Launch of UEFA Circular Economy Guidelines

Launch of UEFA Circular Economy Guidelines

The strategy contains 11 policies, one of which focuses on Circular Economy.

Earlier this year, UEFA launched its Football Sustainability Strategy 2030 – titled ‘Strength Through Unity’, with the mission to inspire, activate and accelerate collective action to respect human rights and the environment within the context of European Football. Circular Economy is a concept that aims at shifting the UEFA’s current consumption model (“Take-Make-Waste”) to a circular model that radically reduces the use of raw materials for the manufacturing process; the amount of plastic discharged, and food wasted; and the impact on biodiversity.

In the UEFA context, Circular Economy refers to the optimisation of the consumption and life cycle of products, most notably food, packaging and branded items throughout UEFA operations and events. The organisation’s 2030 ambition is to embed the so-called “4R approach” – built around Reducing, Reusing, Recycling, and Recovering, in all operations to minimise the impact of football on the environment and drive resource efficiency and cost savings.

In conjunction with the celebration of Zero Waste Week around the world, UEFA is launching its Circular Economy Guidelines.  The document is composed of 3 sections: An introduction to the Circular Economy concept and the 4R framework; best practice and factsheets in the Food & Beverage domain by various football stakeholders; and an outlook into forthcoming Circular Economy focus areas: energy & water, apparel & football equipment, and event materials (signage, brand production and furniture & IT equipment). The Guidelines aim to help National Associations, leagues, clubs, event organisers and other football stakeholders start the journey towards the aspirational target of zero plastic waste and food waste – within UEFA, across UEFA events and collaboratively across European football – by 2030.

Program of 7 September, 11:00 to 12:00 noon CEST

Following an introduction from the moderator, Pedro Pinto, a first panelwill discuss Circular Economy from a strategic angle, highlighting the opportunities for collaborative solutions in the European football landscape.

Panelists:

• Michele Uva, Director of Football & Social Responsibility, UEFA
• Katharina Stenholm, Chief Sustainability Officer, PepsiCo Europe
• Charlie Marshall, CEO, European Clubs Association (ECA)

Thereafter, UEFA’s Circular Economy Guidelines will be briefly presented by Filippo Veglio, Senior FSR Expert, UEFA. A second panel will then dive into the challenges and opportunities around implementing the Guidelines across football stakeholders.

Panelists:

• Emmanuelle Maire, Head of Circular Economy Unit, Directorate General for Environment (DG ENV), European Commission
• Anders Kjaer, FSR Manager, Danish Football Association (DBU)
• Ricardo Cavalho, Sports Facilities & Asset Manager, FC Porto
• Emilie Bølviken, Professional Football Player, Lyn FC
• Vincent Reulet, FSR Environment Expert, UEFA