FC Porto Scores Big with EMAS Certification
FC Porto has announced their Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification. The Liga Portugal Betclic club is now the first sports entity in Portugal to receive the certification. This achievement marks a significant milestone for FC Porto as a partner in the FREE KICKS project, co-funded by the EU, that addresses circular economy and environmental sustainability within football organisations.
What is EMAS?
EMAS is a voluntary program rewarding organisations based on three key principles:
- Performance: Managing and continuously improving their environmental impact.
- Transparency: Openly sharing environmental information with the public.
- Credibility: Having their environmental management system verified by independent experts, thoroughly.
What does EMAS certification mean?
FC Porto has an approved environmental management system to track and reduce its environmental impact. To achieve EMAS certification, FC Porto completed the following steps: conducted an environmental review, adopted an environmental policy and program, established and implemented an environmental management system, prepared an environmental statement, and finally, secured independent verification by an accredited EMAS verifier.
Why is this a big deal?
- Portugal’s First: FC Porto has a massive influence on fans and other clubs as a top Liga Portugal Betclic club. They are the first sport entity in Portugal to obtain EMAS certification.
- Global Leader: Only 23 of over 4,000 EMAS-certified organisations in the EU are in sports! FC Porto, Estádio do Dragão and Dragão Arena, are now global leaders in sustainability.
- Economic and Community benefits: EMAS certification has proven to lead to more efficient resource management, cost savings and relationships with the local community.
- Aligns with City Goals: The city of Porto has committed to carbon neutrality by 2030.
“I have to congratulate FC Porto because we all know that it is one of the most difficult certifications to obtain and, therefore, it not only reveals the excellent work that FC Porto has done in these areas of sustainability, but it is also inspiring for all those who, or come to the facilities, the stadium and others who understand the work that FC Porto has done in these areas”, highlights Filipe Araújo, vice-president of the Porto Chamber, adding that this is another important step in the commitments made by the municipality in this context.
To learn more about EMAS click here.
To view the official press release in Portuguese click here.
* Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
