Revealed: Who’s leading sustainability efforts at Premier League clubs?
Exclusive: The Asterisk investigates how many clubs have complied with Premier League’s green pledge to designate a sustainability officer and the team members driving their environmental efforts.
In February, English Premier League clubs agreed to an Environmental Sustainability Commitment to ‘reduce their environmental impact and achieve long-term environmental ambitions.’
One of the measures outlined in the commitment requires clubs to designate a senior member of their staff to oversee environmental sustainability projects.
The Premier League did not confirm if the clubs have been provided with a timeline to fill this position or if it aligns with the League’s goal to develop a robust environmental sustainability policy by the end of the 2024/25 season.
Essentially, the role of this employee is to help the club navigate the fine line between their environmental impact and business objectives.
How many Premier League clubs have a sustainability manager?
The Asterisk was able to confirm that just over half of the Premier League clubs have a designated sustainability lead.
For some clubs, the role falls under the authority of another staff member, while other teams have established a sustainability working group.
“It’s crucial now (to have a sustainability manager),” Claire Poole, CEO & Founder, Sport Positive, told The Asterisk on the significance of the role.
“Firstly, because the new Premier League Environmental Sustainability Commitment means that each club must designate a senior employee to lead the club’s environmental sustainability activities, so it’s going to be mandatory.
“That’s not to say only one person is responsible for it,” she said. “Sustainability should form part of everyone’s role, manifesting in different ways per department.
“However, more widely, having somebody lead on sustainability provides internal accountability, a point person to lead organisation-wide activities, and a person to ensure it is kept on the agenda and prioritised through the sports business,” she added.
Trend in hiring sustainability leads
Manchester City named Pete Bradshaw as its head of sustainability, making him the first person to assume such a role in the Premier League.
A BBC Radio 1 transcript from 13 November 2019 refers to Bradshaw as the Citizens' head of sustainability.
The Asterisk was able to find the approximate year that Bradshaw was given the title through a Nexis search.
Since 2021, other clubs have followed suit and have appointed or promoted leads to the role under different titles.
A closer look at sustainability teams of each club
Clubs rely on more than one person to carry out sustainability efforts to reduce emissions.
It would be ideal if clubs had both a sustainability manager and staff trained in dealing with environmental matters, according to Poole.
The Asterisk explored the teams driving the green efforts of each club.
Arsenal
The Gunners appointed Hannah Mansour as Director of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in September 2023 to lead the club’s sustainability agenda.
Michael Lloyd, the club’s Sustainability and Logistics Manager, is another important figure. He has played an instrumental role in overseeing Arsenal’s switch to renewable energy and recycling schemes.
The club also has a senior management working group that reports into an executive team with proposals and actions, according to Sport Positive Leagues Environmental Sustainability Report.
In 2017, Arsenal set up a staff sustainability group called ‘Sustain Our Game.’
The group not only comprises staff representatives engaged in environmental issues but also has staff from across the club, including finance, stadium management, marketing, and travel.
Colombia’s Under-20 goalkeeper, Alexei Rojas Fedorushchenko, who recently signed a professional contract with the club, is also part of the group.
Alexei is vocal about sustainability in football.
“Football and sustainability are very closely linked,” he told www.arsenal.com. “Football has a huge impact on the world in terms of the travel, all the waste, and the fans.”
Aston Villa
In November 2021, Aston Villa announced its environmental sustainability commitment, ‘Claret, Blue, and Green.’
The club has established an environmental working group at Villa Park and the Bodymoor Heath training ground in line with the commitment. The group includes staff from across the club.
Aston Villa has quarterly cross-departmental meetings taking place to drive environmental practices and ideas, according to Sport Positive Leagues.
Villa did not confirm if the club has a designated sustainability officer.
Brentford
Brentford hired James Beale as its first sustainability manager in August 2023.
“This new role will play an important role in promoting environmental sustainability across all areas of our operations,” the club said in its annual report and financial statements for 2023.
“The Sustainability Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing sustainability strategies and initiatives, monitoring our environmental performance, and ensuring that we meet our sustainability targets,” the club added.
Beale engages with all departments within the club and is responsible for environmental sustainability together with Brentford's Corporate Affairs Director, Greig Mailer.
Brighton & Hove Albion
The Seagulls named Tom Harris as sustainability manager in May 2023.
Brighton’s latest annual report states that the club recruited a sustainability manager to lead on the development of a sustainability strategy.
