October 10, 2024

Marca: Forever Green and Betis, present at Sport Positive Summit

World Sports Summit held in London

Real Betis has been present at the Sport Positive Summit, the world sports summit that promotes the evolution towards a future with low carbon emissions and a constant fight against climate change . This event, held in London , is supported by the International Olympic Committee and the UN Climate Change Committee .

Rafael Muela, manager of the Real Betis Balompié Foundation, represented the green-and-white club at this important event and presented all the initiatives that exist through Forever Green. Muela took part in the round table “Finding Efficiencies with Sustainable and Responsible Procurement”, in which new ways of seeking sustainability and caring for the environment in their actions were expressed. In addition, the Foundation and Forever Green were also present at another one in which all the members of the European Free Kicks project were present, which addresses issues of the circular economy and environmental sustainability in football organizations. Betis and Forever Green have been at this important international event accompanied by large entities such as FIFA, the Olympic Committee and even the NBA .

In addition to this, Forever Green was nominated in the ‘Sports Positive Award 24’ in the category “Campaign Of The Year”, awards that recognise the efforts and initiatives of companies and organisations that address the challenges of society through sport. Finally, the award went to the Green Gooners Cup, a collaboration between Arsenal FC and Ball Corporation.

The green and white club continues to show itself as one of the most sustainable on the planet thanks to the Forever Green platform. It already has many international recognitions, in addition to this latest nomination, for its great involvement in the environment. With this Forever Green initiative, Real Betis Balompié continues to strive daily to build a much more sustainable future with football as the main driver of this change.

Read the original article,  in Spanish here.

October 10, 2024

Partners Convene in London For 4th Steering Committee Meeting

10th October 2024, London: FREE KICKS partners convened for the 4th Steering Committee meeting at the conclusion of the Sport Positive Summit in London; with Project Co-ordinator Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Communications and Dissemination Partner Sport Positive and football partners Real Betis Balompié, FC Porto, Malmö FF and Romanian Football Federation joining in person, and Racing Club joining remotely from Argentina.

The session allowed for presentations by all sports partners of the actions they have implemented so far and the plans for future actions. This included a round of updates on partner status relating to EMAS certification and the green procurement actions. Partners discussed the planning of upcoming webinars and training modules and were updated on communication and dissemination activities.

The FREE KICKS project is co-funded by the European Union* and coordinated by the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSA). Project partners; FC Porto, Fundación Real Betis Balompie, Malmö FF, Racing Club, Romanian Football Federation, European Club Association (ECA) and Sport Positive, will address the topics of circular economy and environmental sustainability in football organisations.

*Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

September 27, 2024

FRF highlights FREE KICKS during European Week of Sport

The European Week of Sport occurs every year between 23 and 30 September across Europe and beyond to promote more active, healthier lifestyles among millions of people.

As part of the 2024 European Sports Week, the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) hosted a “Sustainable Management of Sports Events” conference. A central focus of the conference was the FREE KICKS project which has been a significant step forward in the FRF sustainability journey. 

This event was organised in partnership with the National Sports Agency and Corporate Games Sports Association. Attendees included sports professionals, public authorities, and other corporate representatives or delegates. Attendees were given a guided tour of the FRF headquarters, met key football figures and learned more about the Federation’s efforts to create a sustainable future in sport.

Florin Şari, FRF Manager of Public Policy and Social Responsibility, highlighted the federation’s progress towards achieving EMAS certification through the project. He also mentioned how the project will be crucial in the preparations of FRF to meet the new sustainability standards for organising sports events starting in 2025 since Romania is set to host the 2025 UEFA Under-19 European Football Championship.

During the conference, it was noted that the FREE KICKS project was a reflection of the Federation’s long-term vision, building up learnings from the FRF’s experiences gained from organising major sporting events like EURO 2020 and the EURO Under-21 Championship in 2023.

