After any event at any arena, there’s the dreadful aftermath of waste. The heaps of trash left behind by attendees, the paper and plastic containers, the empty vapes and an incomprehensible amount of everything else abandoned for poor cleaning staff to recover. Apparently, each person attending a football match can produce seven times more waste than they would in their everyday life.
Thankfully, there’s A Greener Future (AGF), a non-profit company that helps events and venues reduce their environmental impact and become more sustainable. And there are places making positive progress. Later this month, five UK arenas will be recognised by AGF for their commitment to sustainability last year at the International AGF Awards.
AGF ranks the venues assessed by four variations of ‘greenness’. There’s the improver certification, which recognises great strides in the venue’s green journey and the ‘commenders’ certification, which honours well-managed, environmentally aware venues.
At the top level, the high commenders certification celebrates a high level of commitment to green practices and significant standards of sustainability. Outstanding certifications (the greenest of them all) demonstrate exceptional leadership and achievements in sustainable practices.
The Forest Green Rovers’ New Lawn stadium in Stroud takes the top spot with an ‘Outstanding’ Greener Arena certification, with FIFA even describing the Rovers as ‘the greenest football club in the world’ for its solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and even a stadium vegan menu.
‘Commended’ certifications were given to London's O2 Arena, which stood out for hosting the world’s first carbon removed arena events at The 1975’s four headline shows in February, and its investment in electric powered vehicles (including electric forklifts) to eradicate its fossil fuel emissions altogether; and the OVO Hydro in Glasgow for its equality and diversity, health and wellbeing and local community efforts to creating employment opportunities locally through universities and apprenticeship schemes.
Finally, ‘Improver’ certifications were given to ABBA Voyage London for demonstrating a positive impact through local employment and procurement, while also selecting food and beverage partners who demonstrate excellent sustainability practices; and First Direct Arena in Leeds for excellent initiatives that benefit the staff and regular workforce through opportunities in job creation and retention for the university. It's also part of the Guardians of Grub programme, where the venue actively looks to reduce food waste.
The International AGF Awards will take place on February 25 at the Lancaster Hotel in London.
ICYMI: Why are so many massive music arenas being built in the UK?
Plus: This major east London stadium will soon be ‘one of the world’s greenest sports and concert venues’.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.