Policy and Commitment
- Environmental sustainability policy ‘We Are Greener Imps’ has been written as part of the club’s Green Team Action Work and can be found on the website here: https://www.weareimps.com/club/greener-imps/
- The club is currently developing its own Climate Action Strategy (2022-27), the club’s first strategic plan aimed at delivering on environmental and sustainable actions. It has been produced through collaborative engagement with employees, stakeholders and investors and will serve as a roadmap for empowering change to both cultural and operational practice.
- The club will also produce annual reports to demonstrate measurable progress on the roadmap to its environmental targets, coupled with showcasing examples of where innovation and investment have successfully driven change.
- This strategy document will also be periodically reviewed at board and senior executive level to ensure the club is on track to meet its objectives.
- A newly established ‘Green Team’ will explore ways to ensure the club’s actions are as sustainable as possible and with the least impact, especially on the surrounding community.
- Is an EFL Green Clubs member.
- The club is continuing to invest in its facilities following the £1.53milion that has already been spent on facilities over the past three seasons to help reduce its environmental impact.
- Joined the Lincoln Climate Commission to ensure the club is working alongside other organisations in the area and sharing best practice, as well as looking into funding opportunities to help reduce carbon footprint.
Clean/Renewable Energy
- Is looking into clean energy as part of its forward planning for the near future.
Energy Efficiency
- Has internal site management plans to regulate the use of lighting and heating, including power downs in unused areas.
- Installing data logging technology to measure electricity usage across the site, to learn how it can reduce its consumption.
- Will continue to invest in energy saving light bulbs as part of its forward maintenance programme.
Sustainable Transport
- Installed a new bike rack (Capacity: 30) during summer 2022 and is considering incentives for supporters.
- Reduced bus fare scheme for gold members.
- Rail travel to the LNR Stadium is promoted via the club’s ‘Away Fan & New Visitor Guide’ on its website.
- Partnered with Stagecoach to encourage the use of public transport in the city and to help reduce the carbon footprint. Imps supporters must show proof of their Gold/Gold+ Membership to the bus driver prior to boarding.
- Red Imps Travel provides stadium-to-stadium coach transport for all first team away games.
- Transport surveys on how fans travel to Sincil Bank have been carried out in the past. The most recent survey took place in 2017.
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- No longer uses plastic plates/bowls in its legends lounge.
Waste Management
- Waste management contractor has a 100% zero-landfill policy in place.
- Has reduced waste collections, removed a general waste skip, and replaced several of the bins at the stadium with cardboard & paper bins only.
- Installed green compost bins for the grass cutting at Sincil Bank and at the Soper of Lincoln Elite Performance Centre.
- Community ‘Imp’ bins are in place on route to the stadium from the City Centre for fans to use before and after games.
Water Efficiency
- Have started upgrading and re-programming flush timers in all male urinals throughout the stadium.
- Reduced water used per flush in all toilets at the stadium.
- Implementing water saving technology in the urinal & toilet systems.
- Investigating further water saving methods.
- Investigating how it can recycle water used around the stadium.
Plant based/low carbon food
- Concession stands offer various vegetarian options.
- The chef makes players a meat free breakfast every morning.
- Catering partner Elior uses local produce in its food and beverages for all spectators, guests, and visitors to the stadium.
- On matchdays, The Buildbase Legends Lounge offers vegetarian options.
Biodiversity
- Has planned to plant wildflowers around the borders of the club’s car park. Once established, the club could potentially plant deep rooted trees in place of the wildflowers.
Education
- Lincoln City Foundation ran a five-day free programme called ‘Green Leaders’ earlier in 2022 which aimed to develop young people’s sustainability, leadership, and creativity skills. From this programme, a group of 16-18 year-olds presented a plan to the club’s Green Team discussing how they can volunteer and help the club become greener. As part of this plan, members of the Green Leaders will be at LCFC’s home games starting in Poachers Den with fun eco-friendly activities and then at the end of the match will be found in the GBM stand holding litter bags for fans to place any rubbish in.
- The Green Leaders programme has since been rebranded into ‘PL Kicks Protect the Planet’. For the programme, the club works with those that attend its PL kicks sessions at the stadium every Friday from 6pm to 7:30pm. Through workshops and activities, young people aged 14-18 will understand the different concepts and strands of sustainability, to implement it into a social action project.
- The Lincoln City Foundation previously teamed up with local schools on a Fuel for School programme. One of the roles of the programme was to collectively fight against global food waste and take direct environmental action. The education programme helped schools to use the campaign to create active learning and life changing opportunities for pupils working towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Communication and Engagement
- Environmental sustainability policy ‘We Are Greener Imps’ has been written as part of the club’s Green Team Action Work and can be found on the website here: https://www.weareimps.com/club/greener-imps/
- To ensure robust governance of policy and strategy, all environmental matters are tabled at a Social & Ethics Committee, a cross-club working party which reports to the club’s executive on the social and environmental agenda.
- Encouraged fans to take part in Planet League and introduced the hashtag #GreenerImps on social media.
- Shareholders of Lincoln City Football Club are asked to give permission to be contacted by email to minimise costs and environmental impact.
- Raised awareness of Rob Green and Dean Windass’ promotion of using smart meters.
Additional information
Information sourced directly from Lincoln City F.C staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 07 March, 2023.