Read more here (RO): https://www.frf.ro/recomandate/frf-promoveaza-sustenabilitatea-in-sport-in-cadrul-saptamanii-europene-a-sportului/

July 3, 2024

European Commission: EMAS contribution towards higher sustainability in football – FC Porto’s road to EMAS registration

FC Porto is the first sports club in Portugal and Europe to achieve EMAS certification, making an important contribution to sustainability.

With the European Football Championship 2024 to kick-off on 14th June in Germany and the Olympic Games official inauguration on the 26th July in Paris, the role of sports in achieving sustainability and preserving the planet is more than crucial.

The ambitions of the European Green Deal, including carbon neutrality by 2050, can only be reached if all parts of society are actively involved in tackling the challenges head on. Sport is no exception.

While it is estimated that the global football industry produces more than 30 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, primarily due to travel, stadium construction, and waste, there are tools and schemes, such as the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, that can help football clubs and other stakeholders in the sector to systematically analyze and reduce their direct and indirect environmental impacts and set up measures to reduce them.

What Can a Football Club Do to Be More Sustainable?

The role Football Clubs can play is twofold. On the one hand, clubs can start an analysis of their most significant environmental impacts from water, waste consumption, biodiversity impacts and also different pollutant emissions. The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a step-by-step method which helps any organization, including football clubs, to better understand and identify their overall environmental impacts and establish systematic programmes to reduce them.

On the other hand, football clubs have a significant role in promoting sustainability, given their large fan bases and wide audience. Through the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) requirement to develop a publicly available Environmental Statement summarizing their strategy to reduce their identified impacts, EMAS is also a useful tool to communicate with organizations stakeholders and achieve transparency. Thus, Football clubs can set standards and improve awareness of environmental challenges and achievements.

FC Porto’s Commitment to Sustainability through EMAS registration

FC Porto has undergone this process and managed to secure its EMAS certification on March 11th, 2024, making it the first sports organization in Portugal and Europe to receive the EU EMAS label.

To achieve EMAS certification, FC Porto began an environmental audit to assess their current impact. They developed and adopted a robust environmental policy and program, introduced and implemented an environmental management system, prepared an environmental statement, and finally secured verification by an independent accredited EMAS verifier. Porto Estádio, responsible for the management and operation of the Porto stadium, has already finalized its EMAS registration process.

The FREE KICKS Project

FC Porto has benefited from the support of the FREE KICKS project, co-funded by the European Union to promote circular economy and environmental sustainability in soccer organizations.

The FREE KICKS project supports football’s transition towards the goals of the Green Deal and the New Circular Economy Action Plan by promoting leading-edge environmental management practices among national football associations and professional clubs. The project focuses on assessing sustainability needs, improving environmental governance, and calculating environmental footprints using the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) or Organization Environmental Footprint (OEF) standards. With support from Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA), each partner organization participating in the project, namely Fundación Real Betis Balompie, Malmö FF, Racing Club, Romanian Football Federation, European Club Association (ECA) and Sport Positive, will define its own Environmental Improvement Plan.

The Romanian Club is expected to register for EMAS in September. Two other clubs, Real Betis and Malmö, are currently in the initial stages of cooperation. Following the Romanian association, it is expected that Real Betis, a club from Seville that plays in the Spanish league, will also be able to register for EMAS. We are looking forward to it!

What Makes This Achievement Significant?

FC Porto, a top Liga Portugal Betclic club, has significant influence on fans and other clubs. As the first sports organization in Portugal and Europe to obtain EMAS certification, they set a powerful example. Globally, only 23 of over 4,000 EMAS-certified organizations in the EU are in sports, making FC Porto, a pioneer in the sector.

The benefits of EMAS certification entail more efficient resource management, cost savings, and stronger community relationships. This certification also aligns with the city of Porto’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.

Filipe Araújo, vice-president of the Porto Chamber, emphasized that this certification not only highlights the excellent work FC Porto has done in sustainability but also inspires others to understand and emulate their efforts.

Read the full article here.

* Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them

June 11, 2024

Racing Club reverdece el juego con nuevas iniciativas medioambientales

Descargo de responsabilidad: Este artículo ha sido traducido por inteligencia artificial y puede no ser completamente preciso. Si hay alguna duda o discrepancia, consulte la versión original en inglés.

Racing Club reverdece el juego con nuevas iniciativas medioambientales A poco más de un mes del inicio de la temporada de la Primera División Argentina, el socio de FREE KICKS*, Racing Club, ha puesto en marcha varias iniciativas sostenibles para reducir la huella medioambiental del club, identificadas en el Análisis de Ciclo de Vida, realizado como parte del proyecto FREE KICKS.

Desde la gestión de residuos, la eficiencia energética y la sensibilización, los esfuerzos medioambientales del club refuerzan el compromiso con la responsabilidad medioambiental y sirven de ejemplo para otros clubes y organizaciones deportivas a nivel regional y mundial.

El plan de gestión de residuos apoya el reciclaje

En mayo de 2024 se presentó en el Estadio Presidente Perón en las plateas A y B un nuevo plan de gestión de residuos que consta de veinte nuevos pares de contenedores designados reciclables y no reciclables, destacando el reciclaje y los logotipos del proyecto FREE KICKS. Utilizado por primera vez en la victoria de Racing por 3-0 contra el Reino de Coquimbo (Chile) para el partido internacional de la Conmebol “Copa Sudamericana” el 16 de mayo de 2024, llegando a 2.009 espectadores. El 20 de mayo de 2024, se volvió a acceder a los contenedores de reciclaje en el partido del torneo local argentino que resultó en una victoria por 3-0 sobre Argentinos Juniors, llegando a 2.567 espectadores. El club planea rotar los contenedores para cubrir todo el estadio en el transcurso de la temporada. Después del partido, los residuos son recogidos por el municipio y transportados al ecopunto de la ciudad para su procesamiento.

Los residuos reciclables se recogieron en los contenedores verdes, mientras que los residuos no reciclables se recogieron en los contenedores negros.

El programa “Stadium Guardians” involucra a los fanáticos

El 11 de marzo de 2024 se anunció el programa “Stadium Guardians” a través de la cuenta de Instagram de Racing Sustenable como parte del nuevo plan de gestión de residuos. Se reclutaron voluntarios para participar en sesiones de capacitación virtual para aprender sobre los problemas ambientales en el fútbol, los objetivos del programa y las expectativas del papel del guardián del estadio. Los deberes de Stadium Guardian incluyen ayudar con iniciativas de sostenibilidad y promover la conciencia ambiental entre los fanáticos.

Educación Ambiental con Racing Club

Racing Club organizó sesiones de formación virtual el 25 de abril para los voluntarios de Stadium Guardian y su comunidad con el fin de impartir educación sobre la gestión de residuos y su relación con las economías lineales y circulares a los 15 voluntarios. El 15 de mayo, Racing Club también organizó una sesión de capacitación presencial de 90 minutos sobre sostenibilidad en el deporte para los líderes y empleados de la organización. A la sesión se sumaron 32 personas, entre ellas 25 personas del Racing Club y 7 personas virtualmente del también socio de FREE KICKS, el Real Betis Balompié.

En los esfuerzos de los estadios para crear conciencia

● Durante el partido del 20 de mayo contra Argentinos Juniors, se proyectó en la pantalla del estadio un video en el que aparece el equipo de fútbol femenino clasificando los residuos junto con un mensaje que insta a los aficionados a proteger el planeta, llegando a 20.640 personas.

● Durante los partidos celebrados el 16 y el 20 de mayo, un stand de “Racing Sustenable” en la zona de aficionados proporcionó información sobre el proyecto FREE KICKS, así como otras iniciativas de sostenibilidad del Racing Club, a un total combinado de 37.516 espectadores en el recinto del estadio.

