The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and SSE Airtricity have announced a new green initiative that will see see sustainability accreditation experts GreenCode audit all League of Ireland Premier Division and First Division, and Women's National League clubs.
GreenCode will also help clubs in the men's and women's game to measure and drive their environmental initiatives towards full accreditation as part of the FAI-SSE Aitricity partnership, which is aimed at improving the environmental footprint of Irish football.
It is the first green initiative of this scale launched in Ireland and will build on work undertaken by SSE Airtricity with clubs last season, building towards the shared ambition of the leagues and the company to build one of the most environmentally sustainable football leagues in the world.
"We’ve seen how football can play a huge role in inspiring positive change across our communities and nowhere is that change needed more today than in combatting climate change and building more environmentally sustainable communities," said Mark Scanlon, League of Ireland director at the FAI.
"Building on our long-standing partnership with SSE Airtricity, this initiative offers our clubs a unique opportunity to avail of world class supports from people who know what it takes to make positive environmental changes in football. We’re excited by the responses from many of our clubs and look forward to developing the initiative over the coming season.”
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Áine Plunkett, head of brand advertising and sponsorship for SSE Airtricity, said it was "a significant moment" in the company's partnership with Irish football, adding that "to help clubs across the leagues improve their sustainability footprint is a huge opportunity.
"Last year through our ‘A Common Goal’ campaign, we started exploring how to adopt more sustainable practices across the leagues and we were really encouraged by the response from clubs.
"This initiative takes that work up a step and with the help of GreenCode we hope to transform the sustainability footprint of the leagues and see Irish clubs recognised as some of the most environmentally progressive clubs in world football.”
GreenCode Standards have been in operation across many industries for over 25 years, and the company works with organisations of all sizes to improve sustainability through guidance, support and accreditation.
Its green accreditation scheme has been developed over several years and implemented at English Football League club Forest Green Rovers, touted as the world's greenest football club, which is owned by GreenCode founder Dale Vince.
"We’ve learned a huge amount over the years through our work with Forest Green Rovers and the wider football community," said Henry Staelens, CEO of GreenCode and Forest Green Rovers said.
"Perhaps the biggest learning is that making greener choices is not just better for our world, but it also makes sense commercially. The clubs and organisations that have started on this journey are reducing costs and attracting additional revenue.
"We are all fully aware of the scale of the challenge facing our planet but only by working together and taking positive action can we start to turn the tide and I believe football has a critical role in inspiring this change.
"We’re proud to be here today on an exciting new dawn for football in Ireland and look forward to sharing our learnings and helping Irish clubs on their own sustainability journey.”
Photo: Will Patching of Derry City pictured at the launch of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and SSE Airtricity’s sustainability drive for Irish football. (Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile)
