How is UEFA Making European Football Sustainable?

Football (or soccer for our North American readers) is a global sport that brings joy to billions of people around the world.

But it also creates a huge carbon footprint – largely through those billions getting to and from matches.

The European football governing body UEFA is conscious of the need to reduce carbon emissions and to make football far more sustainable.

In its annual Respect Report, the organisation reveals some big wins, including sustainability progress at the Euro 2024 tournament and improved carbon offsetting strategies.

The message from the top

In 2023/24, UEFA invested €12.1m in sustainability initiatives and saw the percentage of its members having a sustainability manager and strategy hitting 100%.

During the same period, the carbon footprint at its events dropped from 39,450 tCO2e to 25,138 tCO2e.

Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA President, said: “ As we face environmental and social challenges, we must ask ourselves what we can do collectively to make a positive impact.

“Sustainability is not just a goal for UEFA – it’s a responsibility we embrace wholeheartedly.”

He added: “With the support of our partners and the European football family, we are committed to ensuring that the game we love leaves a positive legacy for generations to come.

“This report reflects UEFA’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and willingness to create lasting change beyond the field of play.

“It is not just about carbon footprint, circular economy and other complicated green metrics — it is about ensuring that the future of football fully embraces environmental and social responsibility.”

Setting a good example

UEFA is based in the Swiss town of Nyon, where its headquarters is undergoing a sustainability-driven overhaul.

Highlights include:

• 6% of its annual energy needs will be met by 900m sq of solar panels on its Bois-Bougy building
• 30 EV charging stations
• 98% renewable energy on the campus.

Its showpiece tournament Euro 2024, which was hosted by Germany and won by Spain last summer, was one of the first to receive rigorous attention to its carbon footprint.

The Respect Report says:

• €8m of carbon footprint reduction measures were implemented
• 81% of ticket holders used free local public transport
• 75% reduction of flights compared with Euro 2016
• 36% waste reduction against Euro 2016
• 4.8 million drinks served in reusable cups
• 0% waste to landfill
• All stadiums operated with renewable energy.

Improved carbon offsetting

Michele Uva, UEFA Director Social & Environmental Sustainability, explained that the organisation is also looking at better ways to offset its carbon emissions.

He said: “In previous seasons, we offset our emissions generated by our internal organisation through Gold Standard certified projects. This approach alone is no longer the right strategy for us.”

Michele said the focus has moved to “investing in climate resilience projects that generate impact beyond our value chain”.

He added: “This was a crucial decision in the delivery of our emissions reduction plan. For our events, we introduced climate funds that grant financial support to national associations that host UEFA events.

“These funds empower associations to develop strategies and adopt innovative solutions related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, waste management or smart mobility.

“The funding is directly tied to the emissions generated by the respective event ensuring that we take measurable steps toward a sustainable future.”

Five ways to advance football sustainability

Alongside the Respect Report, Filippo Veglio, Head of Social & Environmental Sustainability, UEFA, penned a blog with five reflections on how to advance social and environmental sustainability across European football. He wrote:

1 – “Anticipate trends: Sustainability, alongside digitalisation and other trends, is reshaping the sports industry. Good management means anticipating and adapting to these trends with strategic investments that create and protect value.

2 – Eliminate randomness: Take a strategic and ambitious approach that has top management buy-in, puts people in place, identifies material issues, dives into targeted measures/actions and is backed by a regular reporting cycle.

3 – Widen ROI: Look beyond the traditional ROI mindset. Consider the risks and costs of inaction alongside the returns on investment.

4 – Accept coexistence: Acknowledge the fact that sustainability does not live in isolation, and that there are other considerations to be mindful of (revenue growth, expansion of sporting offer, etc.)

5 – Embrace collaboration: Sustainability is a team sport - engage with all stakeholders to develop solutions, guidance and insights across the sector.”

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