News article
This week: Arsenal, World Sailing, Two Circles
Also in the news: The UN’s Environment Programme and its Sport for Nature Framework, MotoGP and more…
Premier League club Arsenal and Ball Corporation, which supplies sustainable aluminium packaging solutions, have launched The Green Gooners Cup. The tournament will run for three weeks, encouraging Arsenal supporters to engage with sustainable activities, such as choosing aluminium products, recycling used packaging, eating meat-free meals and reducing car use for short journeys. The Green Gooners Cup is being delivered through the Planet League platform, with players able to score ‘green goals’ and have the chance to win a range of prizes.
The Sustainable Mountain Alliance (SMA) has launched the Mountain Solutions Accelerator, to identify, assess and support sustainable solutions for the alpine sport and tourism industries. The Accelerator aims to support solutions across six verticals: Carbon avoidance and removal; waste reduction and circular economy; water preservation; mountain biodiversity and ecosystem protection and regeneration; mountain people – culture, heritage, employment and engagement; and science, research and data.
The Centre for Sustainable Design at University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in Farnham, Surrey, has launched a reuse pilot for cricket gear. The project has been unveiled for the English county’s Frensham and Rowledge cricket clubs, as well as nearby Spencer CC in Wandsworth, Greater London. It will include drop-off points and collection events to allow cricket equipment to be donated and picked up.
Tyre manufacturer Michelin has become the title sponsor of MotoGP’s French Grand Prix with a focus on sustainability. Michelin will use MotoGP and the all-electric FIM Enel Motor World Championship as a “racing laboratory” to drive sustainable innovation.
Yesterday (March 20), the UN’s Environment Programme (UNEP) hosted an event in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss the role sports can play to act for nature. UNEP’s Sports for Nature is a joint initiative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), International Olympic Committee (IOC), UNEP, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Sails of Change. To date, 55 signatories from national Olympic committees, a range of sports federations, unions and clubs have signed the Sports for Nature Framework.
All-electric off-roading championship Extreme E has renewed its environmental partnership with ALLCOT, a carbon project developer. ALCOTT has worked with the series since its first season, and will maintain its position as official environmental contribution partner.
World Sailing, the governing body for sailing, has brought in logistics provider Kuehne+Nagel in a three-year deal. Kuehne+Nagel will handle the transportation of sailing equipment, and will support World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2030 goals by providing visibility and full carbon emissions reporting.
Sports agency Two Circles has released a report that predicts an upcoming surge in revenue for the global sports industry. The agency has projected annualised revenues to grow by over 60% by 2023, reaching $260bn. Additionally, Two Circles reported that this growth will result in revenue generated from sports IP overtaking advertising and subscriptions revenues generated by television.
Image: Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images