encouraged to switch to digital season tickets and move away from plastic cards which saw more than 30% take-up in the first year with the aim of increasing the move to a digital solution year-on-year before becoming 100% digital at the new stadium
  • Via EiTC Sustainability social action projects- children have pledged to make their schools more sustainable by reducing plastic use, waste. They will do this through a range of campaigns and activities to promote recycling in school, the use of reusable bottles and do away with single use plastic.

Waste Management

  • Between 97% and 98% of waste diverted from landfill
  • More than 90% of waste is recycled
  • Waste management plan in place (SWMP) meaning all waste on site is recorded, including disposal method (this includes waste generated by outside contractors)
  • Food recycling at all sites
  • Food waste is collected and used for green energy using a process called anaerobic digestion
  • The balance goes to general waste which is further separated at waste contractors’ facility
  • At Goodison Park, Club and catering partner will soon use smart technology to reduce food waste by up to 50% by using a data-led approach to allow for operational and behavioural changes
  • Club stationary has been redesigned so it can be used for multiple seasons without wastage
  • At Goodison Park, all contaminated waste is collected and incinerated
  • At USM Finch Farm (training ground), for any large tree pruning around site, they chip the branches themselves and use the chippings in the beds
  • Use of organic fertilisers
  • At Goodison Park, all plastic, paper, cardboard, wood and glass items are recycled with all plastics are separated at source
  • Separates all waste at source within the stadium, dividing it into plastics, card and paper which is recycled
  • All organic waste such as grass clippings and other plant material is recycled into natural compost. At USM Finch Farm, this is then collected by a local farmer
  • Central waste and recycling points in the Royal Liver Building headquarters
  • Central waste and recycling points are also being introduced across Finch Farm (training ground), in the canteen and Family Lounge areas
  • Battery recycling collection points at all sites and have made staff aware this is available
  • Printer ink cartridges are collected by ICT and sent off for reuse
  • AV equipment and Skype is available at all sites to reduce unnecessary travel for meetings
  • Old Kits and Uniforms collected and recycled or gifted to charities

With regards to existing work on the new stadium:

  • All existing site materials have been either recycled or reutilised as part of the construction process
  • Heritage assets have been saved, cleaned and stored for reuse in the scheme
  • The infilling of the dock was completed utilising boats to collect sand from the Irish Sea and pumping into Bramley-Moore Dock, rather than transport via road which was the most sustainable method of completing marine engineering process
  • Contract partner for the new stadium, Laing O’Rourke, are utilising Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) methodologies by manufacturing elements of the stadium offsite and transporting to the site in a finished form for install. This reduces wastage and the level of transport for raw materials

Water Efficiency

  • Recycling of water at USM Finch Farm
  • New kit partner Hummel uses ZEROH2O technology
  • All urinals within the stadium are waterless and those in the corporate areas are controlled by proximity sensors
  • At USM Finch Farm, the use of an Integrated Water Management (IWM) plan is being worked on, while trialling more economical ways of using water resources

Plant based/low carbon food

  • Catering partner Sodexo offers sustainably sourced vegan food options in the stadium lounges or at functions if requested and vegan options are provided on the concourse
  • Club provides sustainably sourced vegan foods and low carbon options (including plant-based upon request) for players
  • Staff can access vegan options across all sites
  • Everton Free School and Everton in the Community offer sustainably-produced and vegan options

Biodiversity

  • At USM Finch Farm, the grounds staff maintain the pond in such a way to encourage wildlife
  • Plans are being developed to promote further Biodiversity at USM Finch Farm with potential initiatives such as the creation of Woodland habitats, installation of Bird and Bat boxes and developing the pond area to encourage more wildlife

With regards to the new stadium:

  • Cormorant rafts installed at Nelson Dock, next door to the new stadium site, to provide a new habitat for the birds
  • Noise insulation measures installed for the duration of the works to protect the local wildlife
  • A Biodiversity Net Gain agreement was signed with the local authority to offset the works at Bramley-Moore Dock with works to improve a local park and it’s 25 year maintenance plan
  • An agreement made with the Environment Agency to provide an alternative habitat for Eels offsite
  • Natural habitats for wildlife will be created in the western water channel once complete

Education

  • Knowledge sharing amongst staff via the Everton for Change group working group
  • ‘Everton for Change’ group and other staff met with Emily Penn (Sky Ocean Rescue Ambassador) in January 2020 and took part in a workshop to discuss how football clubs can reduce single-use plastics in their operations
  • A similar workshop (Sky Ocean Rescue) was held with Emily Penn and the Everton Academy boys (different age groups) at USM Finch Farm
  • Everton in the Community (EiTC) arranged ‘Clean up of the Canal with the Canal’ and River Trust. Aim of cleaning up a section of the Liverpool to Leeds canal. The project was designed to help young people identify the type of waste flooding the canal, how that impacts on the environment and the changes they can help enforce within the community. That was a  4 week project with 41 Footsteps group
  • Launched the Premier League Enterprise challenge in November 2021, with the theme of playing a part in protecting our planet. Students work on an idea in teams of 5 to present at the club heats in February 2022. The brief asks the students to create a social action project that address environmental sustainability at the football club.
  • Group of NCS participants (via EiTC) are working with the National Trust in Formby to look at environmental activities to engage the community. It’s a social action project looking at climate change, beach clean ups and community use of the parks.
  • Club working alongside the Everton Fans’ Forum have set up an Everton for Change project group made up of 6 supporters helping to promote green initiatives to fellow fans. This will include a Green Matchday before the end of the season and a bi-monthly blog in the matchday programme

