In the south of England evolves a very particular football club. Playing in League One, the third English division, the Forest Green Rovers are considered to be one of the most advanced sports organizations in terms of ecology. Awarded by the UN in 2019 as the “the greenest club in the world”he relies, among other things, on his pesticide-free lawn, his solar panels and his 100% vegan canteen to confirm his notoriety.
A club recognized for its action
British Commonwealth Sports Minister from 2020 to 2022, Nigel Huddleston did not fail to salute the club’s unprecedented efforts: “Forest Green Rovers have rightly been recognized by the United Nations and Fifa as pioneers among eco-responsible football clubs, and it is great to see their initiatives being adopted within the League,” he rejoiced in November 2021, during a meeting preceding COP26, in Glasgow. “These initiatives put football clubs forward, demonstrating their actions for the planet. »
It remains to be seen whether this virtuous model can be reproduced elsewhere. “Not all clubs have a wealthy man at their head who is aware and invested in ecological issues as is the case for Forest Green Rovers”, warns Antoine Miche, president of the Football Ecology France association, which campaigns for ecological football. While pointing out that money is not what is missing in football. “Since it’s there, you might as well use it for good reasons”, he pleads.
A possibility and even a duty in the eyes of the president of Forest Green Rovers, Dale Vince. “Business and business got us in this mess (ecological). So business has to get us out of it”, he launched in November 2021 in a promotional video.
Combining sports results and environmental results
In twenty-five years, the wealthy entrepreneur, who built his empire in the wind sector, has seen mentalities change. “When I started twenty-five years ago, you couldn’t even buy green energy in the world,” he remembers in an interview given to the British media The New European. “Today it’s everywhere and the technology has matured, it’s become the cheapest form of energy we can produce. The last frontier in solving sustainable development issues lies in political decision-making. »
While political will is essential, some club and league leaders fear that environmental issues will take precedence over sporting issues. Wrongly, according to Antoine Miche. “Forest Green Rovers have proven that you can achieve positive sporting and non-sporting results in the sameno time, underlines the president of the Football Ecology France association. Each year, the club progresses by climbing into a higher league while remaining true to its image of the greenest club in the world. »