Policy and Commitment
- Dedicated sustainability webpage with sustainability strategy: https://www.canaries.co.uk/club/sustainability.
- Member of BASIS (British Association of Sustainability in Sport) and attend regular workshops with the intention of producing a long-term policy and strategy.
- Study visits with other BASIS members foster such opportunities, with the club conducting visit to the All England Tennis Club (home of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships) in February 2022.
- In-house sustainability working group which was established in 2019:
- From in-house strategy set up to continually reviewing and discussing short, medium, and long terms goals that working towards as a group.
- Communicate internally with staff, and externally with fans regularly on ways they can get involved.
- Created a Supporter Panel in 2019, to ensure there was a platform in which to communicate directly with the fans on topical issues – which includes sustainability.
- Is an EFL Green Clubs member.
Clean/Renewable Energy
- NCFC uses electricity that is 100% generated from renewable sources.
- The installation of 192 solar panels across the newly erected Academy and gym buildings has provided a source of clean, renewable energy.
- Has four electric lawn mowers which are more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
Energy Efficiency
- Building management system across all sites.
- A brand new LED floodlight system has been installed at Carrow Road for the 2022/23 season reducing CO2 emissions and light pollution.
- Most lighting installed is either LED or HF florescent. Most of the emergency lighting is LED throughout the stadium.
- Additional LED lighting will continue to happen at the Lotus Training Centre.
- The fitting of occupancy sensors in the majority of the concourse areas also prevent lights being left on.
- Currently working on phase 3 assessments in preparation for the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme. At Carrow Road, voltage optimisation is in place to reduce energy costs.
- At the Lotus Training Centre, solar energy transmittance and light transmittance values of the external glazing were carefully considered for the new Academy building in order to control solar gains and to maximise daylight respectively, therefore reducing the need of electric lighting.
- The energy strategy for the development proposals at the Academy has at its core, the reduction of energy use through effective ‘fabric first’ energy efficiency measures and efficient (low power) services solutions. Through analysis using IES (Thermal Dynamic Simulation Software) the scheme achieves Energy Performance Asset Rating ‘A’.
- The building is sustainably heated by air source heat pumps coupled with Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery and on-site energy is generated by a 62-kilowatt array of photovoltaic panels.
- Is preparing for the phase three assessments of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS).
- The club is looking to review existing office equipment.
- Has the objective to reduce the club’s baseline electricity consumption by two percent.
Sustainable Transport
- Actively advocates for fans and staff to use sustainable travel via available public transport routes.
- Most prominently, during the club’s ‘Greenest Matchday’ fans were asked to come to the ground via bus.
- Electric car points have been installed at the Lotus Training Centre.
- Currently exploring electric car options to offer staff the opportunity to do a salary sacrifice.
- Cycle racks available at both sites.
- Has a cycle to work scheme in place for staff to take advantage of. Staff can now get an electric bike as well as a push bike through the cycle to work scheme.
- Staff are encouraged to attend digital meetings whenever possible to avoid unnecessary travel.
- Directors and Executives no longer take separate flights and now travel with the first-team squad and staff to reduce the club’s carbon footprint.
- The Academy too has reviewed it’s travel to fixtures. Whilst hampered somewhat by a geographical remoteness, it has pioneered ‘triangular fixtures’ playing two teams at central venues on the same day, to reduce the number of miles travelled without impacting the playing minutes available to the players. Besides the saved coach miles for the teams, it further saves thousands of miles of car travel for supporting parents and guardians travelling to watch.
- Conducts annual fan travel surveys.
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- Single Use Plastic reduction policy in place across all sites.
- Match days are single use plastic free. The club introduced cardboard recyclable water cartons, cups, lids and food boxes, leading to over 100,000 single-use plastic items no longer in operation each season.
- Working with sustainability partner Kotkamills, the club no longer uses condiment sachets or straws.
- The club now use wooden sporks; plastic ones have been removed.
- Takeaway matchday food is served in a Kotkamills plastic-free product.
