Forest Green Rovers:
Previously stated before in the literature review section, Forest Green Rovers is the world's first ever net-zero football team recognised by FIFA in 2017 and certified by the UN as carbon neutral. Thus, it is possible to claim that they are the world's leading team in sustainability in the football industry. The team was in financial distress before being taken over in 2011 by Dale Vince OBE, the owner of various sustainable companies like Ecotricity (green energy provider), Devils Kitchen (sustainable vegan food company) and is a UN climate champion. After assuming control over the FGR, players were banned from eating red meat, then all meat products were banned from the FGR stadium, only offering vegan options. By 2015, the club was also the world's first ever fully vegan football club, another first for FGR. Several sustainable practices were implemented, green energy supply, creation of a veg patch, solar panel energy system, EV charging points, more sustainable kits used for 2 years, solar powered lawn motor and installing again the world's first purely organic football pitch. With these changes enacted by FGRs, they became world known and their public profile increased.
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Considering this, in scope of our project aim of decarbonisation of small football clubs, it would then be a good idea to use them as a role model. To this end, we contacted FGR as a starting point for our own methodology and carbon reducing methods. We were able to get into direct contact with their sustainable lead Gary Thomas who is employed by Ecotricity. Speaking with Gray gave us insight into how they were able to achieve their current success with sustainability. The numerous practices that they adopted were explained in detail considering financial, commercial, social aspects, and feasibility. This gave a clear picture of what would be feasible for a smaller football club in the effort to aim for and achieve net-zero emissions.
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The most useful information gained through our communications with FGRs was about how they dealt with procurement of products and targeting their ‘Other’ emissions. To begin with, FGR does not attempt to quantify everything within their organisation, anything that is too difficult to quantify is either avoided or sustainability sourced from outside suppliers. It is better to tackle what you can control first. This is a useful method, as where it is challenging to track and calculate emissions, avoiding the product or green sourcing reduces the impact as much as possible as the ‘Other’ emissions are more complex to tackle. This also goes for their transportation emissions where they attempt to be as sustainable as practically possible. For games that are close enough, they take an electric coach, and for games that are further away, they are developing strategies.
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The most important contribution they made to our project was showing the importance of commitment to further sustainability of an organisation. For the FGR, part of their commitment is to have a sustainable lead, who can advise and offer the necessary expertise, such as the willingness to implement and commit to sustainable alternatives. In the case of the FGR their commitment to green culture should be commended, as they lead the way as the world's main exemplar of sustainable football. This impacts all their supporters and the local community inspiring those to take the steps towards sustainability. They are pioneers in this regard, aiming to aid the Caledonian Braves to follow a similar path towards net-zero. We developed our methodology for the Caledonian Braves by considering and learning from the success of FGR in attaining their many achievements in sustainability, as they have no doubt, encouraged several other teams and organizations to follow the way that they paved out.
We thank you for your commitment to a healthier, more sustainable planet for all of us.