Sustainability round-up: June 22
This week’s sustainability round-up features recycled bottles being used as a victory stage, France’s pass for youth sport, the return of the Unity EURO Cup, American football’s drive to welcome female players and Ireland’s joint climate and cultural plan.
Coca-Cola and 2023 European Youth Olympic Festival organisers are to turn recycled beverage packaging collected in Slovenia into a victory stage at this summer’s multi-sport event. The pilot project, launched last autumn under the slogan “Recycle me. Give me a new life”, saw consumers collect over half a million waste plastic bottles and cans in two months. The torches used for the festival, which runs from July 23-29, will be made using sustainable materials, with the central part composed of 40% recycled wood and 60% recycled plastic.
France’s pass designed to encourage young people to access sports clubs has been renewed for another year. Pass’Sport, which was set up in 2021 by the Ministry of Sports and Paris 2024, generated a 20% rise in use last year with 1.22 million young people participating at 58,000 sports clubs. In 2023-24, Pass’Sport – which offers a €50 deduction from membership fees – will now be extended to commercial sports leisure centres.
The UN- and UEFA-backed Unity EURO Cup, which brings together host communities and displaced people is to return for a second year in Germany later this month. Some 16 teams, represented by more than 170 young people, will compete in the event in Frankfurt on June 28-29. Tournament ambassadors include Italian FIFA World Cup winner Marco Tardelli.
The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) has announced a landmark policy review to ensure it is meeting the needs of the growing numbers of women and girls participating in the sport. The review includes three strands focussing on equipment and apparel, women in governance and the representation of women across the sport more widely within IFAF’s more than 70 member federations worldwide. American football is experiencing rapid growth and surging popularity, particularly amongst flag football, its gender-equal, non-contact format.
Ireland’s Government is to publish a new national policy framework that will bring together national climate and cultural policy. Introduced by Minister for Culture and Sport, Catherine Martin, it will set out the key ways in which cultural organisations can play their part in combatting climate change. A statement reads: “Actions will include initiatives to support cultural organisations in auditing and reducing their energy use, improvements to building infrastructure, programmes that engage audiences in climate action as well as guidance on how to embed energy and waste reduction considerations into all aspects of cultural programming and operations.”
Image: Marko Pigac / European Youth Olympic Festival