July 8 – The English FA has launched a new five-year sustainability strategy, tag lined ‘Playing for the Future’, that will drive its setting out its environmental ambitions until 2028.
The FA said its plan is to make a positive impact on the environment and the communities and is investing £35 million to achieve its targets, including achieving net zero status, by 2040.
The FA has already carried out work across Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park to piush operational sustainability efforts, particularly around waste, food and energy. The new strategy will accelerate on that base. The FA said it will be reviewed every two years.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said it will work with leagues, clubs and county FAs to have a beneficial impact.
“The climate crisis presents one of the most significant challenges of our lifetime, and we are determined to play our part in inspiring positive and meaningful change. Through our new five-year commitment, we want to make tangible progress through our own sustainability initiatives, while raising awareness, and bringing the wider football community with us on this journey,” said Bullingham.
The FA outlined the three core areas of the strategy as:
- SHOOT FOR NET ZERO – fight climate change and reduce emissions
- Achieve net zero status by 2040
- Invest over £35m to deliver the 2040 ambition
- Work towards reducing CO2e emissions 50% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline, reducing electricity consumption by 30% by 2028 from a 2019 baseline, and reducing gas consumption by 20% by 2028 from a 2019 baseline
- SAVE OUR RESOURCES – optimise resource consumption
- Reduce resource consumption across Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park, and embed more sustainable practices across the organisation
- Minimise impact of waste through procurement choices, avoiding waste, identifying reuse opportunities and maximising recyclability
- Reduce water consumption by 30% by 2028 from a 2019 baseline
- Protect biodiversity across all FA venues – animals, wildlife, plants, micro-organisms
- MAKE AN IMPACT – deliver and govern change across football
- As the governing body of English football, The FA is in a unique position to drive wider environmental and societal change across clubs, leagues, and with partners
- The FA will create the operational framework to embed this strategy across the whole organisation, including its facilities, and increase awareness and environmental sustainability practices across football, whilst governing and supporting wider change
- The strategy will also ensure FA partners are aligned and committed to the sustainability ambitions
Ruaidhri Dunn, The FA’s Head of Procurement and Sustainability, said: “We are delighted to launch our new five-year Playing for the Future sustainability strategy during Net Zero Week, which sets out our clear direction of travel to drive positive change for the environment.”
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