Coppa Italia final highlights sustainable organisation

The match’s sustainability efforts were the result of collaboration between Lega Serie A, Sport e Salute (Sport and Health), Roma Capitale and Roma Servizi per la Mobilità, with input from UEFA, the governing body of European football, and Cristiana Pace CEO of Enovation Consulting. The final’s initiatives also formed part of Serie A’s ‘Road to Zero’ project.

Additionally, the project falls in line with UEFA’s 2030 Sustainability Strategy ‘Strength Through Unity’. It also forms part of Lega Serie A’s 2030 strategy ‘CSR – Football Social Responsibility’.

Serie A was chosen in 2022 by UEFA as the first football league to begin a pilot project around sustainability, monitoring and measuring the results through specific performance indicators.

With areas of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance), Serie A is looking to reduce the environmental impact of fans; reduce carbon footprint of organisers, teams and broadcasters; maximise the life cycle of products; raise awareness around sustainability and promote initiatives.

As part of the social pillar, Serie A will form programmes to combat and prevent discrimination in stadiums; implement child and youth protection policies; ensure accessibility; supply descriptive audio commentary provisions; offer healthy food and drink options; and promote links with grassroots football.

From a governance perspective, the Italian football league will analyse and implement a sustainable procurement process; commit to a transparent management process and involvement of all stakeholders; ensure the implementation of internal governance and compliance files; staff training on sustainability standards and practices; and launch a sustainability focused campaign following the Coppa Italia final.

Last night’s final between Atalanta and Juventus was played at Stadio Olimpico in Rome, with Serie A’s partners undertaking a number of tasks to support its environmental organisation.

Juventus went on to win the final 1-0.

Sport and Health aided with measuring energy consumption and the reduction of water usage; raising awareness of water waste; enhanced separate waste collection and created parking areas dedicated to cycling and car sharing; provided a dedicated shuttle service for those that require the ‘Quiet Room’ at Stadio Olimpico; and worked on highlighting food waste.

Roma Capitale and Roma Servizi per la Mobilità helped with developing projects that reduced the use of private transport to the stadium, by offering free daily travel for public transport to those with a ticket for the final. Additionally, the trains running on the subway were extended further into the night to promote the use of public transport.

Following the Coppa Italia final, a detailed report on all of the initiatives undertaken will be published.

Image: Liam McKay