As Green Football Weekend Kicks Off, Club Caterers Encourage Fans To Give Veggie A Go!
It comes as new research by the University of Leeds for Green Football Weekend revealed that a whopping 4,622,998kg of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions could be saved if everybody eating a beef burger in the UK over Green Football Weekend chose a veggie burger instead. This is the equivalent to taking 2,609 cars off the road for a full year.
The world’s largest climate‑football campaign is encouraging fans to try a veggie option at football grounds, restaurants and at home from 2‑5 February to take action on climate.
Sarah Jacobs, Director of Green Football Weekend, said: ‘Food is an important contributor to the overall climate impact of football. Choosing a veggie alternative in the ground is a simple way to help address the climate crisis, and can have significant impact if you make it a habit. If the UK’s football fans ate one veggie meal a day, it would save as much carbon as taking 5.5 million cars off the road. We are delighted to be working with catering suppliers across the country to help protect our world as part of Green Football Weekend.’
Gary Lineker, Green Football Weekend Ambassador, said: “I am proud to support Green Football Weekend to mobilise millions of fans and over 80 clubs to protect what we love. Football has the unbelievable power to unite everyone - clubs, players, and fans from across the community with a common goal to take action. Trying a healthy veggie option over Green Football Weekend is a simple step towards a healthier lifestyle and a healthier planet. “
Green Football Weekend mobilises fans, clubs, leagues, and partners to take action on climate. This year’s campaign focuses on the power of veg to help protect the planet by encouraging fans to swap to a veggie meal and by working with football clubs and caterers across the UK to offer plant‑based food on matchdays.
Neil Richards, Director of Culinary, Delaware North, catering suppliers said: “In the spirit of a greener goalpost, Delaware North is proudly supporting Green Football Weekend, championing sustainable choices on and off the field. In alignment with our commitment to environmental stewardship, we’re excited to highlight our vegan and vegetarian options throughout our stadia and the sports community as a great alternative to meat without compromising on quality and taste. Over a third of our hospitality offering each matchday is veggie or vegan and we're now working with a consolidated supplier, meaning most of our products are delivered on one vehicle, savings thousands of delivery miles every year.
Kevin Watson, Sustainability Director, Levy UK + Ireland, said: “Levy UK + Ireland is proud to support Green Football Weekend which is shining a light on the important role football clubs can play to help combat the environmental impact when they unite. Over the last five years we have been leading the way with green initiatives in sports catering, for example introducing carbon labelling to highlight sustainable choices to consumers; banning air freight on all fruit and vegetables; and increasing the number of plant‑based dishes available to football fans in both our retail and hospitality areas.”
Ben Dutson, Food Innovation Director, at Sodexo Live! UK & Ireland, which does catering and hospitality at nine UK stadia, said: “Sodexo Live! is resolute in its commitment to ensuring 70% of main dishes on our menus can be labelled ‘low‑carbon’ by 2030, and that food waste is reduced by 50% by 2025. While we know there is a lot more everyone can do in this space, the Green Football Weekend is a perfect opportunity to show our customers that our low carbon and plant‑based meals can be interesting and tasty, and we are proud to support this great initiative.”
Fans at home can also choose a veggie option from the free, online Green Football Weekend Veggie Cookbook, where more than 70 football players, pundits, celebrity chefs, club nutritionists and football‑loving personalities have shared their favourite veggie recipes. By downloading the Cookbook or trying a veggie option, fans can then score a goal for their club to help them win the Green Football Cup at www.greenfootballweekend.com, where more than 80 of the top professional clubs are vying for the title.