- Club suits are in the process of being rolled out to staff which are made from recycled polyester using recycled plastic bottles with a fully traceable manufacturing process. The suits are made using renewable energy and fewer harmful chemicals with a reduced carbon footprint. Each suit will save 45 bottles from entering landfill.
- The club shop and Fan Hub only use recyclable paper carrier bags and offer a selection of environmentally friendly items.
- All staff have been issued with reusable coffee cups and water bottles.
Waste Management
- Currently recycles more than 50% of its waste and zero waste goes to landfill.
- Active waste diversion system is in place and the club currently has five collections in food waste, paper and card, plastic, cans and tins, glass, and non-recyclable waste.
- New bins on site externally at the training ground and internally in the staff offices now at both sites to support waste segregation.
- At the Lotus Training Ground there is a compost heap for raw food and grass cuttings. Compost is in turn used to feed the on-site allotment producing the club’s own organic fruit and vegetables to supplement the players’ daily food menu.
- Recently implemented PaperCut’s software-based printing solution at both sites which will help the club to save money and be more sustainable.
- All staff are encouraged to only print when necessary. Default setting on all printers is black & white and double sided. The paper used by the club is 100% recycled.
- Delia’s Canary Catering targets this season are to:-
- Reduce food waste by 10%.
- Reduce where possible non-recyclable products purchased from our suppliers by 33% and continue to look for more environmentally conscious products.
- Improve customer recycling rate by 60% with the introduction of segregation bins in concourses and hospitality lounges.
- Improve back of house recycling rate by 80% with the introduction of segregation bins in back of house areas.
- Together with technical kit partner Joma, the club worked hard to make this seasons shirt as sustainable as possible and are delighted to have produced a shirt where the fabric is made from fully recycled polyester.
- Continuing to work alongside its sustainability partner, Kotkamills, industry leaders providing fully recyclable, sustainable paperboard made from wood that is traceable and sourced from controlled forests
- Uses the message of #GreenerTogether to promote the work this partnership is doing within the club.
Water Efficiency
- A water efficiency policy is in place at both Carrow Road and the Lotus Training Ground.
- Both locations utilise bore holes for pitch irrigation.
- The Lotus Training Ground pitch collects all water used for pitch irrigation which is then recycled for further pitch irrigation and awaste to water system is used to washdown all grounds machinery.
- In times of low rainfall, there is another bore hole where water is taken.
- This system was part of the extensive renovations at the Training Ground between 2018 – 2020, and whilst incurred significant additional cost to implement, highlights the commitment to embed sustainable practice within the club where feasible.
- Waterless urinals have been installed at The Lotus Training Centre, with a view to exploring further areas of Stadium that could utilise similar systems in the future.
Plant based/low carbon food
- All restaurants at the stadium include a vegan option and vegan pies are available throughout the concourse areas.
- As part of the club’s ‘Greenest Matchday ‘ it engaged with fans and offered a discount of vegan pies.
- At the Lotus Training Ground there is a vegan option served daily, in addition to meals being sourced from local suppliers and homegrown produce via the on-site allotment and herb garden.
- Use locally grown produce from local suppliers as well as home-grown produce from the on-site allotment.
- A player nutrition app also exists and is available to all staff which has several recipes that feature plant-based options. This App is available to all staff and players at the training ground and is regularly updated by the club’s Nutritionist to encourage people to cut down on meat consumption.
Biodiversity
- A biodiversity strategy has been implemented to increase biodiversity at both sites and was publicised in the club’s annual report and across all sites.
- At The Lotus Training Centre, a herb garden, on-site allotment, worm and insect hotels, bird feeders, beehives and over 250 wildflowers distributed to Junior Canaries during the Greenest Matchday are all initiatives implemented by the club. The honey produced by the beehives will then be used for First Team players and staff.
- Over 645 new and semi-mature trees and more than 800 fresh plants, hedges, bushes and flowers were planted at the Lotus Training Centre.
- Will continue to plant trees and ensure plants, animals and ecosystems are conserved and protected.
