The English FA has unveiled its new sustainability strategy, titled ‘Playing for the Future,’ which outlines a five-year plan to reach its environmental goals until 2028.
The announcement signals a clear commitment by the FA to making a positive impact on the environment and communities by investing £35 million to achieve its targets, including reaching net zero by 2040.
Initial efforts will focus on operational sustainability, particularly waste, food, and energy, at Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park. The new strategy will then build upon this foundation and will be reviewed every two years.
“The climate crisis is a significant challenge, and we are dedicated to inspiring positive and meaningful change,” said Mark Bullingham, FA CEO. “Through our five-year commitment, we aim to make tangible progress through our own sustainability initiatives, while raising awareness and involving the broader football community in this journey.”
The strategy revolves around three key areas:
Shoot for net zero – Combating climate change and reducing emissions
- Achieve net zero status by 2040
- Invest over £35 million to help reach its 2040 ambition
- Work towards reducing CO2e emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline
- Decrease electricity consumption by 30% by 2028 from a 2019 baseline
- Reduce gas consumption by 20% by 2028 from a 2019 baseline
Saving resources – Optimising resource consumption
- Reduce resource consumption at Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park and implement more sustainable practices throughout the organisation
- Minimise waste impact through responsible procurement, waste reduction, identifying reuse opportunities, and maximising recyclability
- Decrease water consumption by 30% by 2028 from a 2019 baseline
- Preserve biodiversity across all FA venues, including animals, wildlife, plants, and microorganisms
Make an impact – Enacting and overseeing change in football
- Drive environmental and societal change across clubs, leagues, and partnerships
- Establish an operational framework to embed the strategy throughout the organisation, including facilities, while increasing awareness and sustainable practices across football
- Govern and support broader change by ensuring alignment and commitment to sustainability goals among FA partners
Ruaidhri Dunn, The FA’s head of procurement and sustainability, added: “We are delighted to launch our new five-year Playing for the Future sustainability strategy during Net Zero Week, which sets out our clear direction of travel to drive positive change for the environment.”
