The Premier League has unveiled a new Environmental Sustainability Strategy this week, in an effort to show its commitment to addressing environmental issues. In this first edition of Sport Impact Insight, we take a look at what a sustainability strategy is, outline the key details from the Premier League’s strategy, before analysing where the strategy could improve and how it compares to other sporting organisations.
A good sustainability strategy should showcase how an organisation is acting on addressing immediate environmental issues, whilst also planning for the future, both in reducing its environmental impact, and preparing for negative effects of climate change. Opportunities for environmental initiatives to have a complementary positive social impact should be acknowledged. The strategy should also include opportunities for commercial partners to be involved, through spreading positive environmental messages, or using the latest sustainable innovations to reduce environmental impacts. In addition, it should be transparent in the role of governance. Finally, Sport Impact firmly believes that sustainability strategies should be ambitious, particularly in sports, as the planet’s environmental clock is in extra-time, and sport has the unique potential to score a last-minute winner and turn the game around.
The Premier League’s Sustainability Strategy
The Premier League have announced three priority/focus areas, which are:
- Adapt their business, reaching net zero by 2040
- Future-proof the game, by supporting decarbonisation across the Premier League
- Engage and inspire, by encouraging fan action through their programmes and platforms
For each of these areas, a series of objectives, ambitions, and actions have been identified. In addition, they have outlined their approach to deliver on their strategy, which includes an identification of what is within their business’s control, who they will need to collaborate with, and who they can influence.
Finally, the strategy document features a carbon footprint report for the 2022/23 season, showing that the Premier League’s carbon footprint was 36,821 tCO2e (about the equivalent of driving a medium-sized petrol car 177 million km, or 4,432 times around the equator of the earth). For comparison, the 2022 Men’s Football World Cup was estimated by FIFA to have produced 3,600,000 tCO2e, although this number has been heavily disputed as being an underestimate.
We’re thrilled to see the Premier League taking proactive steps with a strategy now in place and ‘getting on the pitch’. However, in our professional opinion, there’s still more work to be done to achieve the impact needed.
What’s the Strategy Missing?
In short, a fair bit. Whilst it is always encouraging to see organisations take actions to address its environmental impact, it is disappointing that in the four years since the Premier League signed up to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework, the world’s most popular football league (by fan following) has not produced a more detailed or ambitious sustainability strategy. In more detail, here is where it could improve:
- The objectives, ambitions, and actions (‘How we will succeed’) are missing measurable targets in many instances, making it difficult to measure progress
- There is no detailed plan on how the carbon footprint will be reduced each year, with a worrying nod that their 2030 target of a 50% reduction on their baseline year may need to be dropped, as it may be missed due to business expansion
- The carbon footprint for the 2022/23 season is lacking detail; for example, it does not outline which elements are included
- There is no mention of how sustainability will be governed, reducing accountability and transparency
- Finally, not enough is made of the opportunity for the Premier League to truly change the global scoreboard and make an impact. Taking action on your own organisation’s impact is important to lead by example, but it is equally important to provide opportunities and inspiration for fans and members of the organisation to take action, and thus have a greater impact
Comparisons with Other Sports Organisations
There are a growing number of organisations who have released a sustainability strategy, which is encouraging to see. McLaren Racing were one of the first organisations in motorsport to release a sustainability strategy in April 2021, and have since followed up that strategy with annual sustainability reports. Crucially, their reports feature detailed analysis on their carbon footprint, with a strong emphasis on governance and social impact.
Another organisation with a strong sustainability strategy is SailGP. Their strategy features clearly defined targets and metrics, details who the policy is governed by, and perhaps most impactfully, their sustainability strategy forms a key part of the raison d’être of the organisation, since SailGP is a purpose-driven sports and entertainment platform.
How to Write Your Own Sustainability Strategy
Building and delivering a sustainability strategy is complex and time-consuming, but if done correctly it can be a guiding light in an organisation, inspiring all those associated to take action and make an impact.
Sport Impact offers guidance on how to create a successful sustainability strategy as part of the Sport Impact Membership. Enquire today about joining, and we would be delighted to assist your organisation on its journey to making a bigger impact.
For more information, comments, or questions, please contact info@sportimpactsummit.com