FREE KICKS Project Completes First Football Environmental Audits
As part of the first phase of the FREE KICKS project, leader Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSA) has been carrying out an ‘environmental needs analysis’ of the participating football organisations, that includes an assessment of the of sustainability needs and identification of environmental priorities.
Some FREE KICKS football organisations are committed to achieving the EMAS certification with the help of the project. In this context, researchers of SSSA carried out three on-site visits to FREE KICKS clubs, in addition to the first one already completed at Racing’s stadium and facilities in Argentina. Specifically, researchers carried out one environmental management system audit and two environmental normative compliance audits.
Pictured: Tiberio Daddi (SSSA) and Rafael Muela Pastor (Real Betis Balompie) at Real Betis Stadium
On 18th September, researchers verified Porto FC environmental procedures and its 2022/2023 environmental statement to assure their compliance to EMAS requirements. Then on 26th October, normative environmental compliance was verified for Real Betis Balompié in Spain. The audit included the environmental aspects related to the stadium Benito Villamarìn and the training centers Rafael Gordillo and Luiz del Sol. A similar audit was carried out for Malmo FC in Sweden on 22nd November, assessing Malmo’s stadium and organisation environmental legal compliance.
These environmental assessments will support the next steps of the project, such as the design and implementation of specific environmental improvement plans, and support the implementation and adoption of EU tools such as EMAS, ECOLABEL and environmental best practices and measures.
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