Green Week: Which clubs are doing their bit for the climate?

There are various initiatives being undertaken by football clubs across Europe to combat climate change, so let's shed some light on the steps that are being taken to promote sustainability in the game.

One club leading the charge in environmental responsibility is Forest Green Rovers, the world's first carbon-neutral football outfit. Rovers set a precedent for other clubs by showcasing their commitment to carbon neutrality. They are known for being the only vegan football club in the world, but they are continually looking for new ways to push the boundaries of environmental consciousness in sport. In 2017, they were described by FIFA as the greenest club in world football. As well as serving exclusively vegan food at their games and for their players, they have an organic pitch that captures rainwater and recycles it back for irrigation, which saves tap water. They have been measuring their carbon footprint for over a decade and the whole operation is certified to international environmental standards.

Joining them in this endeavor were Real Betis, a club in LaLiga, who pledged their carbon neutrality in 2019. They launched their ‘Forever Green’ platform in 2020, which helps companies and institutions use the sport to save the planet. Their 22/23 kits, manufactured by Hummel, were made of 100% recycled polyester and the club fund a wind farm/emission reduction project in Costa Rica. Their stadium, the Benito Villamarin, is also one of the most sustainable football grounds on Earth. Very recently, they installed brand new seats in their stadium that are made from fishing nets, recovered from Spanish seas and ports.

“Taking care of our seas and oceans was an issue that we had pending since the start of our environmental