Redditch United have announced that it has officially achieved carbon-neutral status, becoming what is believed to be only the second football club in the world to reach this landmark environmental achievement.
Being carbon-neutral means that the Pitching In Southern League Premier Central club has reduced its carbon emissions wherever possible and balanced the remaining emissions through certified environmental measures, enabling the club to achieve complete carbon neutrality.
The club partnered with Neutral Carbon Zone (NCZ) to complete a comprehensive NCZ Gold Certification emissions assessment, covering all operational and organisational activities for the 2023–24 reporting period. This looked at everything the club does as an organisation – from daily operations to wider activities.
The independently validated NCZ Gold Carbon Footprint Report confirmed that the club produced 208.58 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (COe) during the year. This total includes all types of emissions, known as Scope 1, 2, and 3, which cover direct energy use, purchased energy, and indirect emissions such as travel and supply chains.
Most of the club’s emissions came from Purchased Goods and Services, which accounted for 87.80% of the total. Commuting and homeworking by staff made up a further 7.25%. All of these emissions have now been fully balanced through certified carbon-offsetting projects, meaning the club has achieved carbon neutrality.
The club has committed to using this baseline as the foundation for ongoing emissions reduction, ensuring offsetting is applied only to currently unavoidable emissions.
This milestone puts Redditch United among a small number of sports clubs worldwide leading the way in environmental responsibility. The NCZ Gold Certification followed internationally recognised carbon-measurement standards and involved a detailed assessment of the club’s energy use, travel, supply chain, waste, water, and fuel emissions.
David Faulkner, Chairman of Redditch United, said: “We are incredibly proud to become what we believe is the world’s second carbon-neutral football club. This achievement reflects our belief that football clubs – at every level – have a responsibility to lead by example.
“Sustainability is now a core part of our identity, and our partnership with Neutral Carbon Zone ensures that our actions are transparent, credible and independently verified.”
Krys Stanton, COO at Neutral Carbon Zone, added: “Redditch United have demonstrated a genuine commitment to sustainability by voluntarily undertaking a NCZ Gold Certification review of their full organisational emissions.
“Their willingness to measure, verify and offset their carbon footprint reflects a level of accountability that is still rare in sport. Achieving carbon-neutral status is a significant accomplishment whilst on the journey to net zero, and we’re proud to support the club as it continues to build a long-term, credible approach to environmental responsibility.”
Alan Stenson, CEO at Neutral Carbon Zone, said: “The club’s emissions profile demonstrates that the biggest opportunities for long-term reductions lie within supply-chain engagement and procurement strategy. By completing a full Scope 3 assessment – something many organisations avoid due to its complexity – Redditch United have taken one of the most rigorous approaches possible. Their commitment to ongoing data quality, transparency, and continuous improvement aligns fully with best-practice carbon management.”
By achieving carbon neutrality, the club aims to inspire other organisations – both within and beyond football – to take meaningful, measurable climate action.
The Southern League send our congratulations on their achievement.
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