Liverpool FC highlights major sustainability achievements in latest Red Way report

Liverpool Football Club has released its third annual Red Way report, outlining significant progress in its commitment to sustainability and social impact across the 2023/24 season.

The report reflects the club’s ongoing efforts to embed sustainable practices into all areas of its operations, aligned with its long-term vision for positive change.

Launched in 2021, The Red Way is Liverpool FC’s award-winning sustainability strategy, and this year’s report marks an important milestone in its development. The strategy is aligned with 16 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing the club’s commitment to responsible governance, innovation, and collective action.

Throughout the 2023/24 season, the club’s sustainability efforts were recognised with nine major industry awards, including Most Sustainable in Sport from Front Office Sports and the Environmental Sustainability Award at the Sports Industry Awards. These honours reflect the depth and breadth of progress across multiple areas of the organisation—from stadium operations and retail to logistics and travel.

Under the Planet pillar of its strategy, environmental sustainability remains a core priority for Liverpool FC. Key achievements this season include:

• Sourcing 96% of all energy used at club sites from renewable or low-carbon sources.
• Offsetting 100% of emissions associated with football operations.
• Achieving a 12.5% reduction in carbon emissions compared to the previous season, and a 15% reduction against the 2019/20 baseline.

The club also made significant improvements in sustainable travel. All domestic team flights are now carbon-neutral through investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), while team buses are powered by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), reducing emissions by up to 90% compared to standard diesel.

The club’s biodiversity programme continues to expand under the leadership of its award-winning grounds team. More than 1,000 trees and hedges were planted, alongside the installation of honeybee colonies and solitary bee habitats—supporting pollinators and local ecosystems. The club also produced half a tonne of fresh food via its on-site allotments, contributing directly to its catering operations.

Even the Anfield pitch has been made more sustainable; the fully recyclable turf was repurposed into benches for the orchard at the AXA Training Centre.

Liverpool FC remains the first Premier League club to achieve ISO20121 certification for sustainability, alongside holding ISO45001 (health and safety) and ISO50001 (energy management) certifications—demonstrating its robust governance and leadership in this field.

The club’s People pillar, delivered through its Red Together programme, continues to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion. During Ramadan, Liverpool FC hosted its first Iftar event at Anfield, welcoming over 2,800 attendees. The club also led awareness efforts for the International Day of Disabled Persons, partnering with 12-year-old fan Dáire Gorman to highlight Crommelin Syndrome—resulting in a notable increase in public awareness.

Through the LFC Foundation—its official charity—the club supported more than 127,000 individuals over the past season. The Foundation delivered a social return of £13.70 for every £1 invested, with over 60% of participants coming from the most economically deprived areas in the UK.

Liverpool FC continues to contribute to global conversations on sustainability, participating in 24 international events throughout the season, including COP28 and the United Nations’ Global Eradicate Hate Summit. These engagements reflect the club’s growing influence not just within football, but across the wider sports industry.

Jonathan Bamber, Liverpool FC Chief Legal and External Affairs Officer and Executive Sponsor of The Red Way, said:

“Understanding the impact that we do – and can – have is critical if we are to continue to succeed, on and off the pitch. 

“The landscape we work in, and the challenges we are facing, are increasingly complex and regularly shifting. Despite this, we remain as ambitious, determined and optimistic as ever. We do this work because we believe it is vital if we are to be the football club that we want to be. Our commitment to The Red Way is stronger than ever.” 

The club has also played a key role in global sustainability conversations, attending 24 international events across the 2023/24 season, including COP28 and the UN’s Global Eradicate Hate Summit. This global engagement reinforces LFC’s growing influence as a sustainability leader not only in football, but across the wider sports industry. 

Rishi Jain, director of impact at Liverpool FC, added:

“The Red Way is more than a strategy – it’s a key priority for the club and is embedded into every aspect of the business.This is our third annual report and it’s incredible to see the progress that has been made and that we continue to make, thanks to the support from our fans, staff, partners, and communities who help us achieve our ambition to be a truly sustainable football club.  

“We have set ambitious targets, including achieving net zero by 2040, and we understand that we are on a journey and there is still much more to do. This report is a celebration of how far we’ve come and confirms our commitment to go even further.” 

Find more information about the Red Way report here.

Find all the latest Liverpool news here.

Find out what’s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide. 

From the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North – visit thenorthernguide.com and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram HERE.