FA adopts a strategy to make a positive impact on the environment

The FA has unveiled its latest sustainable strategy plans, with the ambition to make a positive impact on the environment and the communities they serve.

FA’s latest strategy plans to ‘SHOOT FOR NET ZERO, SAVE OUR RESOURCES and MAKE AN IMPACT’ with their ambition to make a positive impact on the environment and the communities they serve.

The strategy focuses on three core areas: 

1. SHOOT FOR NET ZERO – fight climate change and reduce emissions

The FA aim to achieve net zero status by 2040. They further plan to invest over £35m to deliver the 2040 ambition. They aim to fight climate change and reduce emissions by working towards reducing CO2e emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline, reducing electricity consumption by 30% by 2028 from a 2019 baseline, and reducing gas consumption by 20% by 2028 from a 2019 baseline

2. SAVE OUR RESOURCES – optimise resource consumption

One of the steps the FA is taking to save our resources is through reducing resource consumption across Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park and embedding more sustainable practices across the organisation. Secondly, FA aims to minimise the impact of waste through procurement choices, avoiding waste, identifying reuse opportunities and maximising recyclability. Thirdly they plan to reduce water consumption by 30% by 2028 from a 2019 baseline. Finally, to optimise resource consumption the FA are making commitments to protecting biodiversity across all FA venues – animals, wildlife, plants, micro-organisms

3. MAKE AN IMPACT – deliver and govern change across football

The FA is the governing body of English football, putting them in a unique position to drive wider environmental and societal change across clubs, leagues, and with partners. The FA will create the operational framework to embed this strategy across the whole organisation, including its facilities, and increase awareness and environmental sustainability practices across football, whilst governing and supporting wider change. The strategy will also ensure FA partners are aligned and committed to sustainability ambitions.

The launch of this new sustainability strategy builds on the extensive work across Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park to drive operational sustainability efforts, particularly around waste, food and energy. The strategy will be reviewed every two years and further updates will be provided in due course. 

Mark Bullingham, The FA’s Chief Executive, said: "The climate crisis presents one of the most significant challenges of our lifetime, and we are determined to play our part in inspiring positive and meaningful change. Through our new five-year commitment, we want to make tangible progress through our sustainability initiatives, while raising awareness, and bringing the wider football community with us on this journey. 



Ruaidhri Dunn, The FA’s Head of Procurement and Sustainability, said:

"We are very proud of our achievements in recent years to become more environmentally friendly, including Wembley Stadium being awarded the highest standard of sustainability by the ISO, however, we want to make further progress. Our new strategy focuses on a number of key areas including reducing emissions, optimising resource consumption, plus governing and supporting wider change across football – and we look forward to driving forward with the next phase of our sustainability efforts."