STRIVING for SUSTAINABILITY

SportsNation looks at some of the recent sustainability initiatives, designed to make sport more green

STRIVING SUSTAINABILITY for

New fund to create ‘world’s greenest sports industry’

Sport England has made a pledge to reserve £16 million from its Movement Fund to help the grassroots sports sector “respond to the impact of climate change”. Community sports clubs and physical activity groups looking to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable will be able to apply for funding between £300 and £15,000.

Applications for the funding need relate to one of six criteria. These are: ● Carbon emissions: travel and facilities ● Circular economy: supply chains, products and waste ● Blue-green environment quality and use ● Biodiversity ● Adapting to climate change and extreme weather ● Just transition: inequalities, inclusion and participation.

Sport England chair Chris Boardman said the multi-million-pound fund will help create the ‘greenest sports sector in the world’. “The funding represents the biggest ever package of support for the sports sector as part of our ambition to create the greenest sports industry in the world,” Boardman said.

The announcement comes a year after Sport England published Every Move – its first ever environmental sustainability strategy.

Taylor Made Designs recycle more than 1.5 tonnes of garments in a month

Branded clothing and merchandise specialist, Taylor Made Designs, recycled more than a tonne of end-of-use garments on behalf of its clients during a single month. As part of its efforts to become more sustainable, the company – which specialises in sports and leisure clothing – offers customers a garment recycling service.

“End-of-use, damaged and out-of-date uniform doesn’t need to go to landfill,” the company says. “It can be sent to us, and we will manage its sustainable & responsible disposal.

“Demand for this service has grown over the years and we now bag up unwanted uniforms for some of the UK’s best-known brands.

“For the first time ever, in March 2025 we bagged up more than 200 eight-kilogram bags. That’s more than a metric tonne and a half of clothing saved from landfill.” To read more about the service: [www.taylormadedesigns.co.uk](http://www.taylormadedesigns.co.uk/)

Edgbaston launches Go Green Game to cut matchday carbon emissions

Edgbaston Stadium launched its new ‘Go Green Game’ at the Women’s IT20 between England and India on Saturday 12 July. The sustainability-focused initiative helps to raise awareness of climate change and is part of the venue’s wider sustainability pledge to reach Net Zero by 2030, in-line with Birmingham City Council’s commitment to address climate issues and promote sustainability within the city.

Reinforcing Edgbaston’s leadership in sustainable sport, the match will be the stadium’s second Go Green Game. Building on the success of the inaugural 2023 fixture, which saw the overall match carbon emissions reduce by a third, the 2025 game hopes to further reduce the overall emissions through a series of new initiatives, matchday activations and sustainable practices.

Addressing one of the biggest contributors to matchday emissions, spectator travel to games, Edgbaston has partnered with National Express West Midlands and Transport for West Midlands to encourage the use of sustainable transport options for the game.

On the day, spectators will have access to a free National Express West Midlands shuttle bus service (the 501 service) from Birmingham New Street Station. Transport for West Midlands is also providing spectators the opportunity to sign up for free travel on the wider bus network.

EnviroStik introduces sustainable innovations

SAPCA member, EnviroStik has announced significant strides in sustainability in recent months. The adhesives company, which specialises in providing products to the synthetic grass sports surface sector, has launch a new Eco-Fix adhesive range, transitioned to solar-powered energy at its Staffordshire-based facility and provided a sustainable update to its tape offering.

The new Eco-Fix adhesive range is seen as a groundbreaking development in adhesive. Manufactured using recycled synthetic grass the product aims to help the sports and play construction industry move towards a circular economy. It is the first product of its type on the market, which is produced from end-of-life synthetic grass carpets and, as a result, Eco-Fix helps projects meet sustainability targets and reduce their environmental footprint. Its innovative recycled content formula also meets or exceeds all governing body standards, such as FIFA.

Based on the average-sized football pitch, Eco-Fix eliminates a minimum of 5 million microplastic particles from inevitably polluting ecosystems.

Complementing the Eco-Fix launch, EnviroStik has installed a solar PV and battery storage system at its manufacturing facility in Stone, Staffordshire. The new system enables the company to generate over 60% of its electricity through solar power, paving the way for an increasingly carbon-conscious future in which renewable energy is the norm.

Finally, EnviroStik has updated its SP and LMP Extra Tapes, which offer durable solutions for sports surface construction. The revisions mean both tapes are now made using up to 70% recycled plastic, meeting both the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), while still meeting and exceeding FIFA standards. For more information, vist: [www.envirostik.com](http://www.envirostik.com/)