Policy and Commitment
- Working with expert consultancy to form relevant and ambitious targets and sustainability policy and Net Zero commitment by March 2022
- This will be publicised on website, social channel and more
Clean/Renewable Energy
- Continued use of renewable electricity at all sites (Sport Positive advised but not verified)
- At planning application stage for solar panel installation at training ground, go live planned for summer 2022
- Looking at onsite production via CHP+ with utilisation of waste heat
- Via energy contract, in June 2020 Watford contributed to Open Energy Market and Cool Earth’s partnership, protecting 6.40 acres of rainforest in Northern Peru
Energy Efficiency
- ESOS and SECR complaint, although no BMS system across all sites
- Installation of energy monitoring system (For Electricity, gas and water) approved and to be installed by End Feb 2022 allowing for full measuring of usage across stadium and training ground
- Currently an estimated 70% of all lighting across sites is LED, policy is to fit LED for all new installation and old failed lighting.
Sustainable Transport
- Club continues to advocate Train, London Underground and Overground above driving
- There is no parking available for fans at the ground and street parking is restricted for local residents with matchday permits
Single Use Plastic Reduction/Removal
- No single use plastic pint cups used with implementation of reusable cups since Nov 2019
- Single use plastic cutlery eliminated for wooden alternative and paper straws
- Planning club wide policy for further reductions at training ground
Waste Management
- Zero waste to landfill but no waste management policy in place as yet
- Continued collaboration with catering partner and waste company to split and reduce waste and recycling of all waste streams inc., cardboard, mixed plastic (recycled), food and grass (bio-digestion)
- Recycling stations in offices
- Non recycling sent for incineration
Water Efficiency
- Monitored and balanced use of water borehole at training ground
- Investigating rain water harvesting systems
Plant based/low carbon food
- All food sold at stadium sustainably sourced with vegan options available at kiosks and hospitality
- Dishes such as broccoli, cauliflower and cheese pie (ve),
- Training ground mostly sustainably sourced, vegan options available
Biodiversity
- Multiple projects delivered via clubs community trust NCS and PL Inspires programmes such as:
- Creating a garden space in Adeyfield Academy to increase access to green spaces for students, wildlife and insects.
- Local litter picks around the schools’ grounds and community areas to reduce pollution and waste- The Collett School, St Luke’s & Parmiters School.
- Upcycling damaged footballs into hanging baskets in Sir John Lawes Catholic High School- used in the school eco garden and local area.
Education
- Education on topics of global warming, sustainability, recycling etc delivered to primary and secondary schools via community trust programme
- Including Premier League Inspires Challenge- environmental sustainability introduction and planning sessions in 6 Secondary Schools
- At the start of the 2021/22 academic year, worked closely with one of PL Primary Stars partner schools to align our delivery model (around plastic pollution) with the aims of their eco council members. This led to positive actions which saw us adapt our delivery to include matters that the pupils were noticeably interested in. This included lessons around school pollution levels as pupils learnt about the effects car fumes have on the environment
- During the project supported these pupils by creating litter groups which related to our passion of reducing plastic pollution and related this too the pollution from factories that produce these materials. Additionally, we incorporated their findings into class assemblies with the goal of educating and inspiring their classmates around the effects pollution is having on the community.
- This term has seen a success for the groups as they have since gone on to achieve the following:
- 4 pupils have signed up for local community social action projects at their local community centre
- 100% of pupils have been asked to lead the school councils termly meeting around climate change to governors in March
- 100% of pupils achieved their school council award (school target of time spent independently learning about the subject).
Communication and Engagement
- Social media posts broadcasted promoting reusable plastic cup use with large displays behind cup return bins at stadium
- Club sustainability page at design stage, go-live March 2022
Additional information
Information sourced directly from Watford F.C. staff, website and third party websites
Information updated 22 January, 2022.
For previous information from 2019 submission, click here