Communication and Engagement

  • Everton for Change page on main club website navigation: https://www.evertonfc.com/evertonforchange
  • The Everton for Change campaign is working to address a wider sustainability policy/strategy (under development)
  • News is shared on the Everton for Change campaign throughout the year and branding appears at games and across club social media platforms
  • The Everton for Change initiative was launched in October 2019 with the introduction of reusable cups in place of single-use plastic cups at Goodison Park. The launch of Everton for Change came after both Liverpool City Council and Liverpool City Region combined authority declared a climate emergency with the Council setting the aim of becoming a zero-carbon local authority by 2030
  • 31st October 2019: Everton Launches Environmental Awareness Campaign: https://www.evertonfc.com/news/1476299/everton-launches-environmental-awareness-campaign
  • With launch in October 2019 a permanent campaign page was created that carries all relevant stories. The latest is on our carbon footprint: https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2347484/evertons-commitment-to-reducing-carbon-footprint
  • No sustainability or environment policy or page on the website, information through club news, social media and third parties
  • As part of new environmental awareness campaign, ‘Everton for Change’ branding – and the tagline ‘protecting our planet’ – will be visible at Goodison on LED perimeter boards, the big screens and across other parts of the stadium at all match days to raise wider awareness of the campaign
  • Club engaged with the Everton Fans’ Forum have set up an Everton for Change project group made up of 6 supporters helping to promote green initiatives to fellow fans and feed ideas back to the club. Initiatives will include a Green Matchday before the end of the season and a bi-monthly blog in the matchday programme
  • Everton for Change branding appears at games and across Club social media channels
  • Everton player Tom Davies promoting circular economy https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211116005512/en/ChopValue-Signs-Multi-Unit-Expansion-Deal-for-the-UK-With-Tom-Davies-Premier-League%E2%80%99s-Leading-Changemaker
  • Article highlighting how the Club’s new stadium will be the most sustainable in the country https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/everton-new-stadium-22147151
  • EITC involved with Planet Super League – planet saving activities for all ages. The aim is to open children and young people’s minds on ways they can change everyday tasks such as washing clothes, outdoor play, food and waste, gadget free nights, energy saving amongst others. Children, young people and staff compete on behalf of Everton against other PL & EFL clubs to be crowned planet super league winner

Additional information

We now have planning permission on a new waterfront stadium for Everton at Bramley-Moore Dock.

The new stadium project has continued to work on sustainability drives for Bramley-Moore Dock.

The below is part of the sustainability statement that was issued as part of the planning application and is publicly available on the Liverpool City Council website.

 Sustainability

  •  We intend to harness the unique features of this location to create an environmentally friendly and sustainable stadium, which is efficient in design, construction and operation
  • Extensive work would be carried out with our construction partners to ensure we are minimising our carbon footprint throughout the construction period and beyond

 Measures could include:

  •  Generating electricity from solar panels
  • Harvesting rainwater for use in toilets
  • The provision of charging facilities in the car park for electric and hybrid vehicles
  • The Club is looking at ways to minimise waste generation in both the construction and operation of the stadium, including through the promotion of recycling and reuse of materials.

 The Environment

 The Club will work with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure a range of environmental issues are considered before, during and after construction. These include:

  •  Carrying out extensive ecological surveys before any work is done
  • Ensuring marine life in the dock is removed before emptying the dock of water
  • Ensuring the stadium has excellent noise insulation so residents and businesses nearby are not affected by crowd noise
  • Putting in place flood mitigation measures to protect the stadium and surrounding area
  • Ensuring sympathetic lighting treatments which showcase heritage and architectural features but do not cause undue light pollution
  • Monitoring air quality during and after construction

 This technical work is ongoing and may change further.

 The planning application is accompanied by a range of technical assessments, including the following topics:

  •  Heritage & Archaeology
  • Townscape & Visual Impact
  • Ground Conditions & Contamination
  • Flood Risk & Drainage
  • Air Quality
  • Ecology
  • Noise & Vibration
  • Transport
  • Wind Microclimate
  • Daylight, Sunlight & Overshadowing
  • Lighting

Information sourced directly from Everton F.C. staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 21 January, 2022
For 2019 and 2020 information, click here