Dirección Futura y Mejora Continua

El proyecto de Racing Club para reemplazar el sistema de iluminación del estadio con luces LED más eficientes energéticamente está actualmente en progreso. La inversión de casi un millón de dólares permitirá reemplazar 210 luces halógenas de mercurio por 250 luces LED. Una vez completado, el Estadio Presidente Perón será distinguido como uno de los estadios más avanzados de América del Sur, superando los estándares de la Conmebol y la FIFA. Racing Club continúa educando a los fanáticos sobre la sostenibilidad en los deportes y mostrando los esfuerzos ambientales a través del sitio web y las plataformas de redes sociales. Racing Club está estableciendo un nuevo estándar de sostenibilidad en el deporte a través de estas iniciativas y ha dedicado su compromiso a reducir su huella ambiental.

* Financiado por la Unión Europea. Sin embargo, los puntos de vista y opiniones expresados son únicamente los del autor o autores y no reflejan necesariamente los de la Unión Europea o de la Agencia Ejecutiva Europea de Educación y Cultura (EACEA). Ni la Unión Europea ni la EACEA pueden ser consideradas responsables de ellos

June 11, 2024

Racing Club Greens The Game With New Environmental Initiatives

Racing Club Greens The Game With New Environmental Initiatives A little more than a month into the Argentine Primera Division season, FREE KICKS* partner, Racing Club, has launched several sustainable initiatives to reduce the club’s environmental footprint, identified in the Life Cycle Assessment, undertaken as part of the FREE KICKS project.

Ranging from waste management, energy efficiency and awareness-raising, the club’s environmental efforts reinforce the commitment to environmental responsibility and serve as an example for other sports clubs and organisations regionally and globally.

Waste Management Plan Supports Recycling

A new waste management plan consisting of twenty new pairs of recyclable and non-recyclable designated bins, highlighting recycling and the FREE KICKS project logos, was introduced at Estadio Presidente Perón in Stalls A and B in May 2024. First used at Racing’s 3-0 win against Coquimbo Kingdom (Chile) for the international match of Conmebol “Copa Sudamericana” on 16 May 2024., reaching 2,009 spectators. On 20 May 2024, the recycling bins were once again accessed at the local Argentine tournament fixture that resulted in a 3-0 win over Argentinos Juniors, reaching 2,567 spectators. The club plans to rotate the bins to cover the entire stadium over the course of the season. Post-match, the waste is collected by the municipality and transported to the city’s eco-point for processing.

Recyclable waste was collected in the green bins while non-recycle waste was collected in the black bins.

“Stadium Guardians” Program Engages Fans

The “Stadium Guardians” program was announced via the Racing Sustenable Instagram account as a part of the new waste management plan on 11 March 2024. Volunteers were recruited to participate in virtual training sessions to learn about environmental issues in football, the program goals and stadium guardian role expectations. Stadium Guardian duties include assisting with sustainability initiatives and promoting environmental awareness among fans.

Environmental Education with Racing Club

Racing Club organized virtual training sessions on 25th April for Stadium Guardian volunteers and their community to provide education on waste management and its relationship with linear and circular economies, for the 15 volunteers. On May 15th, Racing Club also hosted a 90-minute in-person training session on sustainability in sports for the organization’s leaders and employees. 32 people joined the session, including 25 people from Racing Club and 7 people virtually from fellow FREE KICKS partner, Real Betis Balompie.

In Stadium Efforts Raise Awareness

● During the May 20th match against Argentinos Juniors, a video featuring the women’s soccer team sorting waste along with a message urging fans to protect the planet was displayed on the stadium screen reaching 20, 640 people.

● During the matches held on May 16th and May 20th, a “Racing Sustenable” stand in the fan zone provided information on the FREE KICKS project as well as Racing Club’s other sustainability initiatives to a combined total of 37,516 spectators on the stadium grounds.

Future Direction and Continuous Improvement

Racing Club’s project to replace the stadium’s lighting system with more energy-efficient LED lights is currently in-progress. The nearly one million dollar investment will allow for the replacement of 210 mercury halogen lights with 250 LED lights. Once complete, Estadio Presidente Perón will be distinguished as one of the most advanced South American stadiums, exceeding Conmebol and FIFA standards. Racing Club continues to educate fans on sustainability in sports and showcase environmental efforts through the website and social media platforms. Racing Club is setting a new standard for sustainability in sports through these initiatives and has dedicated its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.

* Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

May 13, 2024

Real Betis Balompié presenta el Análisis de Ciclo de Vida

Descargo de responsabilidad: este artículo ha sido traducido mediante inteligencia artificial y puede no ser completamente exacto. En caso de dudas o discrepancias, consulte la versión original en inglés.

El Real Betis Balompié, en colaboración con el proyecto FREE KICKS* cofinanciado por la Unión Europea, ha presentado un informe de Análisis del Ciclo de Vida (LCA) que analiza el impacto ambiental de un único partido de fútbol a partir de los datos recopilados durante su temporada 2018-19. El informe ACV del Real Betis Balompié ejemplifica cómo las organizaciones de fútbol pueden comprender y reducir su huella medioambiental. Como resultado clave de FREE KICKS, este informe representa un hito importante en la misión del proyecto de promover la economía circular y la sostenibilidad ambiental dentro de las organizaciones de fútbol.

¿Qué es una Análisis del Ciclo de Vida (LCA)?

Un ACV es una herramienta integral que se utiliza para evaluar el impacto ambiental de un producto, servicio o sistema durante todo su ciclo de vida.

¿Cómo se puede aplicar una LCA a un club de fútbol y sus partidos?

El ACV del Real Betis Balompié explora la huella medioambiental de un solo partido, considerando factores contribuyentes como:

• Movilidad de aficionados hacia y desde los partidos.
• Consumo energético del Estadio Benito Villamarín e instalaciones aledañas
• Consumo y desperdicio de alimentos y bebidas durante los partidos

¿En qué se diferencia una huella ambiental de una huella de carbono?

A menudo escuchamos a las organizaciones deportivas emprender esfuerzos para reducir la huella de carbono, pero hay otros elementos que se consideran en la huella ambiental. Los mayores impactos generalmente son aspectos como la movilidad, la energía y los alimentos, que entran dentro de la categoría de impacto de “cambio climático” de un ACV. Sin embargo, también existen otros impactos ambientales, como el uso de recursos fósiles, minerales y metales, partículas y acidificación. Estos también pueden ser sustanciales y deben considerarse.

Beneficios de una LCA para las organizaciones de fútbol

Al identificar estos “puntos críticos” ambientales, el ACV permite al Real Betis Balompié identificar áreas para mejoras específicas en las prácticas de sostenibilidad. Este conocimiento y conciencia permite:

• Una reducción del impacto ambiental global de los partidos.
• Oportunidades para aumentar las prácticas de circularidad en todas las operaciones del club.

Haga clic aquí para leer la Información y el Informe de Evaluación del Ciclo de Vida del Real Betis Balompié.

Para ver los ACV de otros socios de FREE KICKS, haga clic en el nombre del club a continuación:

FC Porto
Malmö FF
Racing Club

* Financiado por la Unión Europea. Las opiniones y puntos de vista expresados solo comprometen a su(s) autor(es) y no reflejan necesariamente los de la Unión Europea o los de la Agencia Ejecutiva Europea de Educación y Cultura (EACEA). Ni la Unión Europea ni la EACEA pueden ser considerados responsables de ellos.

May 13, 2024

Real Betis Balompié Unveils Life Cycle Assessment

Español

Real Betis Balompié, in collaboration with the FREE KICKS* project co-funded by the European Union, has unveiled a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report analysing the environmental impact of a single football match based on data collected during their 2018-19 season. The Real Betis Balompié LCA report exemplifies how football organisations can understand and reduce their environmental footprint. As a key deliverable of the FREE KICKS, this report represents a significant milestone in the project’s mission to promote circular economy and environmental sustainability within football organisations.

What is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

An LCA is a comprehensive tool used to assess the environmental impact of a product, service, or system throughout its entire lifecycle.

How can an LCA be applied to a football club and their matches?

