The background
The Eredivisie (Dutch Premier League), Keuken Kampioen Divisie (Dutch Second Division) and KNVB – jointly known as ‘Zeist’ – have a vision to make professional football sustainable and future-proof. This includes a 2030 target for reducing CO2 emissions by more than 55% and reducing primary raw material use by more than 50%. Copper8 – in collaboration with More2Win – was asked to help Zeist and the 34 Dutch Professional Football Organizations (Betaald Voetbal Organisaties, BVOs) to gain insight into the environmental impact of the BVOs, with the goal of directing actions to make a positive impact.
Context
Football has a huge reach of 8 million fans in the Netherlands, which it can use to inspire the environment. The BVOs’ sustainable image is currently limited, but there are opportunities to improve this. Examples of this include getting fans actively involved in sustainable themes such as food, energy saving and transport, and encouraging them to play a more active role in making the region more sustainable. But before they can make this work, BVOs need to have their ‘own house in order’, for example, by making their accommodation, food facilities, transport and energy consumption more sustainable.
The question
Along with our partner More2Win, we have been given the assignment to set up a process in which we support BVOs in making their business operations and matches more sustainable, for the 2022/’23 season at a minimum. This includes developing a footprint model specifically for professional football.
Current situation and future
Zeist and the BVOs have shared a number of requirements:
- Using a uniform footprint model, give us insight into the environmental impact (with a focus on CO2 impact) of each individual club and the collective
- Transfer knowledge on the most important sustainability themes
- Provide an accessible and practical guide to get started on reducing environmental impact
The process
Our role is mainly developing the content of the footprint model, while our partner More2Win coordinates the process and runs the knowledge sessions. Together we have chosen to take a step-by-step approach:
- Develop a footprint model specifically for BVOs
- Take baseline measurements for 34 BVOs
- Organize knowledge meetings on topics like energy and mobility
- Provide practical guidance to take steps to increase sustainability
The results
By gaining insight based on real data from BVOs and linking this to the environmental impact of the BVOs’ activities, we could establish a clear picture of the level of environmental impact and where this impact is being made (for example, the stadium, the fans, the team itself or the academy). Based on this, we proposed concrete measures that a BVO can take to reduce its footprint.
