What can we learn from EURO 2024’s sustainability plans?

What are UEFA and the German FA’s sustainability plans?

EURO 2024 will see UEFA and the German Football Association tackle the issues of carbon footprint, carbon management and waste management in several ways.

First up? Reducing the carbon impact of fans. As air travel is common for fans travelling to Germany for the tournament, it’s hoped that the UEFA subsidised 25% discounts on interrail tickets will encourage people to trade planes for trains when making the pilgrimage to cheer on their team.

When matchday rolls around, ticket holders can use public transport for 36 hours free of charge. In addition, rail company Deutsche Bahn is set to allow 10,000 extra seats on high-speed trains. Parking spaces will also be limited.

But what about inside the stadiums? Well, floodlight usage in stadiums and electricity usage in the International Broadcasting Centre will be reduced, vegetarian options will be available to buy alongside traditional, meat-based products and recyclable packaging will used.

The sustainability scheme has been backed considerably, with 32m Euros – £27m – allocated to ensure climate-safe methods are at the forefront of the tournament. Games have been structured accordingly, too. UEFA and The German Football Association have clustered the fixtures, limiting team and fan travel, therefore reducing the overall carbon footprint.

But how can promoters learn from this? Well, we’ll show you how in the next section of the article. 

What can festival promoters learn from the EUROs?

The approach to audience travel is where promoters can take inspiration from UEFA and the German Football Association. 

EURO 2024 has had a substantial cash injection to bring its sustainability approach to life. Plus, audience travel at festivals is defined largely by decisions made at a governmental level, so before reform comes on that front, promoters have to work with what they’ve got. But thinking outside the box can go a long way. 

At this point, many festivals have a travel partner. Reading & Leeds, Download Festival, Boardmasters Festival and Reggae Land Festival are just a few of the names partnered with Big Green Coach. The company specialises in carbon-neutral coaches, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to private coaches. 

So, with the knowledge that the major festivals are considerate of alternative methods of transport, it becomes clear that the next step is finding ways to increase the number of people using this transport instead of travelling via car. 

That could be increasing the number of pick-up stops made by coaches or creating ticket deals that factor in the cost of coach travel so attendees don’t have to buy a separate ticket to travel. 

However, as the tournament has gotten underway, several outlets have reported that the rail service provided in Germany has been less than stellar. 

The Independent called the service a ‘shambles’, while the BBC reported that England fans have raised ‘serious concerns’ over transport delays after the team beat Serbia on Sunday evening. Officials have downplayed the concerns. 

Safety is paramount when organising external travel, and these issues add another layer to the things promoters can learn. Plans need to be watertight and if issues occur, they must be quickly resolved.  

Key takeaways

• Integration is key to EURO 2024’s sustainability policy. They’ve made the connection between travelling to Germany and games seamless.
• Promoters can take inspiration from the integrated aspect of the policy, adapting it to their own sustainability practices.
• Crucial to keep in mind the limitations of change in audience travel to festivals, but with some creative thinking, approaches can be found. 
• Plans need to be watertight and if issues occur they must be solved rapidly to promote safety and efficiency.