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- Club aims to achieve net-zero emissions across sports operations by the end of season
- Reds also consider rebuying Melwood site as a training ground for women’s outfit
English soccer giants Liverpool have become the first Premier League club to be awarded a British Standards Institute (BSI) certificate in recognition of their sustainability work.
The BSI’s ISO 20121 accreditation is given to those who make strong efforts to minimise potential negative impacts on the environment, communities and the local economy, while also maximising the positive impacts on the three different areas.
It has now been awarded to Liverpool, who have used been undertaking ‘The Red Way’ initiative to push for greater sustainability in the club’s operations. Launched in January 2021, it has ensured that Liverpool’s matchday activities, as well as procedures at both the club’s Anfield home and training ground are being delivered in a sustainable manner, such as the usage of sustainable fuels for team buses.
The Reds are aiming to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across their sporting operations by the end of the current season. By 2025, the club have also set a target of having every club operation functioning on low carbon and clean energy sources, with a further objective of halving their total actual operational carbon emissions by 2030.
Liverpool have previously been recognised for their sustainability efforts, having topped the 2021 Sport Positive Environmental Sustainability League. The club have also won two honours at the Sustainability, Environmental Achievement and Leadership (SEAL) 2022 Business Sustainability Awards, which recognised their environmental efforts.
“This standard provides us with credibility in the approach we’re taking towards sustainability in sport,” said Hannah Simpkins, vice president of Liverpool’s club operations.
“We are very aware of the responsibility we hold as a global football club to help inspire and encourage positive behaviour change. With hundreds of millions of supporters around the world know we are in a strong position to help influence sustainable decisions in their day-to-day lives which is why its hugely important to us.”
The accolade comes as the team confirmed it is considering several sites for a new training ground for its women’s outfit, with the Reds’ former training ground Melwood reportedly among those being looked at.
The Women’s Super League (WSL) side presently train at ‘The Campus’, a facility owned by men’s fourth-division side Tranmere Rovers. According to the Liverpool Echo, the club have now reached out to the Melwood site’s owners Torus over a potential sale. The housing trust, which bought the land plot in 2019 for a reported fee of UK£10 million (US$12.6 million), has yet to begin building on the site.
A club spokesperson said: ‘Liverpool FC is continuing to evaluate a number of sites for a possible new training ground for LFC Women. The project team has not yet made a final decision on a preferred site but will update supporters as soon as it is possible to do so.’
