Tue 29 Jul - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 3mins
Derby County is proud to announce that they have been awarded EFL Green Club Bronze status and full GreenCode accreditation.
EFL Green Clubs is a League-wide voluntary scheme, delivered in partnership with GreenCode, that supports EFL Clubs to improve their environmental practices and operations.
It first launched in 2021 and was updated for the 2024/25 season to introduce a new assessment cycle that awards participating Clubs with a status of “Participant”, “Bronze”, “Silver” or “Gold”.
The refreshed scheme presents a more rigorous assessment process that requires participating Clubs to exceed standard sustainability measures, meaning all levels of the award represent a concentrated effort to implement environmentally sustainable practices.
Derby County have worked hard across the business with staff and partners to identify areas of environmental impact and look at ways to reduce its impact. Investment has continued to be made at both Pride Park Stadium and Moor Farm Training Ground, with the latter having solar panels installed earlier this year.
Having achieved bronze status, the focus now shifts to what more it can do over the coming year. Audits of workspaces will be implemented, evaluating and reducing food waste, creating nature spaces at Moor Farm and carrying out impact surveys to develop environmental action plans.
Derby County’s Chief Operating Officer, Simon Carnall, said: “We are delighted that Derby County has achieved Bronze Status as an EFL Green Club and also be an GreenCode accredited club.
“Football has an unequalled power to drive change and we are committed to playing our part both at Pride Park Stadium and Moor Farm Training Ground, as well as across the local community.
“We have implemented several environmentally sustainable practices across the club in the last year, including a ‘Green Team’ working group, and will continue to do so over the course of the forthcoming campaign.”
EFL Environmental Sustainability Co-ordinator, Ben Fisher said: “Everyone at the EFL is delighted to celebrate Derby County’s commitment to environmental sustainability and it is brilliant to have GreenCode on board to help us support the Club at each stage of the assessment cycle. The Club has worked hard to reduce their carbon footprint and make a positive impact on their local environment, and thoroughly deserve to be recognised for their efforts.
“EFL Green Clubs is one of several ways in which the EFL supports Clubs to improve their sustainability practices. Throughout the season, we also deliver a full training and support package that enables us to share best practice across the League and to collectively tackle shared challenges in this area.”
Dale Vince, Chairman of Forest Green Rovers and founder of the Greencode said: “It’s great to see the progress EFL clubs are making on the vital issue of sustainability. The beauty of GreenCode is that it’s both achievable and impactful for clubs of all sizes. Together we’ll show that sport and the environment are a winning combination.”
EFL Green Clubs currently has about 30 EFL Clubs signed up to the scheme, which is delivered in partnership with GreenCode, the environmental accreditation organisation run by the Green Britain Group. The assessment cycle takes place across two seasons with a development season during which Clubs identify key priority areas and begin to implement environmental sustainability measures and protocols, such as a published environmental policy and a baseline carbon footprint.
