All 1st Team & Academy players & staff have branded personal Water Bottles.

Partnering with Pure-ionic Water, we have 7 x Water Fountains dispensing ionic water at the Training Ground. This ‘1 big thing’ initiative was to reduce the purchasing of single use plastic water bottles for consumption.

The statistics were mind-blowing, we were using 5,000 cases of bottled water, 120,000 bottles per year, £350 per week on single use plastic water bottles. Cost £18,250 per annum – that does not account for other types of sports drinks.

Also, the waste disposal resulted in 508 kilos per year to landfill, we incurred ‘overweight’ costs due to the extra weight caused by hundreds of partly full water bottles.

We also now have the health benefits of the ionic water, protecting against particle contaminants found in water such as Micro plastics - Viruses – Bacteria - Heavy Metals - Hormones (especially oestrogens), Chemical Contaminants – Pesticides & Nitrates. 

We have taken away plastic cups, and all staff have also been issued with branded reusable bottles, have access to water fountains, and this will reduce further single use bottles being purchased.

In the Birmingham Road Stand, new cellars have enabled to move to Draught options and stop overreliance on PET bottles. Last season we bought 42,622 plastic PET bottles to serve beer, we’re now averaging around 239 a game, averaging circa 5,497 for the season. (An 87% reduction).

In Practice:

• Single use plastics have been removed from hospitality areas.
• We no longer purchase single use plastic carrier bags instore - offering a reusable Cotton Tote Bag - Plastic Gift Cards have been replaced with a cardboard alternative which are compostable and recyclable.
• Our mailing bags for online orders are made from 100% recycled materials - We have a range of unisex clothing made from re-generated cotton and are working to extend this to more products.
• Replica shirts are made from 100% recycled polyesters which is ethically sourced, fully traceable, and responsibly produced. Our new kit supplier also has better eco credentials in terms of re-using water, solar panels etc.