Sustainability is at the core of everything we do here at Forest Green Rovers and why we support World Environment Day on June, 5, 2024.
We continually look for new ways to push the boundaries of environmental initiatives in sport and it's a big part of why we're called the Greenest Football Club in the World.
Here are some of the ways we ensure that we do our best to support the environment.
An Organic Pitch
Our pitch captures rainwater and recycles it back for irrigation, saving precious tap water. We also introduced an epic new process that cleans up the water from the away fans’ toilets and pumps that back onto the pitch as well.
It’s not just the playing field that we treat with this level of care, the whole site is given the same attention and managed without chemicals or pesticides.
We have a mowing regime to reduce the weeds and plant wild flower seed to help encourage the pollinators that are so important to food production – we even have a bee hive on site.
UN targets
We’ve been measuring our carbon footprint at FGR for over a decade and our whole operation is certified to the international environmental standard ISO1400.
The Club was also awarded an Outstanding Greener Arena Certification 2023 for the work done to promote sustainability – something we’re incredibly proud of.
"Outstanding" signifies a truly leading and inspirational arena. These are exceptional arenas who have significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions, have excellent travel, transport, food, water and waste management programmes, protect and enhance the environment and with sustainability at the core of their operations, communications and purpose.
We demonstrated a passionate drive to deliver a greener arena and a focus on improving practices going forwards. The team has shown a determination to advance sustainability, through considered resource use, protection and enhancement of local and wider natural environments, as well as positive social and community engagement.
As part of our UN work, we’ve committed to a 50% cut in emissions by 2030 and this is how we plan on doing it.
What we wear
Forest Green are more than just a football club. We look to innovate in as many ways as possible.
The 2023/24 home and away kits were made from a combination of recycled material and LENZING ECOVERO – a natural fibre derived from certified renewable wood sources.
The iconic third kit – a blue camo design inspired by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation – was made from 100% recycled plastic, with every shirt sold helping to raise money to protect the oceans.
Being the first and only vegan football club in the world
In 2017, FGR was officially recognised as the world’s first vegan football club after we received the Vegan Trademark from the Vegan Society.
Back in 2015 we replaced our menu with fresh, vegan food. But that didn't mean we stopped doing burgers and pies. From the incredible Devil's Kitchen burger, award-winning Q-Pie and even delicious pasties, we’ve made a big impact on fans, players and other clubs.
We’ve reached an audience of billions since we officially became a vegan club, and we continue to get the message about sustainable vegan food out there in a big way.
Electric is the future
The New Lawn is powered by solar panels on our roofs, 100% supplied by Ecotricity power. Our scoreboard is LED and running around the pitch we have state of the art LED boards all powered by a battery that’s charged from the sun.
For any extra energy we need we’re supplied by Ecotricity – providing 100% renewable electricity and carbon neutral gas.
Not only that, but we are also looking to get electric team buses and trying to electrify all the transport vehicles across road and pitch work. This includes an electric tractor we have recently purchased to aid the pitch renovation that is currently being undertaken.
We became the first team in the world to transport its players to a game in an electric-powered coach in 2022 to shows is feasibility, and its our aim to make this our desired form of transport in the future.
In 2022, we teamed up with Renault Trucks to support the club’s commitment to carbon neutrality and sustainable travel with its first 100% electric team minibus - now used by the youth team.
And there’s more to come - we’ve got an exciting future ahead of us, planning our new stadium at the Eco Park. We’re working tirelessly to ensure that the World’s Greenest Football Club plays in the World’s Greenest Stadium. Until then, we will continue to work hard to put our stamp on sustainability in football.