Under Harris’ tenure, Brighton won the Sustainability Award at the 2024 Football Business Awards in May. The event celebrates the very best in football business.
Brighton is also training its staff to integrate sustainability across all departments.
Chelsea
The Blues hired an Environmental Social Governance Manager in June 2023 to lead its green initiatives.
Chris Goodwin’s role is to manage the club’s environmental strategy and implement sustainable practices throughout the business.
Additionally, Chelsea also has a sustainability working group.
Crystal Palace
The Eagles established a Sustainability Working Group in 2023.
The group, which is chaired by the club’s Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), features all main club departments and the Palace For Life Foundation.
James Woodroof, who led Palace’s sustainability group and was the club’s Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, joined AFC Wimbledon as Managing Director in March.
The club posted an advertisement to recruit a new Chief Marketing Officer in March. Palace is no longer accepting any applications to the role.
Crystal Palace did not confirm whether the club has hired a new CMO.
Everton
In June, Everton stated the club has a designated staff member who is responsible for sustainability within the organisation.
The employee will play a key role in the club’s move to the new stadium, which it claims will be the ‘most environmentally friendly stadium ever built.’
Fulham
Fulham has a Sustainability Working Group that comprises staff from various departments across the business, according to the club.
The group’s objective is to discuss Fulham’s sustainability drive and implement best practices across the business.
Fulham currently has a designated sustainability officer but not in a full-time capacity.
The core responsibility of the sustainability officer is to coordinate sustainability efforts to help the club work towards reducing its environmental impact.
Liverpool
Rishi Jain assumed the role of Liverpool’s Director of Impact in July 2023.
Jain leads the club’s #TheRedWay strategy that focuses on Liverpool’s overall commitment to sustainability.
The Reds topped the Sport Positive League, along with Tottenham, as the most environmentally sustainable Premier League football club in 2023.
Manchester City
Pete Bradshaw leads Manchester City’s sustainability efforts.
The Premier League champions have been reporting their environmental impact since 2004, according to the club’s Sustainability Game Plan 2021.
The Citizens have been annually reporting on their sustainability and impact since 2009.
Bradshaw was the club’s corporate social responsibility manager before it was taken over by Abu Dhabi-led City Football Group.
He has been involved in sustainability initiatives for nearly 20 years.
Manchester United
Manchester United appointed Charlotte Miell as Head of Sustainability in August 2023.
The club is currently working on its carbon emissions report.
“Following the appointment of a Head of Sustainability in 2023, carbon reduction goals are currently being developed and appraised within a Carbon Management Plan (CMP),” Sport Positive Leagues reported on the Red Devils.
“These will capture short, medium, and long-term goals, including a Net Zero target and external accreditations,” it added.
The club has Environmental, Energy & Carbon, and Sustainable Procurement Policies that are implemented and overseen by a cross-departmental Environmental Management Action Group (EMAG).
Newcastle United
In January 2023, Newcastle hired Helen Hughes as the club’s Sustainability Manager.
Hughes coordinates with different departments across the club and its external partners. Through the introduction of new sustainable systems and more efficient practices, she aims to bring long-lasting change.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham does not have a sustainability manager to lead the club’s green efforts.
All sustainability-related matters are dealt with by the club’s Head of Procurement & Estates alongside other aspects of their role.
Southampton
Although under a different title, the Saints have a person that handles the club’s environmental targets.
Eloise Thompson was recently promoted to Operations and Sustainability Lead after Caroline Carlin, the former head, joined sports and sustainability agency Enovation Consulting as Senior Business Development & Sustainability Manager.
In January 2021, the club launched ‘The Halo Effect,’ a sustainable strategy that underscores Southampton’s commitment to live up to their environmental responsibilities.
The Halo Effect Steering Group meets every six weeks, according to Sport Positive Leagues.
Tottenham Hotspur
In March, Spurs roped in their first sustainability manager.
Marcus Parry joined the North London outfit from John Lewis Partnership, a department store company where he was Ethics & Sustainability Specialist for nearly three years.
Tottenham was announced as Premier League’s greenest club for five consecutive years. Spurs have had to share the achievement with Liverpool in the last two years, finishing joint-top in the Sport Positive Environmental Sustainability League.
The club works with other organisations to reduce its environmental impact.
Levy, a sports and entertainment caterer, is looking to hire a Sustainability Manager for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Some of the responsibilities of the role include working with the sustainability director to continue to develop the sustainability strategy for Levy and to track records, calculate the carbon footprint for the stadium.
