The English FA inject £35m into a 5-year sustainability strategy en route to net zero

July 8 - The English FA have launched a new five-year sustainability strategy, called 'Playing for the Future', which will lead them to set out their environmental ambitions through to 2028.

The FA said its plan is to have a positive impact on the environment and communities and is investing £35m to achieve its targets, including achieving net zero status, by 2040 .

The FA has already carried out work at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park to strengthen operational sustainability efforts, particularly in relation to waste, food and energy. The new strategy will accelerate on this basis. The FA said it would be reviewed every two years.

FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham has said he will work with leagues, clubs and county FAs to make a beneficial impact.

“The climate crisis presents one of the most significant challenges of our lifetime, and we are determined to play our part in inspiring positive and meaningful change. Through our new five-year commitment, we want to make progress tangible through our own sustainability initiatives, while raising awareness and bringing the wider football community with us on this journey,” said Bullingham.

The FA has defined the three main areas of the strategy:

SHOOT FOR NET ZERO – fighting climate change and reducing emissions Achieve net zero status by 2040 Invest over £35m to achieve 2040 ambition Work to reduce CO2e emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2019, reduce electricity consumption by 30% by 2028 compared to 2019 and reduce gas consumption by 20% by 2028 by compared to 2019 SAVE OUR RESOURCES – optimize resource consumption Reduce resource consumption at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park, and embed more sustainable practices across the organization Minimize waste impact through sourcing choices, avoiding waste, identifying opportunities for reuse and maximizing recyclability Reduce water consumption by 30% by 2028 compared to 2019 Protect biodiversity at all AM sites - animals, fauna, plants, micro-organisms MAKE AN IMPACT - bring and govern change in football As the governing body of English football, the FA is in a unique position to drive wider environmental and societal change across clubs, leagues and with partners The FA will create the operational framework to embed this strategy across the organisation, including its facilities, and increase environmental sustainability awareness and practices in football, while governing and supporting wider change. The strategy will also ensure that FA partners are aligned and committed to sustainability ambitions

Ruaidhri Dunn, Head of Procurement and Sustainability at AM, said: "We are delighted to launch our new five-year Playing for the Future sustainability strategy during Net Zero Week, which clearly sets out our direction for journey to drive positive change for the environment."

Contact the author of this story at moc.l1689006983labto1689006983ofdlr1689006983owedi1689006983sni@n1689006983osloh1689006983cin.l1689006983uap1689006983