Earth Day 2024
Image: Dustan Woodhouse
The 22nd of April marks Earth Day. This year’s Earth Day theme - #PlanetVsPlastics calls on individuals, businesses and governments to unite in combating plastic pollution and protecting our health.
With a growing demand on clubs, venues and events to showcase improved sustainability performance from fans and stakeholders, the sports industry is increasingly demonstrating it’s efforts to reduce the environmental impact from it’s operations, including the waste attributed to single use plastics. Whilst there is still a way to go, here are just a few ways sporting events and venues are doing their bit to minimise their use of single use plastics:
Paris 2024 -
Reducing the need
With a focus on the principles of circular economy and an ambition to reduce the event’s carbon footprint, Paris 2024 is set to be one of the most sustainable Olympics yet. Furthermore, the organisers of the event have committed to a 50 per cent reduction in single-use plastics in catering compared with previous Games. In order to achieve this, cardboard and paper alternatives will be used for take-out services, tableware will be reused and drinks will be provided in returnable glass bottles.
Xtreme E -
Wildlife conservation
Most of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources: by weight, 70% to 80% is plastic that is transported from land to the sea via rivers or coastlines. In partnership with turtle conservation organisation - Ba’a Foundation, Xtreme E have saved 560kg plastic waste from the beaches along the Saudi Arabian coastline.
The Foundation helps preserve the endangered Green turtle and critically endangered Hawksbill turtle in Ras Baridi by safeguarding the creatures from threats including plastic debris on the beaches.
The FA -
Circular economy
Image: Jason Charters
The FA provided a brilliant example of how plastic can be reused numerous times to support sports in a more sustainable fashion.
The plastic banner used to unveil the pitch at the start of the 2022 FA Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool was made from 47,600 plastic bottles. These bottles were collected during previous events at Wembley Stadium before being sorted by Veolia UK and recycled into PET plastic yarn to create the banner.
Following this, the material then went on to have another life, as the banner was then up-cycled to create drawstring bags and sports bibs which were used as part of the London FA Girls Cup Final. Going forward, the bags and bibs will be given to clubs to use for the rest of the season and beyond.
Enovation Consulting provides bespoke turnkey solutions for circular economy projects in line with sport guidelines. To find out how we can help you improve the sustainability of your event or organisation get in touch.