Unlocking the Full Carbon Picture

In a landmark step for the sport, Lord’s has become the first cricket ground to complete and publish a full Scope 3 carbon footprint, giving a complete picture of the Club’s direct and indirect impacts across operations, procurement, waste streams, business travel and fan travel.

Stuart Dunlop, MCC’s Sustainability and Accessibility Manager, talking to Global Sustainable Sport highlighted the significance of this work: “We’re going further than stopping at the low-hanging fruit — we’ve now accounted for everything from our suppliers’ emissions to fan travel. It’s the only way to understand our true impact and make meaningful change.”

This transparency is vital at a time when carbon reporting varies widely across professional sport. Dunlop emphasised the importance of honesty and comparability:

“I want to be 100% transparent for absolutely everything — every match day is measured. Without clear governance, clubs can take very different approaches, so transparency is essential.”

The data revealed that the largest area of the Club’s footprint lies in purchased goods and services, driven predominantly by catering, which accounts for approximately 50-55% of this category. The scale of this is immense, with up to 11,000 covers coming out of the central kitchen in a single day of a test match.

Driving Decarbonisation and Operational Efficiency

Lord’s is progressing strongly on its net-zero trajectory, with the report revealing:

• 4.5% reduction in Scope 1 emissions year-on-year
• 17.5% reduction in business travel emissions
• LED floodlights installed, making Lord’s the first UK men’s Test ground to move from halogen to LED
• Building Management Systems now covering 70% of the Ground, cutting energy waste
• Confirmation of solar PV installation for the rebuilt Allen Stand, targeting a BREEAM Excellent sustainability rating

Decarbonising legacy buildings such as the Pavilion and Memorial Block is a priority, along with the rollout of electric ground equipment.

Dunlop explained the pragmatic approach to operational decarbonisation: “Whenever something comes to the end of its life, if it doesn’t need to be gas, we’re switching to an electric alternative. We’re getting there — we just need to keep accelerating.”

Fan Travel, Behaviour Change and Climate Resilience

Understanding fan behaviour and travel emissions is another major breakthrough. In 2024, Lord’s mapped fan travel emissions across multiple match days, identifying an average of 6.4 kg CO₂e per spectator, considered low compared with other major venues, and confirming that around 90% of fans already use sustainable travel methods, supported by parking restrictions and collaboration with Transport for London.

The Club is also adapting to climate-related heat impacts with:

• Ten additional water fountains, supplementing the existing 30
• Infrastructure upgrades to increase water flow
• Expanded shading areas and exploration of misting systems
• Work underway to source alternative water supplies, including potential groundwater extraction for pitch irrigation

Waste, Materials and Circular Solutions

Recycling rates have risen from 41% to 55%, despite the complexities of a venue where spectators can bring their own food packaging, unlike sealed football stadium environments. The Club is also leading a reusable model for drink cups, reducing reliance on single-use plastics.

A Broader ESG Outlook

Environmental work is only one part of the Club’s wider ESG strategy, with new community, social impact, diversity and governance plans due for release next year.

Lord’s has become a convening force in sustainable sport, bringing venues and rights-holders together through the London Venue Operators Network, speaking at major industry forums, and collaborating with academic and policy partners.

The journey continues to require innovation and collaboration across the entire sports ecosystem. As Dunlop rightly asserted about the whole sustainability movement, “The sport sector has the opportunity to touch hearts and minds like no other. We’re not just protecting a venue, we’re protecting its future.”

Looking Forward

Lord’s may be the oldest active cricket ground in the world, but it is showing how sport can shape the future, demonstrating that environmental responsibility, long-term stewardship and sporting tradition are not conflicting values but essential partners.

As Dunlop puts it, sustainability is now embedded in MCC’s DNA:

“There’s real business value in sustainability. Innovation saves money, protects the venue and strengthens sport’s future. We owe it to the game to lead by example.”