The award – the highest level available through the Green Meetings programme – follows an independent assessment covering people, planet and place, and highlights the growing importance of collaboration between sports organisations and their major operational partners in delivering sustainability objectives.

Partnership driving progress

Rather than sustainability sitting solely within the football club, the accreditation reflects the combined work of Brighton & Hove Albion and Sodexo Live!, its catering and hospitality partner.

The two organisations worked together to demonstrate their sustainability performance across a broad range of criteria, including inclusive and accessible event spaces, energy, water and waste management, support for local businesses and food producers, and the promotion of local tourism and outdoor activities.

Tom Harris, Sustainability Manager at Brighton & Hove Albion, said: “This certification reflects our shared commitment to driving real, lasting change across all our operations, proving that exceptional hospitality and responsible practices go hand in hand.”

David Oxtoby, Venue Director at Sodexo Live!, said: “Together with Brighton & Hove Albion, we’ve shown that exceptional hospitality and responsible business practices can go hand in hand.”

He added that the accreditation reflected a shared commitment to delivering memorable experiences while “continually reducing our environmental impact”.

Sustainable travel stands out

One of the most notable achievements highlighted by the independent assessment is supporter travel, with 85% of fans reportedly travelling to home matches using sustainable transport.

Transport remains one of the most significant environmental challenges facing professional sport, particularly football clubs regularly attracting tens of thousands of supporters to venues.

Euan Haggart, Environment and Sustainability Assessor at Green Tourism, highlighted Brighton’s approach across community engagement, employee wellbeing and sustainable travel.

“From supporting local communities and employee wellbeing to helping 85% of fans to travel to home matches by sustainable transport, their approach shows how sustainability can be embedded across the visitor experience,” he said.

Beyond matchday

The significance of the Gold award also lies in its focus beyond football. Modern stadiums increasingly operate throughout the year as conference, hospitality and event destinations, extending their environmental and social footprint well beyond matchdays.

For Brighton, that means sustainability needs to reach across its commercial relationships, supply chain, catering, facilities and visitor experience – making partnerships such as that with Sodexo Live! increasingly important.

The independent certification provides external validation of that approach rather than relying solely upon the organisations’ own sustainability commitments.

Building a broader sustainability profile

Brighton & Hove Albion’s work is also increasingly being recognised within the wider sustainability landscape of global sport.

The club currently sits inside the Global Top 100 of the Global Sustainable Sport SPI Index and is ranked eighth among English Premier League clubs, reflecting its developing performance across sustainability, purpose and impact.

The Green Meetings Gold award provides another example of how that ambition is moving into the operational side of the organisation – and, importantly, into relationships with key partners.

For football clubs seeking to turn sustainability strategies into measurable action, Brighton’s collaboration with Sodexo Live! demonstrates that some of the greatest opportunities may lie beyond the pitch and beyond matchday itself.

Photo: Paul Hazelwood