EFL Launches Revamped Scheme For Soccer Sustainability
The world’s original league soccer competition, the English Football League, has redeveloped its ‘Green Clubs’ environmental sustainability scheme. Bi-seasonal assessments will be rolled out and clubs now have the ability to achieve bronze, silver and gold status.
What Is Green Clubs?
EFL Green Clubs is a league-wide voluntary scheme that supports soccer clubs in England to improve their environmental practices and operations. It offers training and support for clubs as they develop green practices in areas such as purchasing, staff engagement and measuring their carbon footprint. The scheme is delivered in partnership with GreenCode, an environmental accreditation organisation owned by environmentalist and soccer club chairman, Dale Vince OBE.
Of the 72 member clubs in the EFL, 38 are signed up to Green Clubs, which initially launched in 2021. The new inclusion of bronze, silver and gold status will require clubs to reach a minimum number of points for each level, and have certain specific measures in place. Examples include a published environmental policy, a baseline carbon footprint, setting targets and having a director or board member responsible for environmental sustainability.
Wycombe Wanderers soccer player David Wheeler believes the beautiful game can can play a big part in creating positive action around climate change, saying “Clubs are hugely influential within their local communities which is why it is fantastic to see the EFL develop and expand its Green Clubs Scheme.”
A clear roadmap for EFL clubs and more opportunity to celebrate the work being done to reduce their environmental impact is what director of equality, diversity and inclusion, David McArdle, hopes the improved scheme will achieve. “By championing the achievements of this season’s participating clubs, we want to encourage further environmental action across the League.” he said.
Why Does Soccer Need Environmental Standards?
Over the next 30 years, climate hazards such as flooding, storms and heatwaves pose an increasing threat to soccer grounds in England, according to climate modelling. In September 2024, EFL League Two side AFC Wimbledon saw 100,000 litres of water collapse their pitch and flood their concourses, when a nearby river broke it’s banks from a month’s worth of rain that fell in a number of hours.
