LFC becomes first PL club to be sustainably certified 

Liverpool FC has become the first Premier League club to be awarded the British Standards Institute (BSI) ISO 20121 certificate, which recognises and awards its approach to successfully delivering sustainable events.

Recipients of this certificate need to demonstrate they are minimising potential negative impacts on the environment, communities and local economy – maximising the positive impacts and leaving a legacy to be proud of.

This latest important accolade is recognition of the pioneering work that continues to be done across the club by The Red Way initiative, which puts sustainability at the heart of everything LFC does, including matchday operations, Anfield and the AXA Training Centre. 

It follows the club topping the 2021 Sport Positive Environmental Sustainability League, recognising it as the greenest in the Premier League, and it’s current backing for the upcoming Green Football Weekend where fans are encouraged to score green goals by taking climate-friendly actions and registering via www.greenfootballweekend.com.

LFC also landed a double award win at the prestigious SEAL 2022 Business Sustainability Awards, in honour of the club’s positive and ongoing environmental leadership.

These awards highlight the many improvements that have been made since the launch of The Red Way in January 2021. It is LFC’s approach to sustainability, in order to create a better future for its people, its communities, and the planet,  and it now runs through every façade of the club.

The overall objective is for LFC is to be net zero across its sport operations by the end of the 2022-23 season, which means the club will be implementing its robust carbon-reduction plan and offsetting any remaining carbon emissions.

By 2025, the club also aims to have 100 per cent of club operations run on low carbon and clean energy sources, and by 2030 to reduce actual operational carbon emissions by 50 per cent. It now uses sustainable fuels in its team buses, which creates a reduction in carbon emissions of up to 90 per cent from regular diesel.

The BSI Certification has been awarded to LFC following a full audit of the Club’s Sustainability Management System. A rigorous process which looks across the organisation, considering not only match-day activities but the operational framework that underpins the delivery of the Club’s sustainable strategy The Red Way. 

All sites (Anfield, AXA Training Centre, The Academy and the Distribution Centre) were independently assessed to audit activities, products and services ensuring sustainable standards are met.  

A presentation recently took place at Anfield where the BSI officially presented the certificate to LFC. Presenting the award to Hannah Simpkins were Thomas Harrison, Partnership Engagement Manager at BSI and Andrew Price, Finance Director at BSI. 

Hannah Simpkins, VP of Club Operations, said: “We are proud to achieve this ISO 20121 Certification.  It is an amazing honour for the Club and recognition for The Red Way strategy.  This standard provides us with credibility in the approach we’re taking towards sustainability in sport.   

“It’s taken an incredible amount of work and effort from the LFC team to get this certification from the BSI in place.  

“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.”  

Martin Townsend, Director for BSI Centre of Excellence for Sustainability, said: “Huge congratulations to Liverpool FC for being announced as the first Premier League football club to have achieved certification to the standard by BSI.

“There is so much passion and inspiration that football provides to us all, particularly the young. However, the beautiful game needs to be not only inspirational on the pitch but, sustainable in the way it is delivered. 

“At BSI, we are proud to provide support in this area and will continue to work alongside industry and society to accelerate the adoption of sustainable measures.”