Levy also works with other Premier League clubs - Aston Villa, Brentford, Chelsea, Leicester City, and Wolves.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
At Wolves, environmental matters fall under the authority of the Facilities, Safety & Security Director.
Steve Sutton commands that post and is supported by Thom Rawson of Sustainable Football. Rawson is a consultant who works with the club on a weekly basis and helps steer Wolves’ One Pack One Planet project.
“Thom’s responsibilities include chairing the internal working group, providing sustainability expertise and advice, meeting carbon and environmental reporting requirements and data preparation, liaising with key stakeholders, and representing Wolves’ environmental sustainability programme externally,” a Wolves spokesperson told The Asterisk.
What about the other clubs?
The Asterisk was unable to confirm whether AFC Bournemouth, West Ham United, and newly promoted Ipswich Town and Leicester City have a designated employee in place that handles environmental matters.
Neither club responded to requests for comment.
Like all clubs, Bournemouth, Ipswich, Leicester, and West Ham have taken up environmental projects and have personnel that are responsible for carrying out certain duties.
Ipswich - Max Wilkes-Barker is the Environmental Sustainability Officer of Ipswich Town Football Club Foundation. He is in charge of the foundation's environmental sustainability policies, environmental reviews, and environmental action plans.
Leicester City - Alex Evans is the Business Development & Environmental Sustainability Manager of Leicester City in the Community.
West Ham United - Jesse Foyle, the Director of Programmes at West Ham United Foundation, is the strategic lead for Business Development, Training & Workforce, and Environmental Sustainability.
Does the Premier League have a sustainability manager?
The Premier League appointed Will Hutton as its Head of Sustainability in January 2023.
Hutton’s areas of expertise include sustainability strategy, carbon footprinting, corporate reporting, and managing frameworks focused on an organisation’s sustainability and environmental management operations.
Hutton chairs meetings of the Premier League Sustainability Working Group (PLSWG). It includes representatives from each club. Members discuss environmental matters and sustainability progress at the meetings.
The Premier League did not confirm how often these meetings are held.
The League is targeting a 50% reduction in emissions by the end of this decade, and it aims to become net-zero by 2040. This target was set by the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.
‘Sustainability managers need to work on airmiles’
Although the Premier League and its member clubs have been praised for their sustainability efforts, environmental groups have criticised the league for emissions generated from air travel.
“Football clubs have a wide range of environmental impacts, and hiring a sustainability manager to identify and minimise them, perhaps following the lead of Forest Green Rovers, is clearly a positive step,” a Greenpeace UK spokesperson told The Asterisk.
“However, Premier League clubs rack up thousands of airmiles a year, many of them unnecessarily for domestic league games that could be reached in just a couple of hours by train or electric bus.
“So, unless any newly appointed sustainability managers start showing their bosses the red card for the vast number of short-haul flights that these clubs take each year, it’s hard to see the creation of these roles as much more than greenwash,” the spokesperson added.
Sustainability can play a big part if green standards are enforced
The government can get clubs to do more through the Football Governance Bill, according to Katie Cross, CEO of Pledgeball, an organisation that encourages the sports community to tackle climate change.
“The introduction of the Football Governance Bill presents a unique opportunity for the Premier League to lead the way on financial, social, and environmental sustainability,” she told The Asterisk.
“It seems likely that the new independent regulator will be responsible for the first two, but the plan for the latter one remains unclear.
“If the regulator embeds green standards in club licensing regulations, like the German Football Association does in the Bundesliga, then sustainability practices will play a big part in the Premier League’s overall strategy.
“If not, we’ll probably continue to see an ad hoc approach,” she added.
Premier League officials to attend sustainability summit
Sport Positive will be hosting its annual summit in collaboration with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 8-9 October in London.
The summit that promotes sustainability and good environmental practices will see representatives from clubs, leagues, associations, etc., in attendance.
The Asterisk can confirm that officials from the Premier League will be present at the summit.
Brentford Sustainability Manager James Beale will speak on ‘Fan Travel: Scaling Existing Models and Innovating’ on day two.
“Much of a club’s carbon footprint is from travel; it can be up to 90% for some clubs,” said Sarah Wilkin, Founder & CEO of Fly Green Alliance, an organisation that promotes sustainability within the aviation industry.
“As we saw from EURO 2024, an electric vehicle sponsor was high profile, and this supported a switch to low carbon products/travel being promoted,” she added.
Wilkin has encouraged clubs to join the alliance to stay ahead of the curve on travel and transport decarbonisation.