ECA: Championing Sustainability in European Football

Football is a global phenomenon, with billions of fans following their favourite clubs and players with unswerving loyalty.

Its carbon footprint is huge. But so is the growing sense of environmental and social responsibility.

In Europe, countless clubs are measuring and mitigating their impact on the planet, publishing sustainability reports and implementing low-carbon technology alongside initiatives designed to involve supporters in the process.

Their efforts are given impetus and support by the European Club Association (ECA), which represents over 700 top-tier clubs across Europe.

Founded in 2008 with 16 members, now has members from 25 countries and is significantly shaping the future of the game, both on and off the pitch.

ECA’s influence on sustainability is undeniable.

Gaia Pretner, Head of Sustainability, says: “The Association recognises the significant environmental impact of professional football and has made sustainability a central pillar of its overall strategy.

“This commitment, reflected in a three-pillar strategy (Governance, Social, and Environmental), is driven by a thorough understanding of the operating environment and a commitment to collaboration with member clubs, stakeholders and international organisations.”

Environmental sustainability: A core focus

ECA’s environmental sustainability strategy focuses on:

• Reducing the carbon footprint of football operations
• Promoting sustainable practices within its member clubs
• Influencing positive change within the broader football ecosystem.

ECA adds that its work is “underpinned by a commitment to data-driven decision-making, transparency and accountability”.

In 2023, it measured and offset its General Assembly carbon footprint – revealing a total of 292 tons, primarily from business travel (70%) and purchased goods and services (30%)

It moved to buy Gold Standard-certified carbon credits to support clean energy and plastic recycling projects.

Collaboration for a sustainable future for football

ECA provides tailored support and guidance, driven by its Sustainability Working Group, under the leadership of Niclas Carlnén, ECA Board Member and Malmö FF CEO.

Niclas says: “Our aim is to inspire clubs across Europe and worldwide to take meaningful climate action.”

The working group’s initiatives include:

• A comprehensive sustainability strategy
• Targeted training programmes: Eight webinars co-hosted by UEFA have equipped sustainability managers at member clubs with the knowledge and tools to implement effective strategies
• Dedicated support: The ECA Sustainability Working Group, along with its panels (Sustainable Venue Management and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) and the CSRD Task Force, provides focused support and guidance on key sustainability issues
• Educational programmes: ECA’s educational entity, ‘the ECA Campus’ has piloted a ‘Women on Board programme’ in cooperation with Women in Football, targeting women working in professional football clubs in leadership roles.

Gaia, who joined ECA in May 2023, says: “Our ambition is to make ECA a sustainability jewel that can inspire and give a good example to all our members. We don’t want to ask clubs to do things we are not doing ourselves.”

Addressing environmental challenges

ECA’s environmental focus encompasses key areas including:

• Stadium sustainability: Promoting energy efficiency measures, renewable energy sources and comprehensive waste reduction and management programmes within stadiums and training facilities
• Sustainable transportation: Encouraging the use of public transportation, cycling and walking to reduce reliance on private vehicles among club staff, fans and local communities
• Sustainable sourcing: Promoting responsible procurement practices to minimise the environmental impact of goods and services used by clubs
• Community engagement: Supporting environmental education and awareness programmes within local communities, fostering a culture of sustainability.

Manchester City: ‘Passionate’ About Net Zero

Manchester City have been among Europe’s top clubs for the last 10-15 years, winning the Champions League and numerous English Premier League titles.

The quest for on-pitch glory continues, but not at the expense of work to have a positive environmental and social impact.

A club spokesperson says: “We are driven by a passionate belief that football can have a positive impact on our communities and empower better lives.

“This includes working towards being credible carbon net zero by 2030 and, to achieve this, we have prioritised key areas.”

They are:

• Energy and water
• Travel and transport
• Waste reduction
• Consumables and food
• Measurement and reporting
• Impactful diversity
• Materials
• Local participation.

The club has installed over 2,000 solar panels on the roof of the Joie Stadium, home to Manchester City Women’s team. This is part of a larger project to install 10,500 solar panels across the City Football Academy.

In partnership with solar panel provider Jinko, the club is working towards making the City Football Academy one of the largest producers of renewable energy in world football.

When completed, it is expected to offset the annual energy requirements of the training facility, building on last season’s 944,057 kWh reduction in electricity use.

Matchday Bus Network

Manchester City’s Matchday Bus Network, underpins the club’s commitment to sustainability, in particular Scope 3 emissions.

In partnership with Transport for Greater Manchester, the club offers a dedicated bus service for supporters.

The network reduces the number of individual car journeys while alleviating congestion and lowering carbon emissions associated with matchday travel.

It comes alongside the development of a City Link walking route.

An evolving sustainability strategy

The Club has implemented initiatives to reduce waste, including a 50-tonne reduction in waste and recovering 70% of waste while also focusing on sustainability in its consumables and food, using locally sourced produce and offering plant-based and low-carbon options wherever feasible.

It has published its Game Plan sustainability strategy for 20 consecutive years, promoting transparency and identifying areas for improvement.

Pete Bradshaw, Director of Sustainability, says: “The club is dedicated to continually evolving our sustainability strategy, pushing the boundaries of social and environmental responsibility within the football industry while finding credible and reliable solutions to complex challenges across all areas of our operations.

