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Saints named as a finalist at Big Sustainability Awards

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Southampton Football Club has been named as a finalist in the collaboration category for its #GreenerGame at this year’s Big Sustainability Awards.

The award will be given in recognition of a project that breaks down the traditional barriers, looking at ways partners come together to work in non-traditional ways towards a goal that delivers sustainable outcomes.

The #GreenerGame saw Southampton Football Club come together with Arsenal to offer fans a more environmentally sustainable matchday at their Premier League fixture, with a range of activities planned as part of Saints’ sustainability strategy, The Halo Effect.

By taking part in the first Greener Game, Southampton and Arsenal were working together to challenge people’s views on the importance of environmental sustainability.

As part of it, fans were able to take advantage of a free park and ride service to help alleviate the travel emissions that are caused by driving to St Mary’s on a matchday. Arsenal Football Club provided subsidised coach travel for away fans with all official club coaches offsetting carbon emissions. The first team coach operated on biodiesel fuel for travel to and from St Mary’s.

Fans were able to learn more about the effects of plastic pollution with the club’s partners at Final Straw Foundation bringing a giant wire fish sculpture that fans could drop their single-use plastics and bottles inside, highlighting the impact waste can have on our oceans.

Fans were able to take wildflower seeds to plant at home, with the club’s partners at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust also handing out activity packs and prizes as part of their Wilder Southampton project. The club was also giving out free vegan taster food options and ran deals across the day on all vegan food options.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have been named as a finalist for our collaboration with Arsenal for the Greener Game. This was a huge opportunity for us to work together and to really bring our fans on that journey with us and help get our fans thinking about more sustainable options. We look forward to the awards evening later this month and wish the other finalists the best of luck,” says Caroline Carlin, Operations and Sustainability Manager for Southampton Football Club.

The Big Sustainability Awards are hosted by the Southern Sustainability Partnership, who are also the organisers of The Big Sustainability Expo. Both events are taking place at St Mary’s Stadium on 22nd September 2022.

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