Real Betis and its Fans Avoid The Emission of Almost 11 Tonnes of CO2E at Matches Through Forever Green Sustainability
Foundation Real Betis Balompié launched various sustainable actions and initiatives in the last Real Betis – RCD Espanyol league match, which were extended to the matches of the Green and Whites’ teams in ACB, Liga F and La Liga Nacional de Fútbol Sala (National Indoor Football League).
Real Betis Balompié held yet another season of the Forever Green sustainability match, this year and for the first time, extending it to the rest of the Club’s sporting sections. These are matches in which, in addition to the sporting result, the aim is to win the pulse of the effects of climate change and raise awareness among fans from the loudspeaker that the world of sport represents.
With this objective in mind, Real Betis launched up to 34 actions around match day, actions that tried to transmit a message of the fight against climate change and to involve fans and players in Forever Green through specific activities.
In total, adding up the figures of the four matches, the Forever Green matches have managed to avoid the emission of 10.98 tonnes of CO2e compared to the conventional way of holding the matches. Each sustainability match saved the following:
- Real Betis Baloncesto vs Unicaja
4,721.98 kgCO2e less were emitted compared to a conventional match. Percentage of emissions avoided: 18.76%.
- Real Betis Féminas vs Atlético de Madrid
1,829.20 kgCO2e less was emitted compared to a normal match. Percentage of emissions avoided: 11.53%.
- Real Betis Balompié vs RCD Espanyol
3,769.59 kgCO2e were avoided compared to a normal match. In addition, it has managed to reduce its carbon footprint compared to the Forever Green match of the previous season.
These avoided emissions have been possible thanks to the implementation of various sustainable initiatives and the participation and involvement of Real Betis Balompié fans and rival clubs. It should be noted that, as was the case last season in the first Forever Green match between Real Betis and Athletic Club, the promotion of the use of public and sustainable transport by fans to attend matches has been key to achieving these figures, as it is the largest source of emissions at matches.
To this end, the Club made a series of discount codes available to fans for the use of bicycles, scooters and electric motorbikes, thus ensuring that almost 50% of fans travelled in a more sustainable way and reduced the emissions associated with the use of private vehicles.
On the pitch, and with the collaboration of Hummel, the Green and Whites’ first team players were the first to demonstrate the club’s commitment to sustainability by wearing a kit made from 100% recycled polyester and replacing the traditional plastic bottles with reusable and personalised Forever Green aluminium bottles.
In addition to this commemorative kit, another sustainable initiative was presented with the use of goal nets made from fishing nets recovered from the bottom of the sea, thanks to the collaboration of Ecoballution. This novelty was premiered for the first time in the tribute match to Joaquín and could also be seen in the sustainable matches of Real Betis Féminas and Real Betis Futsal.
New third dugout seats made from fisherman’s nets were also unveiled. The corner flags and the armbands used during the match were also made from recycled material. In the run-up to the match, volunteers from the NGO OK Planet, together with volunteers from the Club, handed out bags in the park next to the Estadio Benito Villamarín to encourage fans to collect the waste generated and deposit it in the appropriate containers.
During the week prior to the match, a campaign was carried out on social networks to raise awareness of the importance of caring for the city’s green spaces, and on the occasion of the match, the Estadio Benito Villamarín added more messages on its steps with advice on how to take care of the planet. Volvo, the official car supplier of the Betis team, showed its hybrid car options and, a Forever Green collaborator, served coffees made in an environmentally friendly way.
Finally, to quantify the impact that these four Forever Green matches have had on the environment, the Carbon Footprint of each of them has been measured by the consultancy firm specialising in climate change and sustainability, Ecoterrae, with which it is actively collaborating on various projects to become the leading team in sustainability in LaLiga.
This calculation has taken into account all emissions derived from the use of materials, the consumption of the facilities, the movement of fans and suppliers and the management of waste, also quantifying the emissions avoided thanks to the application of the aforementioned good practices.
In this way, Real Betis Balompié continues on its path to fight against climate change as one of its hallmarks, expanding its actions and the scope of its actions, and demonstrating that it is possible to enjoy the most followed sport in the world in a more responsible and environmentally friendly way.
