Sustainability round-up: May 25
This week’s sustainability round-up includes Australian netball team the Queensland Firebirds and its recycling partnership; Wembley Stadium’s record-breaking figures; Sport England’s call for ideas and views and Austin FC’s green platform.
The Queensland Firebirds netball team has announced Containers for Change as its official recycling partner. The partnership will provide Queenslanders with the opportunity to help the planet and earn a 10-cent refund for eligible drink containers that are returned to a refund point. Since the company’s launch in 2018, over 6.3 billion drink containers have been returned.
Wembley Stadium not only welcomed a record-breaking crowd for a domestic women’s football fixture, but it also saw a 77% recycling rate at last week’s Women’s FA Cup Final. A crowd of 77,390 fans attended the final between Manchester United and Chelsea, with over three-quarters of all waste generated recycled. The stadium team has also worked with waste management service Veolia to introduce a fleet of new electric and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) poured vehicles, to help with post-event clean-up. The eco-fleet will sweep around the stadium after each event and will help to reduce emissions by up to 90%.
Sport England has set up a consultation to hear from the activity sector on the perspectives around positive climate action in sport. National organisations, local clubs, facilities and more are able to participate, with all views welcome. Sport England is hoping to hear what organisations are already doing to reduce their environmental impact, as well as opportunities, challenges, and the support required.
Major League Soccer (MLS) team Austin FC and Yeti, a manufacturer of outdoor goods, recently unveiled Go Verde! – a platform highlighting sustainability initiatives. Go Verde! will encourage fans to join in with environmental schemes and help to protect Austin’s green spaces. Fans already helped the club to divert 75% of all waste generated at Q2 Stadium in 2022, thanks to strategically placed Eco-Stations. Austin FC has also partnered with Sustainable Food Center, utilised the Adidas One Planet Kit which is made from Parley Ocean plastic and raised money for various eco initiatives.
During a stopover in Newport, Rhode Island, The Ocean Race 2023 along with The Magenta Project and International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA), helped to prepare more women for careers within the sailing industry. The Magenta Project is a charity that supports more diversity and inclusion in sailing, and the stopover featured a career development programme that included workshops, networking and skill-building initiatives.
Image: Habib Ayoade on Unsplash