Scoring for Sustainability: How FC Dordrecht Hosted a Climate-Neutral Football Match
As a non-lover of football and living in a city where hooliganism fills the local football headlines, this one is a stretch for me, but it's definitely a topic worth sharing.
On Friday May 19th, Dutch football club FC Dordrecht hosted the first climate-neutral football match in Dutch professional football.
Credit for this significant moment goes to the daughter of the innovation manager of FC Dordrecht. His curiosity was sparked when she mentioned that she was attending a circular and climate neutral music festival.
So, how did FC Dordrecht pull off a climate-neutral football match? Innovation manager Leon Vlemmings examined all aspects of the game, from energy and transportation, to food and even the grass pitch, in order to determine how to make them climate-neutral.
All participants, including the referees and supporters, embraced climate-friendly transportation means. Electric cars and bikes were used instead of fossil fuel-based vehicles, and even the disabled supporters were taken into account, also being picked up and brought home with specially arranged electric cars.
The club also reduced waste by using reusable cups for beverages as well as serving more vegetarian food options in the stadium. For instance, the traditional Dutch meat based Frikandel sandwich was replaced with a vegetarian variant, affectionately named "Leondel" in honour of the innovation manager. (Side note, personally I wish it had been named after the daughter).
The club's commitment to sustainability now extends to their field maintenance practices as well. They've begun using organic, biodegradable manure instead of chemical-laden alternatives and are looking into the possibility of using battery-operated lawnmowers in the future.
FC Dordrecht isn't just playing games with sustainability, though. Through the Energiek Dordt network, the club is striving to become a pivot point in a network of local/regional businesses as well as government and education organisations, to make a greater social and economic impact. They believe that sustainability is a joint task that clubs and cities cannot accomplish alone but must act together to succeed.
By the way - I'm creating the book and podcast series for people who want their small or medium business to make more profit and better impact. So if you want more of this, please sign up for more at https://sixtyminutestoimpact.xyz
The football industry has been slow to adopt sustainable practices, Erasmus University professor Jan Rotmans suggests that the Football industry is 10 years behind the world of business when it comes to sustainability. Currently only 11 of 34 Dutch clubs appear to have any form of documented sustainability policy.
FC Dordrecht's pioneering efforts have the potential to change this. They're sharing their experiences with other clubs both nationally and internationally, showing that a greener future is not only possible but also desirable.
However, despite this progress, there are still challenges to be faced. The football industry is often hindered by short-term thinking and financial challenges. For example, changing a stadium to all LED lighting powered by solar energy is clearly an expensive long term investment.
The European (UEFA) and Dutch (KNVB) Football associations are helping to drive changes from the top down, by including sustainability in licensing requirements and setting member states the goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
FC Dordrecht is really pushing at the edges of the envelope though. They have stated they do not want to halve their CO2 emissions by 2030 but instead aims to be completely climate-neutral.
⚡ So what can you take away from this story?
I think this story makes it clear that becoming more positively impactful starts inside. This is where you have the most influence.
1. Take an inventory of what's good and what needs to be improved.
2. Set an ambition and start with the quickest wins.
3. Get to work, and understand it's a never ending marathon, not a short sprint.
This climate-neutral match hosted by FC Dordrecht was a significant milestone in the journey towards a more sustainable future in football. It's a testament to the transformative power of collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to a cause that's bigger than the game itself - something that football fans really, truly, understand.
As a non-lover of football and living in a city where hooliganism fills the local football headlines, this one is a stretch for me, but it's definitely a topic worth sharing.
On Friday May 19th, Dutch football club FC Dordrecht hosted the first climate-neutral football match in Dutch professional football.
Credit for this significant moment goes to the daughter of the innovation manager of FC Dordrecht. His curiosity was sparked when she mentioned that she was attending a circular and climate neutral music festival.
So, how did FC Dordrecht pull off a climate-neutral football match? Innovation manager Leon Vlemmings examined all aspects of the game, from energy and transportation, to food and even the grass pitch, in order to determine how to make them climate-neutral.
All participants, including the referees and supporters, embraced climate-friendly transportation means. Electric cars and bikes were used instead of fossil fuel-based vehicles, and even the disabled supporters were taken into account, also being picked up and brought home with specially arranged electric cars.
The club also reduced waste by using reusable cups for beverages as well as serving more vegetarian food options in the stadium. For instance, the traditional Dutch meat based Frikandel sandwich was replaced with a vegetarian variant, affectionately named "Leondel" in honour of the innovation manager. (Side note, personally I wish it had been named after the daughter).
The club's commitment to sustainability now extends to their field maintenance practices as well. They've begun using organic, biodegradable manure instead of chemical-laden alternatives and are looking into the possibility of using battery-operated lawnmowers in the future.
FC Dordrecht isn't just playing games with sustainability, though. Through the Energiek Dordt network, the club is striving to become a pivot point in a network of local/regional businesses as well as government and education organisations, to make a greater social and economic impact. They believe that sustainability is a joint task that clubs and cities cannot accomplish alone but must act together to succeed.
By the way - I'm creating the book and podcast series for people who want their small or medium business to make more profit and better impact. So if you want more of this, please sign up for more at https://sixtyminutestoimpact.xyz
The football industry has been slow to adopt sustainable practices, Erasmus University professor Jan Rotmans suggests that the Football industry is 10 years behind the world of business when it comes to sustainability. Currently only 11 of 34 Dutch clubs appear to have any form of documented sustainability policy.
FC Dordrecht's pioneering efforts have the potential to change this. They're sharing their experiences with other clubs both nationally and internationally, showing that a greener future is not only possible but also desirable.
However, despite this progress, there are still challenges to be faced. The football industry is often hindered by short-term thinking and financial challenges. For example, changing a stadium to all LED lighting powered by solar energy is clearly an expensive long term investment.
The European (UEFA) and Dutch (KNVB) Football associations are helping to drive changes from the top down, by including sustainability in licensing requirements and setting member states the goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
FC Dordrecht is really pushing at the edges of the envelope though. They have stated they do not want to halve their CO2 emissions by 2030 but instead aims to be completely climate-neutral.
⚡ So what can you take away from this story?
I think this story makes it clear that becoming more positively impactful starts inside. This is where you have the most influence.
1. Take an inventory of what's good and what needs to be improved.
2. Set an ambition and start with the quickest wins.
3. Get to work, and understand it's a never ending marathon, not a short sprint.
This climate-neutral match hosted by FC Dordrecht was a significant milestone in the journey towards a more sustainable future in football. It's a testament to the transformative power of collaboration, creativity, and a commitment to a cause that's bigger than the game itself - something that football fans really, truly, understand.
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