- Dedicated Gardener whose responsibilities include furthering our biodiversity and wildlife appreciation where possible.
- In 2021, to coincide with World Environment Day, the club and its sustainability partner Kotkamills planted 26 trees in Pyhtää, Finland, to mark Finnish professional footballer Teemu Pukki’s goal tally from the 2020-21 season.
Education
- Visited other sites for the club’s research and ideas with an internal working group aim to increase the numbers and variety of visits this year.
- Academy players receive education on sustainability as part of the scholarship programme while the club is looking to repeat the ‘Greenest Matchday’ initiative on a regular basis and use it to further raise awareness among players, staff and fans.
- Utilise on-site projects to actively get the club’s Schoolboy players involved as a part of their life-skills programme. The sessions form an important strand of the Academy’s ‘Player Voice’ and ‘Dual Career’ programmes, whereby the players are supported and given the freedom to develop interests in areas they are keen to explore outside of football.
- This is a yearly programme, led by Player Care team, with an hour dedicated each week within each player’s timetable. Each week, the staff newsletter contains a piece on sustainability either as an education piece, task, or competition.
- The Academy players have been at the forefront of the club’s drive on sustainability, helping to support the wider social action plan of our Community Sports Foundation. As part of the Premier League Inspires Challenge, Scholars’ have attended a local community School to engage with students who designed and planned positive changes for the environment, and the club.
- During this time the Academy players’ provided students with a detailed account of how the training ground, club and Foundation are working cohesively together, to drive positive change. But, also providing an honest and reflective account of areas within the club that they feel could benefit from initiative and innovation, to help the club become more sustainable.
- The students took time to design their projects for the challenge, under the supervision of our Foundation staff, and presented their ideas to a judging panel. Exploring external companies that can support us in both education and furthering our progress through our short-, medium- and long-term goals.
- Is an active member of BASIS (British Association for Sustainable Sport) which involves the club sharing its knowledge and resources as educational tools within a working group.
- Dedicated webpages and news include educational information and videos on sustainable developments across the club.
Communication and Engagement
- Dedicated sustainability webpage with sustainability strategy: https://www.canaries.co.uk/club/sustainability.
- The Junior Canaries website features a number of ideas and initiatives to engage with our younger fanbase https://www.juniorcanaries.co.uk/sustainability
- A supporter guide has been made available to advise fans on good practice.
- Club wide objective this season is to find ways to protect the club’s resources and adopt sustainable environmental and financial practices.
- Actively engages with fans and dedicated an entire matchday against Leeds – to ‘Greenest Matchday’ where discount was offered to those fans travelling by public transport. Also promoted the benefits of reusable cups/water bottles and offer a discounted price on these to encourage fans to purchase them.
- Guide released for fans to go greener.
- Finalist in the BASIS awards this season for ‘Club Strategy/Strategic Leadership’ with a key focus on the club’s approaches to reducing single-use plastics and overall active developments in adopting more sustainable practices.
- Club partners are encouraged to take on the same principles of sustainability and implement changes in their own businesses.
- Internal commitment made within in-house strategy to educate the next generations on sustainability through our Academy, Junior Canaries and Community Sports Foundation, and individuals and department leads have also been tasked to pledge ways in their personal and business life to reduce their impact on the environment.
- Involved with Planet League, which supports fan engagement on sustainability in their own lives.
- The club was shortlisted for the Sustainability Award at the 2022 Football Business Awards for its partnership with MM Kotkamills, which is developing a pathway to a greener future.
- Has a designated page on its website titled “How you can get involved” with tips on how NCFC fans can become more sustainable in their everyday lives. Tips cover; Sustainable Shopping, Saving Energy, Daily Habits and Sustainability in Business. https://www.canaries.co.uk/club/get-involved
- Supported WWF’s 2023 #WorldWithoutNature campaign by removing the nature elements from the club’s crest for the day.
Additional information
Information sourced directly from Norwich City F.C. staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 07 March, 2023.
