Aston Villa Raises Sustainability Standards for English Premier League

Aston Villa’s efforts at Villa Park in Birmingham rank them among the English Premier League leaders in stadium sustainability.  With a comprehensive, integrated plan for intelligent water use, waste diversion and energy efficiency, Aston Villa have provided a blueprint for other EPL clubs to follow. Among the notable achievements at Villa Park include:

• Full carbon neutrality at the stadium, which was recognized with Carbon Neutral Certification by Clearway Sustainability Resources. Working with Clearway, Villa identified their carbon output and have offset their emissions with credits that support renewable energy projects around the globe.
• A comprehensive water sustainability plan that includes a new rainwater-collection system on the roof of the stadium’s Holte End section. This system provides water for irrigation around the facility and at a nearby garden; coupled with water-saving fixtures around the venue, Villa has reduced water consumption each of the past three years.
• Local sourcing of food supplies at the stadium’s restaurants, which purchase up to 85% of their produce from local farms and purveyors.
• A waste-management program that has yielded a 70% recycling rate.
• Energy-efficiency measures – including remotely controlled heating, lighting and electrical systems – that have allowed the club to reduce its energy usage every year for the past nine years, along with a comprehensive travel plan to reduce auto traffic to Villa Park.

"We take issues around environmental sustainability and our responsibilities very seriously," said Aston Villa CEO Paul Faulkner. "Over the years we have engaged in a number of activities to ensure that we are doing everything we can to protect the environment around us.