Save Today, Play Tomorrow is the FIRST OF ITS KIND sustainability programme in the UK that looks to empower and engender the 100,000’s of people that regularly engage in grassroots football, supporting our ambitious goal of a decarbonised game.

At Save Today, Play Tomorrow, we recognise the need to take action now to ensure the beautiful game reduces its environmental impact, whilst being a provider of education to those involved at all levels, so they can make informed decisions that will shape how future generations can enjoy and sustain the game in the long term.

Find out more about how Save Today, Play Tomorrow can support your club via the channels below!

Website – www.savetodayplaytomorrow.com 

Email: hello@savetodayplaytomorrow.com

WeAre8 - https://app.weare8.com/@WeAreSTPT?share=mobile

FB - @savetodayplaytomorrow

X – @WeAreSTPT

Instagram - @savetodayplaytomorrow

Birmingham County FA and its environmental commitments

As a regional governing body, BCFA recognise the need to act now to ensure the beautiful game significantly reduces its environmental impact, whilst helping to educate those involved in football at all levels to make informed decisions that will shape how much future generations will be able to enjoy and sustain the game in the long term. While grassroots football is not the cause of climate change; most clubs are SME sized, often loss-making, volunteer led enterprises with a microscale carbon footprint, it offers huge potential for engagement, as the scale on which people share a close affinity with their community club is perhaps unparalleled in any other sport, activity, or business.

BCFA has taken the following steps to actively reduce its own emissions at its Ray Hall Lane facility. 

• The installation of a full roof solar array
• GHG Protocol aligned annual Net-Zero Carbon Reporting & Accounting
• Zero to landfill
• Installed efficient low energy heating & lighting
• Installation of 2 Electric Vehicle Chargers
• Moved to digital programmes for all major events & cup finals
• Adopted an agile workplace to reduce staff travel to/from the office
• Installed additional water refill stations on site for public use
• Qualified 5 members of staff as Mental Health Champions
• Switched to organic pitch maintenance products
• Staff completed Carbon Literacy for Grassroots Football training

Environmental Policy

Birmingham County FA accepts responsibility for the harmful effects its operations have on both the local and global environment and is committed to reducing them.

We are now taking steps to measure our impact on the environment and set ambitious targets for ongoing improvement and will comply with all relevant environmental legislation. We will implement a training for our staff to raise awareness of environmental issues and enlist their support in improving the County FA’s performance. We will also encourage the adoption of similar principles by our suppliers & partners.

Richard Lindsay,
Sustainability & Insights Manager

Planet Mark Certified

We’re proud to announce that we’ve achieved the Planet Mark Year 2022 Business Certification. This is an incredible achievement involving the entire business.

The Planet Mark Business Certification is an internationally recognised sustainability certification for business acknowledging continuous progress, encouraging action and building an empowered community of like-minded individuals.

In this crucial #DecadeofAction, measuring our own carbon footprint has been a critical step in reducing our impact on the planet and society and through the findings and recommendations from the report we are on the right track to meet our Net Zero ambitions by 2030.

Year 1 - 2021

Year 2 - 2022

Year 3 - 2023

DOWNLOAD: Qualifying Explanatory statement for Birmingham County FA PAS2060:2014

FOOTBALL FOR THE GOALS

Save Today, Play Tomorrow has been accepted as members of #FootballFortheGoals

This is a United Nations initiative, launched on 6 July 2022, that provides a platform for the global football community to engage with and advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is an opportunity to build on football's powerful and influential reach and to work together to become agents of change by aligning messaging, strategies and operations with the aspirations of the SDGs. 

FIND OUT MORE

ISO14001

BCFA are currently undertaking the process to become ISO14001 accredited.

ISO14001 is an international standard that sets out the criteria for an effective environmental management system (EMS). It provides guidelines for organisations to establish and implement an environmental policy, identify and assess environmental aspects and impacts, set objectives and targets, and continuously improve their environmental performance. The standard is designed to help businesses like BCFA minimise their environmental footprint, comply with environmental regulations, and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.

Implementing ISO14001 can help reduce costs associated with waste management, energy consumption, and regulatory compliance. By identifying and addressing environmental risks and opportunities, businesses can improve efficiency, reduce waste, and save money over time. Overall, ISO14001 will help BCFA become more sustainable, competitive, and resilient in today's increasingly environmentally conscious marketplace