Policy and Commitment
- The Red Way commitment and strategy was launched in 2021 and is published on the website.
- The Planet aspect of the strategy covers all sustainability impacts from pollution, waste, supply chain environmental impacts, carbon emissions and biodiversity.
- Signatory to UN Sports for Climate Action framework (S4CA) and is committed to the higher ambition level, recently completing a carbon emission inventory across all 3 Scopes including fan travel to UK home and away matches.
- LFC has implemented an energy management system, independently certified to ISO50001.
- The operational framework of The Red Way has been certified to ISO20121 by external auditors – BSI.
Clean/Renewable Energy
- Electricity and gas for the club’s UK operated sites is currently from renewable sources.
Energy Efficiency
- Operational energy management system in place, certified to ISO50001, demonstrating ongoing compliance to ESOS.
- Covers LFC’s UK operated sites.
- Energy at Anfield, Academy & AXA Training Centre sites is managed through comprehensive BMS software giving insights for proactively managing consumption across the facilities.
- Working with supplier factories to retail operation – changing lighting to energy-efficient systems and working with suppliers more widely to improve efficiencies on energy, water usage and to reduce waste. Energy efficiency is also promoted through the washing instructions detailed on garment labels i.e., advising to reduce temperature to 30c, where hygienic.
Sustainable Transport
- Managing transport and carbon emissions is part of the overall The Red Way strategy and LFC’s sustainability policy. The transport emissions reduction strategy is driven by the objectives set out in The Red Way. In terms of emissions, these are tracked in the carbon emissions inventory, and the reduction plan across fans, staff and teams is part of the carbon reduction strategy.
- The carbon emissions resulting from travel (staff, fans, and teams) are measured in the carbon emissions inventory and part of the overall carbon management plan, with reduction targets aligned, as a minimum, to S4CA and Race to Zero.
- An additional transport strategy developed in Nov 2020, which was published as part of the Anfield Rd extension planning requirements. This strategy will be implemented and monitored under the planning conditions for the extension of the stadium including increasing the cycle hub and bus capacity.
- Public transport is visibly advocated. There’s a free cycle hub at the stadium, walking routes are signposted, casual match day staff receive free bus travel to and from work each matchday, EV charging points are in place at the AXA Training Centre, and there is a cycle to work scheme for staff.
- There are two team coach buses in use. In alignment with LFC procurement policy, upon next renewal, a full assessment will be undertaken to replace the coaches with a more sustainable solution, which is expected to be hydrogen. In the interim, the fuel used will be decarbonised. For flights, there is commitment to decarbonise the fuel through the use of sustainable aviation fuel (directly or indirectly in the planes, where availability allows). This will result in a reduction of c. 80% of emissions, with any residual emissions being offset.
- Supporter (fan) travel is measured and reported as part of the carbon strategy. Attendance at matches is reported on the website and as highlighted above, the type/mode of travel has also been assessed during the development of the transport strategy, as well as previous economic impact reports which have been published externally.
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- Single use plastic reduction/removal is included within waste management strategy developed as an outcome of the implementation of the LFC sustainability management system, The Red Way strategy and the sustainability policy.
- Waste audits across all key LFC sites are continuously undertaken, with external specialist assistance where required, identifying all waste streams and the potential reduction options, which include single use plastics.
- Associated targets for overall waste reduction, including the reduction of single use plastics, have therefore been incorporated within future operational planning.
- Retail/merchandise procurement – proactive strategy to reduce packaging on all products to reduce plastic and cardboard is being implemented e.g., avoiding individual plastic bags for items coming into the Distribution Centre, removing acetate from packaging. Looking at closed loop recycling for clothes hangers.
- Use of reusable ‘bottom-up’ cups at Anfield, avoids plastic waste.
- New partnership launched in Sept 2021 with SC Johnson to collect plastics and recycle these into new bottles for their products.
Waste Management
- 96 % diverted from landfill in 2020.
- A waste management strategy has been developed as an outcome of the sustainability management system (SEMS) implementation, The Red Way strategy and the sustainability policy.
- As part of this process, a waste audit across all key LFC sites has been undertaken, with external specialist assistance, identifying all waste streams and the potential reduction options.
- Associated targets for overall waste reduction, have therefore been incorporated within future operational planning. The related targets for the next couple of seasons are as follows:
- 10% reduction in overall waste (tonnes) annually.
- 60% waste recycled, composted, anaerobic digestion (food).
- Zero waste to landfill (noting, construction projects have their own waste targets).
- Retail/ merchandise procurement – proactive strategy to reduce packaging on all products to reduce plastic and cardboard is being implemented e.g., avoiding individual plastic bags for items coming into the Distribution Centre, removing acetate from packaging. Looking at closed loop recycling for clothes hangers.
Water Efficiency
- Comprehensive water management programme underway with significant investment in reducing and reusing water at Academy, AXA Training Centre and stadium.
- Academy and AXA Training Centre have a Waste2Water facility.
- Equipment is washed off on a purpose-built apron which drains into a sump. This dirty water is filtered to remove solids (typically grass cuttings) then treated in the Waste2Water tank with bacteria, and the water is then able to be reused for washing again.
- Weather station monitors rainfall and evaporation.
- Irrigation is carefully planned, according to need based on current rainfall and humidity to ensure the grass gets the required amount, but avoiding excess consumption, and minimising run-off (and potential pollution).
