Zero waste football (boot out the plastic)
Football is England’s favourite sport, with millions of fans. Thankfully things are going greener, from vegan football boots to organic pitches. Let’s find out more!
Kangaroo-friendly vegan football boots
K-leather boots (like golf gloves and riding whips are made from kangaroo leather (they are shot dead and joeys left to starve). Insetad, choose vegan football boots (and balls).
Sokito Vegan Football Boots are made with ground-breaking sustainable materials, worn by professional football players. Many are made from corn waste, castor beans, sugarcane and bamboo.
Kangaroos are marsupials (creatures that keep their young in pouches) who hop around and use their powerful tails as a fifth limb. Their large feet mean they can only move forward, they can’t hop back. Baby joeys are the size of a jellybean when born, and mum uses her muscles to ‘pump milk’ down the baby’s throat.
After years of campaigning, Adidas finally ceased the use of K-leather, with Nike and Puma following suit. It seems now only Aussie brands use it, during an ever increasing world boycott.
Good on You says these brands can’t guarantee ethically sourcing, as claimed. Note some of the brands above still use calf-leather, so go for the vegan alternatives.
A wildlife-friendly goal wall
Wildlife rescues say that one of the main hazards in gardens and fields to wildlife is football nets, which foxes especially get caught up in. So if you use, store away when not in use (same with rotary washing lines).
Marmax Goal Wall is a good alternative. Made from recycled milk bottles, it’s weatherproof and strong, and designed to last years. ideal for matches or goal practice, and won’t rot or splinter.
Sent with galvanised screws and delivered fully-assembled, you just secure with ground fixing plates (extended legs are available at extra charge). Sold with a 25-year construction guarantee.
We don’t recommend this brand’s recycled plastic birdhouses (these could overheat, choose ones made from untreated wood instead – learn more on how to buy and site bird houses).
Forest Green Rovers (world’s greenest football club)
Forest Green Rovers Football Club is owned by Dale Vince, the founder of Ecotricity and Ecotalk (a phone company that donates profits to rewilding projects).
The pitch is powered by clean energy and uses rainwater to irrigate (a new eco pitch is being built in Gloucestershire). The players even wear organic cotton kits, laundered with eco detergents.
Both players and spectators eat vegan burgers and hot dogs, which although controversial at first, was soon popular as players began winning more matches!
Schools can donate old kits to Green Football, to save on waste.
Community clubs going greener
There are many ways that fans can be greener. The biggest one is likely how you travel to the match:
- Car‑pooling: Sharing a lift with other fans drops the number of cars, slashes parking chaos, and usually sparks better pre‑match chat. Some clubs run apps or simple message boards.
- Public transport: Buses, trains and trams carry hundreds of supporters at once. Clubs sometimes work with transport firms for cheap matchday deals or run shuttle buses from train stations.
- Bike and walk: If you live close, it’s the perfect warm‑up. Many venues added new bike racks and well‑lit paths leading in from local areas.
Many drivers use JustPark app. This lets you find empty parking spaces belonging to people with empty garages or driveways (or offices/hotels with empty car parks at weekends). You get cheaper parking and give passive income to those who live nearby.
Also take your own reusables with you like packed lunches and reusable water bottles.
Football clubs can help by using organic grass and following Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, both of which have solar panels and LED lighting (uses 60% less energy).
Footballer turned zero waste hero!
Earth. Food. Love (Devon) was England’s first zero waste shop. He also co-founded ReRooted organic plant milks (sold in returnable glass bottles).
What’s interesting is that the shop (founded by him and his wife) started a change of career. As he used to be a professional footballer for Manchester United. He says if you told him he would give up a lucrative career in his late 20s to become a shopkeeper, he never would have believed you!
The couple have created a free downloadable e-book (pdf) to help anyone set up a zero waste shop, covering location to products to marketing, pricing, hygiene and payments.
Did you know that the first anthem for Wolverhampton Wanderers was created by classical composer Elgar (whose music is often played at Last Night of the Proms?) A devoted fan, he would cycle miles to watch his favourite team. No doubt it was more demure than ‘We’re coming home, we’re coming home, football’s coming home..!’
