Football Association launches sustainability strategy to 2028

The FA have published a  five-year sustainability strategy, titled ‘Playing for the Future which sets out how the Association intend to make a positive impact on the environment.

The new strategy, titled ‘Playing for the Future’,  has been created through consultation with a wide range of football stakeholders and environmental experts, and focuses on three core areas: 

1. Shoot for Net Zero – fight climate change and reduce emissions

• Achieve net zero status by 2040
• Invest over £35m to deliver the 2040 ambition
• Reduce 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

2. 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

3. Make an Impact – deliver and govern change across football

• Drive wider environmental and societal change across clubs, leagues, and with partners
• Create the operational framework to embed this strategy across the whole organisation, including its facilities, and increase awareness and environmental sustainability practices across football.
• Ensure FA partners are aligned and committed to the sustainability ambitions

Practical measure the FA say they will be putting in place include investing £6.5m in energy retrofit projects across Wembley and St. George’s Park and a further £1m in wider energy management projects.

They will also put effort into extending the useful life of football goods, materials and equipment wherever
possible and are committed to the total elimination of single-use and short-life items.

The FA intend to ‘Make an Impact’ by working with broadcasters and corporate partners to encourage uptake of sustainability practices, educating fans and raising awareness of climate change issues and promote climate action.

Mark Bullingham, The FA’s Chief Executive, said: ‘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. 

‘We look forward to working with the leagues, clubs, County FAs and our partners to harness the unique power of football so that together we can have a beneficial impact on the planet and a positive influence for future generations.’