The Club launched various sustainable actions and initiatives in the last Real Betis – RCD Espanyol league match that were extended to the matches of the green and white teams in ACB, League F and the National Futsal League.
Real Betis Balompié celebrated yet another season with the Forever Green sustainability match, this year and for the first time, extending it to the rest of the Club’s sports sections. These are matches where, in addition to the sporting result, the aim is to overcome the effects of climate change and raise awareness among fans through the sports world’s megaphone.
With this goal in mind, Real Betis implemented up to 34 actions around match day, actions aimed at conveying a message of fighting climate change and involving both fans and players in Forever Green through specific activities.
In total, combining the figures from the four matches, the Forever Green matches have managed to avoid the emission of 10.98 tons of CO2e compared to the celebration of matches in a conventional manner. 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 were 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. Furthermore, the carbon footprint has been reduced compared to the Forever Green match from the previous season.
-Real Betis Fútbol Sala vs UMA Antequera:
654.60 kgCO2e less were emitted compared to a normal match.
Percentage of emissions avoided: 4%.
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 is worth noting that, as happened last season in the first Forever Green match between Real Betis and Athletic Club, promoting the use of public and sustainable transport by fans to attend matches has been key to achieving these figures, as it is the major source of emissions from matches.
To this end, the Club made available to them a series of discount codes for the use of bicycles, scooters, and electric motorcycles, thus ensuring that nearly 50% of fans traveled in a more sustainable way and reducing emissions associated with the use of private vehicles.
On the playing field, and with the collaboration of Hummel, the players of the verdiblanco first team have set an example of the club’s commitment to sustainability by wearing a kit made of 100% recycled polyester and replacing the previously used plastic bottles with personalized reusable aluminum Forever Green 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 seabed, thanks to the collaboration of Ecoballution. This novelty was premiered for the first time in the tribute match for Joaquín and could also be seen in the sustainable matches of Real Betis Féminas and Real Betis Futsal.
Also, the new seats of the third bench made from fishing nets were premiered together with Gravity Wave, one of the sponsors of Forever Green. The corner flags, as well as the armbands used during the match, were also made from recycled material.
Before the match, volunteers from the NGO OK Planet, together with Club volunteers, distributed bags in the park adjacent to the Benito Villamarín Stadium to encourage fans to collect the waste generated and deposit it in the appropriate containers.
During the previous week, a social media campaign was carried out to raise awareness about the importance of caring for green spaces in the city, and on the occasion of the match, the Benito Villamarín Stadium added more messages on its steps with tips for taking care of the planet. Volvo, the official car supplier of the Betis team, showcased its hybrid car options, and Templo Cafés, a collaborator of Forever Green, served environmentally friendly coffees.
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 through the climate change and sustainability specialist consultancy Ecoterrae, with which it actively collaborates in several projects to become the first sustainability team in LaLiga.
In this calculation, all emissions derived from the use of materials, facility consumption, fan and supplier travel, and waste management have been taken into account, also quantifying the emissions avoided thanks to the application of the aforementioned best practices.
In this way, Real Betis Balompié continues on its path of fighting climate change as one of its hallmarks, expanding its actions and the scope of its performance, and demonstrating that it is possible to enjoy the world’s most followed sport in a more responsible and environmentally friendly manner.