FA launches new sustainability strategy

The FA’s strategy is centred on three core areas, with a focus on the aim for net zero, optimising resource consumption, and governing change across football.

‘Shoot for Net Zero’ has the aim of achieving net zero status by 2040, investing more than £35m to deliver this ambition, and working towards reducing CO2e emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline and reducing gas consumption by 20% by 2028 from a 2019 baseline.

The ‘Save our Resources’ pillar will look to reduce resource consumption across Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park – the national training centre – and embed more sustainable practices across the organisation. It will also aim to minimise the impact of waste through procurement choices, reduce water consumption by 30% by 2028 and protect biodiversity across all FA venues.

The third pillar ‘Make an Impact’ will see the FA deliver environmental and societal changes across clubs, leagues and partners in England. The FA will also create an operational framework to embed the strategy across the whole organisation, and will work to ensure FA partners are aligned with its sustainability ambitions.

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.”

The launch of the new strategy builds on existing efforts across Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park, with the plan set to be reviewed every two years.

Ruaudhri Dunn, the FA’s Head of Procurement and Sustainability, added: “We are very proud of our achievements in recent years to become more environmentally friendly, including Wembley Stadium being awarded the highest standard of sustainability by the ISO, however we want to make further progress. Our new strategy focuses on a number of key areas including reducing emissions, optimising resource consumption, plus governing and supporting wider change across football – and we look forward to driving forward with the next phase of our sustainability efforts.”

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