Planet Ball conference and workshop in Athens: Scoring together for a greener future!
On September 11th, the Planet Ball project held its first event in Athens, hosted by the EARTH organization. The conference and workshop brought together football clubs, federations, and sustainability experts and other stakeholders to share best practices for integrating environmental responsibility into sports. The event also highlighted the unique potential of football as an educational tool for raising environmental awareness particularly among youngsters.
Overview of the Planet Ball Project
The conference began with an introduction to the European project Planet Ball by Sport and Citizenship. Funded by Erasmus+, Planet Ball was launched in January 2024 to promote eco-friendly behaviors through football, focusing on young people as agents of change.
It has four key phases:
(1) gathering good practices on greener football,
(2) training youth in Turkey, Finland, Romania, and Estonia on environmental topics like waste reduction and carbon footprint reduction,
(3) organizing Green Football Festivals to combine awareness activities with sport,
(4) measuring the project’s social impact and advocating at the EU level.
The project underscores football’s educational role and its potential to drive sustainability.
Insights from Research and Best Practices on Greener football and environmental education
These opening words were followed by a presentation of the results of the state of art research and best practices collection conducted by Earth organization. The study highlighted how football is increasingly adopting sustainable practices, despite some remaining challenges, such as installing solar panels to reduce energy costs and promote clean energy. Clubs and associations are developing holistic environmental strategies that engage fans and communities, proving more impactful than one-off initiatives. Collaborative efforts between governing bodies, civic organizations, and the football industry are gaining momentum, with resources available for sustainable projects. A significant aspect of these initiatives is their focus on environmental education for young people, empowering them to become champions for change in their communities. However, there remain concerns about the visibility and long-term sustainability of these efforts, as environmental initiatives often struggle to maintain attention amid the focus on sports performance.
Showcasing Commitment: Best Practices and challenges from Leading Football Clubs and Sport Federation in Europe
This presentation was followed by three interventions showcasing the commitment of sports and football stakeholders in Europe.
- HJK Helsinki is the biggest football club from Finland and one of the leading football clubs in Scandinavia. HJK recently equipped its stadium with solar panels, making it the only stadium in the country to have this feature. Free public transportation tickets are offered to match attendees, and mandatory education sessions including ones on environmental issues are held for youth academy players aged 16 to 18. Lastly, the club also utilizes data-driven decision-making to monitor their recycling rates and carbon footprints.
- Real Betis Balompié is recognized as one of the football clubs most committed to ecological transition and raising awareness about environmental preservation within its ecosystem in Europe. Real Betis Foundation launched Forever Green, an open platform that showcases environmental initiatives while engaging fans as “allies of tomorrow” in climate action. The platform focuses on five key pillars: Recycling, Mobility, Climate Change, Nature, and Sustainable Club. Forever Green matches are also organized by the club. During these matches, all activities are designed around sustainability, featuring special kits made of 100% recycled polyester, reusable bottles, sustainable transport options for fans, and waste collection in order to reduce the carbon footprint of each game. By raising awareness about sustainability, Real Betis aims to foster a collective commitment to a greener future in football.
- The Greek Basketball Federation has recently adopted a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy but still faces challenges in promoting environmental awareness among basketball clubs. With a focus on sustainability, the Federation is collecting best practices and engaging with stakeholders to build literacy around these concepts. Their strategy centers on four pillars: equality, inclusion, health, and the environment, aiming to integrate sustainability into daily operations while avoiding greenwashing. The Federation emphasizes collaboration and positive impact through its Plus + strategy to enhance its commitment to environmental.
Engaging Discussion: Barriers and Opportunities in Greece
The conference was followed by a focus group discussion dedicated to Greek stakeholders and civil society organisations (CSOs). Participants from various organisations, including sports clubs and the Greek Ministry for Migration and Asylum, engaged in a dynamic discussion about their sustainability practices and the barriers they face. Most attendees acknowledged a gap in sustainability strategies compared to some European counterparts, with many relying on ad-hoc initiatives. They highlighted the need for state support in renovating sports facilities and emphasized education as crucial for fostering a sustainability culture. Concerns were raised about the perception of sustainability among migrants and asylum seekers, alongside feelings of disappointment due to the ongoing energy crisis. Participants unanimously agreed on the necessity of coordinated actions by CSOs to advocate for meaningful changes in sustainability practices in Greece.