- The recently installed new borehole and storage tank can hold much more water, which avoids use of mains water and means that the pitches can be irrigated at night, minimising evaporation, and further reducing need to use borehole or mains water. Borehole extraction is monitored as part of the EA extraction permit. Mains water use is metered, therefore monitored.
- All new developments have water efficient taps/ facilities installed as part of the overall resource management policy (The Red Way strategy, and associated sustainability policy).
Plant based/low carbon food
- All catering outlets, for staff, players, and visitors offer vegetarian and vegan options as standard.
- There are allotments at Academy and Anfield – the in-season vegetables grown are used by the chefs and used as part of the pastoral education of the young players to show how in-season, low carbon food is grown and then used as part of a healthy balanced diet. This links with the nutritional advice provided by the teams’ nutritionists.
- All food for catering is sourced locally (NW England) to support the local economy and reduce food miles.
- Through LFC partnership with Quorn, meat free matchday pies were launched at the beginning of 21/22 season and Quorn sales for 21/22 season, so far, have saved 37 tonnes CO2e
- Additional highlights/metrics:
- Staff meals are 37-38% vegetarian.
- Matchday Hospitality is achieving 30% vegetarian, even at present with some restricted menus.
- Vegan/vegetarian options are 58% on this year’s event selector menus.
- Kiosk pie orders are 15% vegetarian / vegan even with current restricted menu.
- New unit on Skerries due to open Feb 22 will be vegan only.
Biodiversity
- Biodiversity is part of The Red Way sustainability strategy, with a commitment to enhance the biodiversity on site and off.
- The club has supported local tree planting programmes, through its carbon neutrality commitment for scope 1 & 2 emissions.
- Key highlights / metrics:
- At Academy over 900 trees, hedges, bushes, and wildflower plugs have been planted as well as vegetable raised beds, with chefs using the produce in-season, including: tomatoes, leeks, onions, celery, cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, radish, carrots, beetroot, celeriac, herbs, chillies, and peppers. Pear, apple, cherry, and plum trees have also been planted.
- Additionally, there are 3 bug houses, a hedgehog house, 4 log piles, 8 bird boxes and 8 bird feeders, and we are working with the local Hedgehog Society to help protect hibernating hedgehogs.
Education
- Players have been educated and engaged in various environmental campaigns/initiatives, particularly those delivered with LFC’s Partners, including the SC Johnson’s ‘Goals for Change’ plastic upcycling initiative at Anfield, Quorn’s ‘Meat free Matchdays’ advocating meat-free diets, and as part of Nike’s ‘Move to Zero’ where club kits are produced from plastic bottles. For example, Players have been educated by Mona Nemmer, Head of Nutrition, on the importance of a balanced diet & sustainable protein sources, along with the benefits of Quorn for:
- the cookery series, Red Recipes.
- when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain quizzed Club Captain Jordan Henderson and Xherdan Shaqiri.
- Players have also been briefed and educated on the impact of meat production, & positive impact of plant-based food in comparisons, to the environment.
- Through LFC Foundation, fans have been involved in Planet Super League, via the Primary Stars programme. Additionally, through the schools’ project, #iwill youth social action, several project groups have chosen to investigate and learn more about reducing plastic waste and tackling pollution levels.
- Increasing awareness and education around key sustainability elements within the LFC workforce have been a key focus. For example, earlier this year LFC partners, Standard Chartered, Carlsberg, Cadbury’s, EA Sports, Sonos and Quorn, provided some great prizes to reward staff for learning and engaging in sustainability focussed daily quizzes.
- Part of the development of the sustainability management system (SEMS), and The Red Way strategy implementation, has been engaging internally with core staff members and upskilling these groups on the sustainability/ climate change impact of their role.
- The development of communications and engagement programme for The Red Way includes all staff training, recruitment and on-boarding to ensure all staff are aware of The Red Way, along with the implications for their role
- Full-time and part-time staff already use online training modules in Flow for mandatory sustainability related training.
- There are allotments at Academy and at Anfield which are used for training with Academy members on diet and food sourcing. These are also used for growing vegetables which are then used by the chefs. At Anfield, the allotment has not been used during the pandemic, but is due to be re-established.
- At Academy, the allotment is used extensively by the chefs. It is also being used as part of the pastoral education of the young players at Academy, to show how food is grown and then used as part of a healthy, balanced diet. This links with the nutritional advice provided by team nutritionists.
- The club’s Red Neighbours programme has integrated environmental sustainability education into its work with local schools.
Communication and Engagement
- The club’s sustainability policy/efforts are continuously reviewed, refreshed, and available on the club’s main website.
- The club actively engages fans towards positive behavioural change that reduces environmental impact in their own lives – examples include promotion of Quorn, meat-free matchdays, meat-free pies, minimising waste, particularly plastic.
- The club’s Red Neighbours programme has integrated sustainability into its work with local schools, as well as community groups.
- LFC Foundation joined Planet Super League in 2021 and, to date, fans have completed over 1000 activities, resulting in emissions reductions over 7,220kg CO2, the equivalent to planting 411 trees.
Additional information
Information sourced directly from Liverpool F.C. staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 25 January, 2022.
To see information from 2019 and 2020, click here