“Each individual across the organisation plays a part and, by working together, we are actively making positive changes, collaborating where we should to realise the best outcomes.”

Eintracht Frankfurt: Data-Driven and Expert-Led Carbon Reduction

German club Eintracht Frankfurt’s 2025 ESG Strategy is honest about the “room for improvement” in the area of environmental sustainability”, but the intent is clear.

Magdalena Jeckel, Head of ESG, says: “Our sustainability strategy focuses on the three pillars of Environment, Social and Governance.

“With data at its core, we ensure transparency, track progress and pursue our goals.

“Moving forward, innovation and strong partnerships will be key to driving progress and maintaining competitiveness.”

To drive its efforts forward, Eintracht has founded a Sustainability Advisory Board of experts from business, science and politics:

• Omid Nouripour: A German Member of Parliament since September 2006
• Veronika Grimm: Chair of Economic Theory at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
• Benjamin List: Nobel Prize winner and Director of the Department of Homogeneous Catalysis at the Max Planck Institute
• Jörg Eigendorf, Chief Sustainability Officer, Deutsche Bank
• Ferdinand Huhle, Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Mainova.

A multitude of milestones

The club is putting itself at the forefront of German and European football’s sustainability efforts.

Its highlights include:

• Photovoltaic arrays: Its home stadium, Deutsche Bank Park, and the training ground are powered by 100% green energy, with help from Mainova
• ‘Hyundai Moments’: In partnership with Hyundai, 70% of Eintracht’s vehicle fleet is electric, helped by 28 solar-powered charging stations
• Greenkeeper and Upcycler collections: The club’s clothing range uses sustainable materials and prioritises fair trade and the circular economy
• IoT irrigation: Alongside Mainova, the club has installed an intelligent irrigation system at its training grounds.

Benfica: An Influential Force for Sustainable Change

Portuguese football giants Benfica (or Sport Lisboa e Benfica in full) is setting the bar high for its own sustainability – ‘Acting, Leading by Example and Changing Behaviours’.

It declares: “Benfica identifies with a world where the goal extends far beyond sporting triumphs – a world striving for peace, prosperity, human rights protections and sustainable development.”

The club says it is an “influential force with a unique character and personality”, adding: “This identity should be leveraged to promote and advocate for responsible behaviour among its followers and throughout its ecosystem, channeling its influence toward sustainability.”

Leading by example

Benfica’s range of initiatives to drive down carbon include:

• A recycling area that has redirected 250 tonnes of waste to recycling facilities in two years
• Providing 120 sportspeople with glass containers to take home their meals in. The initiative is estimated to reduce the use of single-use containers by 82,000 per season
• Grass clippings from the home pitch and training pitches are given to farmers to turn into natural fertilisers
• Solar panels on the home stadium and Benfica Campus helped the club hit 17pc of energy consumption from its own sources in 2023-24
• Up to 85% of the lighting at Estadio da Luz and Benfica Campus is LED – as are the giant screens and the digital rings that circle the stadium
• Bringing in a centralised technical management system to monitor and control energy, gas, water and renewable sources, ensuring maximum efficiency.

The club adds: “By implementing responsible and innovative practices – such as carbon reduction, circular economy solutions, ethical governance and social initiatives that promote inclusion, education and wellbeing – Benfica leads by example within the sports industry and beyond.

“Through its actions, the club inspires positive change, fosters a culture of sustainability and demonstrates that sport is a powerful force for a better world.”

Malmö FF: A Roadmap to Reduced Emissions

24-time Swedish champions Malmo FF call themselves “no ordinary club”.

As a fan-owned club, they answer to 14,142 members. And sustainability matters to those members.

Niclas Carlnén, CEO of MFF, also leads ECA’s sustainability and environmental efforts.

He says: “To be a partner in Europe’s journey towards a more sustainable future, we must first ask ourselves why we want to take responsibility.

“At Malmö, our goals align with those of our members. On one hand, as part of our community, we share the responsibility of helping everyone thrive.”

He adds: “This means not only reducing the environmental impact of events hosted at our stadium but also ensuring the wellbeing of our community.”

Niclas goes on: “On the other hand, we aim to solidify our position as Sweden’s best and expand our reach in Europe. To achieve this, we must be a sustainable and innovative partner to sponsors and international organisations like the ECA.”

Home match emissions mapped

As co-founders of the pan-European project FREE KICKS, MFF has mapped all emissions associated with the club’s home games.

Based on these results, efforts have been made to reduce CO2 emissions from fan trips to Eleda Stadion, while also cutting combustible waste and energy usage per visitor by 38% and 29%, respectively, compared to 2023.

Malmö FF also sees itself as a driver of sustainability in the city and the wider Scania region.

The club has:

• Signed a climate contract with the city
• Organised a recurring career academy to match unemployed individuals with opportunities from Malmö’s network of 450 regional companies
• Created a nationwide anti-bullying platform for coaches through MFF Foundation
• Hosted MFF events where players engage with young supporters in different neighbourhoods of the city.

Niclas says: “While some might say: ‘We’re just a football club, what can we do?’ we want to show what we can do precisely because we are a football club.

“We can impact the lives of our supporters not only through the men and women winning in sky blue, but also by improving the city we share and the lives of those we share it with.”

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