News article
Sustainability round-up: Euro 2024, Liverpool FC, NBA Africa
Also in the news: UBS Arena, Paris 2024 and MotoGP…
New York’s UBS Arena has been awarded Silver certification under the TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) rating system. The system is administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), and helps facilities to measure, improve and recognise zero-waste performance. The arena has also signed up its first zero-waste partner, Collins Building Services.
Formula E recently transported teams’ and champions freight from the race in Berlin to Shanghai using DHL’s GoGreen Plus service, leveraging the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for air freight. The race in Shanghai took place last weekend, and approximately 257 tonnes of freight was transported through SAF between the two cities, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% when compared to kerosene aviation fuel.
LTA Pledgeball has returned for 2024, hoping to entice even more tennis players at LTA registered venues to submit sustainable pledges. Last year saw thousands of environmental pledges made by people at tennis venues across the UK, including commitments to taking shorter showers, using reusable bottles, and taking public transport.
Sport England Chairman Chris Boardman is set to cycle from the UK city of Manchester to the French capital Paris ahead of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, highlighting inspirational and innovative organisations that are working to become more environmentally sustainable. Sport England is calling on sports and physical activity organisations to sign a Going for Green Pledge, committing to new ways of becoming more sustainable.
EURO 2024 GmbH, a joint venture between the German Football Association (DFB) and UEFA to organise UEFA EURO 2024 in Germany, has been recognised as an equal salary employer. The joint venture was certified following an audit conducted by independent auditor Mazars under the process and official methodology of the Equal Salary Foundation.
The podiums in which medallists will stand at Paris 2024 have been unveiled, inspired by the works of French civil engineer Gustave Eiffel. The recycled podiums were designed and manufactured locally in France, are made from 100% recycled plastic and include a wooden structure of sustainably sourced French poplar.
Three of the International Biathlon Union (IBU) sustainability projects were recently selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the latter’s 2023 case studies – more than any other organisation in the Olympic Movement. The IBU featured in Empowering Women in Biathlon, Decarbonising Fan Mobility and Climate Club Trophy.
You can read these three case studies – and the other 18 published by the IOC for 2023 – here.
Liverpool Football Club’s retail operations have committed to sustainability as part of the wide-ranging initiative, The Red Way. LFC Retail will see its Mighty Red plush toy crafted from 100% recycled materials, while also offering toys made from sustainable plywood. LFC Retail is also aiming to cut down on single-use plastics, utilising hangers that are 100% reusable and recyclable.
In the 11th year of MotoGP’s KiSS (Keep it Shiny and Sustainable), the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya has committed to becoming energy self-sufficient and has installed 1,239 solar panels. The panels cover 2,710 square-metres and generate an energy volume of 0.88 GWh per year. This covers 33% of electricity needed to be self-sufficient, with 100% of the remaining energy taken from certified renewable sources.
NBA Africa and Safaricom, a telecommunications company, have launched a multi-year youth basketball development collaboration in Kenya. The aim is to reach more than 10,000 youth players this year through regional and national junior NBA tournaments, coaching clinics and an elite camp for Kenya’s top prospects.
Image: Andrew/CC BY-SA 4.0