BBC Sport: How green are Premier League clubs?
By Jack Skelton & David Lockwood
Extinction Rebellion protests, flooding and wildfires mean environmental issues, climate change and sustainability are right at the top of the world’s news agenda.
But what are England’s leading football clubs – among the country’s most globally recognised brands – doing to help the environment?
BBC Sport has worked with the United Nations-backed Sport Positive Summit, which will host its first conference in 2020, to compile research into the sustainability of all 20 Premier League clubs.
They were asked to provide evidence of schemes in eight categories:
- clean energy
- energy efficiency
- sustainable transport
- single-use plastic reduction or removal
- waste management
- water efficiency
- plant-based or low-carbon food options
- communications or engagement
The clubs were awarded one point per category if they had suitable initiatives taking place in their stadiums, training grounds and/or offices and half a point if plans were being developed in that area but were yet to fully materialise.
What does the table show?
Above is a simplified version of the full table – available here – which breaks down every club’s score in each category, and highlights their specific schemes and initiatives.
This is the first time all of this information has been made public in one place, and Sport Positive Summit’s research is designed as an introductory and accessible resource.
The table will be updated when clubs introduce new schemes or develop existing ones, and Sport Positive Summit sees it as a tool to encourage more action and transparency on sustainability.
Its CEO, Claire Poole, said: “Our ambition by publishing this information is to educate and engage, both football and industry professionals about what top-flight clubs are doing to reduce their environmental impact, and for interested fans to easily access what their club is doing.
“We are all on a journey when it comes to reducing our impact on the environment, and we hope more awareness about these initiatives will help drive increased ambition across football and other sports.”
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