Premier League clubs have 'markedly improved' their sustainability ...

Premier League clubs have ‘markedly improved’ on their environmental sustainability commitment, according to a new report from Sport Positive Leagues that details all 20 teams’ current efforts.

Confirmed: Six Premier League teams have clean energy generation at their stadium, training ground or academy Seven have set up sustainable transport policies Six clubs have net zero targets Five have signed up to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework Three have gained external accreditation for their sustainability work Eight have a specific brand identity for their environmental efforts Nine training grounds or academies have rainwater or groundwater reuse efforts Context:

This is the fifth year Sport Positive Leagues has issued a report on Premier League clubs’ sustainability efforts. Previously it ranked clubs in a league table format, but the structure of this year’s report was changed to disseminate and amplify clubs’ activities as a cohort across 13 categories.

The report also highlights that 16 Premier League clubs have established sustainability pages on their website, reflecting the increased engagement on the topic.

Comment:

“Five years [since the first launch of the first report], and having done multiple versions for Premier League, EFL, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and supporting other sports with their efforts, times have changed,” said Clare Poole, founder of Sports Positive.

“Clubs are frequently engaging on this topic, 16 Premier League clubs now have a sustainability page on their website, six clubs have net zero carbon targets, and first team players regularly appear in club videos recycling, driving electric vehicles and eating plant based food.”

Coming next:

Earlier this year, the Premier League announced its Environmental Sustainability Commitment, which will see each team develop a robust environmental sustainability policy by the end of the 2024/25 season.

Clubs will also be obliged to develop a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions dataset by the end of the 2025/26 campaign. Sport Positive Leagues has found that six teams have already developed this dataset, while five more teams are said to be in the process of reviewing their GHG emissions.

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