Environment Agency encourages community sports clubs to become sustainable
Environment Agency guidance encouraging people to kick plastics out of sport takes another step forward with the release of advice for community-driven clubs.
Quick tick list for community sports clubs
Leaflets focusing on the economic, social and environmental benefits of minimising plastic consumption will be launched at an international GreenSports Network event on Wednesday 15 December.
The network event brings together national governing bodies, community clubs, event organisers, and sports participants to exchange practical ideas and experiences to reduce the carbon footprint within community sport.
Environment Agency plastics and sustainability team project lead Hannah Amor said:
The new guidance is ideal for clubs that want to step up their green credentials. They can discover tips on sustainable kits swaps, reusable products, new sustainable club measures, and how to influence the adaptation of bathroom, kitchen and waste facilities to help reduce avoidable plastic consumption.
These small changes can help communities tackle the climate emergency, potentially save money, and encourage other clubs to become sustainable role models in their community too.
The guidance also encourages readers to sign up to the Big Plastic Pledge – a global campaign founded by Olympic gold medallist Hannah Mills which calls on sport representatives to ramp up efforts to tackle plastic waste.
The leaflets build on sports sustainability guidance for events and stadiums released in September by the Environment Agency.
The new guidance has been produced on behalf of the Interreg Preventing Plastic Pollution (PPP) project, a cross-Channel partnership of 18 expert organisations, which identifies and targets plastic hotspots, implements effective solutions and alternatives, and embeds behaviour change in local communities and businesses.
The PPP project supports the Environment Agency’s ambition to promote better environmental practices that result in a reduction of plastic waste, helping to achieve the goals and commitments outlined in its EA2025 5 year plan to create better places for people, wildlife and the environment, and the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan.
Experts say that 50% of all plastic produced is for single-use items - things that are used for only a few moments and then thrown away. Around 12 million tonnes of plastic enters our environment each year - that’s equivalent to a bin lorry load every minute.
Notes to editors
Environment Agency: As a regulator, the Environment Agency prevents waste plastic entering the environment by cracking down on waste crime and poor waste management. As an influencer, its ambition is to promote better environmental practices that result in a reduction of plastic waste, helping to achieve the goals and commitments outlined in its 5 year plan to create better places for people, wildlife and the environment, and the government’s 25 year Environment Plan.
Preventing Plastic Pollution (PPP) - PPP is a €14 million funded EU INTERREG VA France (Channel) England Programme project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund which works mainly across 7 pilot sites: Brest Harbour, Bay of Douarnenez, Bay of Veys, Poole Harbour, and the Medway, Tamar, and Great Ouse estuaries. Partners are the Environment Agency, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Queen Mary University of London, LABOCEA Conseil, Expertise et Analyses, Syndicat mixte établissement public de gestion et d’aménagement de la baie de Douarnenez, Office Français De La Biodiversité, Parc naturel marin d’Iroise, Brest Métropole, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Counseil départemental de la Manche, Institut français de recherche pour l’exploitation de la mer, The Rivers Trust, Syndicat de bassin de l’Elorn, ACTIMAR, Brest’aim, Westcountry Rivers Trust, South East Rivers Trust, and Plymouth City Council.
GreenSport Network - The GreenSport Network run by Sports Marketing Network, aims to collect and disseminate examples of best practice from community sports providers at all stages of their development in becoming environmentally sustainable. It also helps train potential green sports providers on how to develop and run sustainable activities.
Big Plastic Pledge - The Big Plastic Pledge is an athlete-driven movement to tackle single-use plastic in sport.