Teaming-up for A Conscious Kick for the Legacy of Environment

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

A huge volume of waste is generated during football matches, a problem that becomes particularly acute at the biggest matches and international tournaments (UEFA Champions League, EURO 2016, World Cup etc.), which attract thousands and thousands of people. In addition to waste, several other environmental issues are raised by football matches, such as energy and water consumption, as well as mobility. The average European football match generates 0.8 kg of waste per spectator, which corresponds to 4.2 tonnes of waste per match. When all matches organised by European national football associations are taken into account, the overall waste generation is an estimated 750 000 tonnes per year. So far, a few national football associations or football clubs have a proper environmental strategy.

OBJECTIVES

LIFE TACKLE aims to show a red card to poor environmental management governance by national football associations (NFA) and both organisational and operational level. It will also raise fans' environmental awareness in order to reduce the environmental impact of football matches. This will involve preparing guidelines for three national football associations Italy, Romania and Sweden, so that they are informed about relevant environmental legislation and trained to implement and share best practice. The project will develop and implement communication campaigns to increase awareness on environmental issues among football clubs, football fan clubs, supporters, stadium and sport facilities staff, also by deploying the influence of clubs and famous football players. It will work with UEFA to establish a replicability management board and build ties with the organisers of UEFA EURO 2020, so as to share results during that tournament, by involving another four national football associations. In addition to social media, the project will use advanced communication techniques such as display panels in stadiums, messages on tickets and vox pop fan videos at matches to disseminate its environmental management and waste prevention message to football supporters.

LIFE TACKLEis in line with the goals set by the Waste Framework Directive and the Circular Economy Package.

Expected results:

Best practices related to environmental management in sports events identified;

Governance on environmental management issues and a common environmental measurement system established for three participating national football associations. Each of these associations will collect data on the environmental impact produced by matches in their national leagues and cup competitions;

Establishment of common green procurement criteria to be inserted into contracts with key goods and service providers;

Establishment of common monitoring and continuous improvement management systems aimed at reducing the environmental impact produced by football matches;

Guidelines applied in at least 10 stadiums among the national football associations involved in the project. Training and organisation of 250 actors and staff in the stadiums;

Project results and tools replicated in at least four additional national football associations, to be selected among a list of available UEFA candidates which includes: the football associations of Ireland, Belgium, Germany, NFA Hungary, Netherlands, Russia and Azerbaijan;