Real Betis Balompié’s LCA explores the environmental footprint of a single match, considering contributing factors such as:

• Supporter mobility to and from matches
• Energy consumption by Benito Villamarín Stadium and surrounding facilities 
• Food and beverage consumption and waste during matches

How is an environment footprint different to a carbon footprint?

We often hear sports organisations undertaking carbon footprinting efforts, but there are other elements considered in an environmental footprint. The largest impacts are generally things like mobility, energy and food – which falls under the ‘climate change’ impact category of an LCA. However, there are other environmental impacts too, such as fossils, minerals and metals resource use, particulate matter and acidification. These can also be substantial and should be considered.

Benefits of an LCA for Football Organisations

By pinpointing these environmental “hotspots”, the LCA allows Real Betis Balompié to identify areas for targeted improvements in sustainability practices. This knowledge and awareness allows for:

• A reduction of the overall environmental impact of matches.
• Opportunities to increase circularity practises throughout the club’s operations

Click here to read Real Betis Balompié’s Life Cycle Assessment Information and Report.

To see LCA’s for other FREE KICKS partners click the club name below:

FC Porto
Malmö FF
Racing Club

* Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

May 13, 2024

FC Porto revela avaliação do ciclo de vida

Declaração: Este artigo foi traduzido por inteligência artificial e pode não ser completamente preciso. Em caso de dúvida ou discrepância, consulte a versão original em inglês.

O FC Porto, em colaboração com o projeto FREE KICKS* cofinanciado pela União Europeia, divulgou um relatório de Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) que analisa o impacto ambiental de um único jogo de futebol com base em dados recolhidos durante a época 2022-23. O relatório do FC Porto LCA exemplifica como as organizações de futebol podem compreender e reduzir a sua pegada ambiental. Como um dos principais resultados do FREE KICKS, este relatório representa um marco significativo na missão do projeto de promover a economia circular e a sustentabilidade ambiental dentro das organizações de futebol.

O que é uma Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV)?

Uma ACV é uma ferramenta abrangente usada para avaliar o impacto ambiental de um produto, serviço ou sistema ao longo de todo o seu ciclo de vida.

Como aplicar uma ACV a um clube de futebol e aos seus jogos?

A LCA do FC Porto explora a pegada ambiental de um único jogo, considerando fatores como:

• Mobilidade dos adeptos de e para os jogos
• Consumo de energia pelo Estádio do Dragão e instalações envolventes
• Consumo e desperdício de alimentos e bebidas durante os jogos

Em que é que uma pegada ambiental é diferente de uma pegada de carbono?

É frequente ouvirmos organizações desportivas a empreender esforços de pegada de carbono, mas há outros elementos considerados numa pegada ambiental. Os maiores impactos são geralmente coisas como mobilidade, energia e alimentos – que se enquadram na categoria de impacto de “mudança climática” de uma ACV. No entanto, existem também outros impactos ambientais, como a utilização de recursos fósseis, minerais e metais, partículas em suspensão e acidificação. Estes também podem ser substanciais e devem ser considerados.

Benefícios de uma ACV para organizações de futebol

Ao identificar estes “hotspots” ambientais, a LCA permite ao FC Porto identificar áreas para melhorias direcionadas nas práticas de sustentabilidade. Este conhecimento e consciencialização permite:

• Uma redução do impacto ambiental global dos fósforos.
• Oportunidades para aumentar as práticas de circularidade em todas as operações do clube.

Clique para ler a Informação e Relatório de Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida do FC Porto.

Para ver LCA’s para outros parceiros FREE KICKS clique no nome do clube abaixo:

Malmö FF
Racing Club
Real Betis Balompié

* Financiado pela União Europeia. Os pontos de vista e as opiniões expressas são as do(s) autor(es) e não refletem necessariamente a posição da União Europeia ou da Agência de Execução Europeia da Educação e da Cultura (EACEA). Nem a União Europeia nem a EACEA podem ser tidos como responsáveis por essas opiniões.