A Whole-Club Commitment Anchored in Governance
The foundation of Tottenham’s approach is structural rather than symbolic. Sustainability is driven from the board level, reflected throughout the organisation, and measured against internationally recognised frameworks. The club is a signatory to both the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and the UN Sport for Nature Framework, formalising commitments to halve carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2040.
The slide deck presented at the Summit reinforces this governance structure: Tottenham’s strategy revolves around five pillars — net-zero emissions, circularity, biodiversity, sustainable events and influencing partners.
This alignment ensures that sustainability is not confined to the stadium’s technical systems. It is embedded into procurement policy, supplier relationships, staff engagement, and the way events are designed and delivered.
Decarbonising Operations: Progress and the Remaining Gap
Tottenham has already achieved a 37% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since the club’s 2022 baseline.
This progress results from years of investment into one of the Premier League’s most energy-efficient stadiums: optimised building fabric, continuous monitoring supported by technical partners, and 100% renewable electricity across all operations.
However, Parry emphasised that the central challenge ahead lies not within the club’s direct emissions, but in its Scope 3 footprint, which represents 82% of total emissions.
Procurement is responsible for the majority of these emissions — and within procurement, food and beverage (F&B) operations alone account for 18%.
This is why Tottenham has strategically chosen to treat F&B not as a service category, but as a major lever for long-term decarbonisation.
Food & Beverage as a Decarbonisation Accelerator
Working with Levy UK, the club now applies an activity-based data model to evaluate the full lifecycle impact of every menu item. Tools such as Foodsteps allow Tottenham to quantify greenhouse gas emissions per dish and rate them according to carbon intensity.
This granular dataset has enabled the club to redesign menus with both sustainability and fan experience in mind. One notable example presented at the Summit was the transition from a traditional beef burger to a 50/50 beef–vegetable fermented blend, maintaining flavour and matchday appeal while reducing GHG impact by around 37%. Carbon savings accumulate fast: Tottenham sells more than 1,500 burgers per Premier League match, resulting in an average reduction of 2,200 kgCO₂e per game.
Packaging was another significant opportunity for emissions reduction. By switching to Notpla’s seaweed-based packaging, the club eliminated 477 kg of single-use plastic and saved 5.3 tonnes of CO₂e in 2025 alone.
Because over 80% of Tottenham’s procurement emissions stem from purchased goods and services, initiatives like these serve as strategic building blocks for achieving net zero.
Circularity and Biodiversity: Beyond Energy and Carbon
Tottenham’s sustainability model extends beyond emissions. The club’s circularity programme seeks to eliminate waste through reuse, recycling and smarter materials. Reusable cup systems, already familiar to visiting fans, are complemented by supply-chain interventions such as textile lifecycle assessments and ambitions to transition from recycled polyester to recycled textile kits.
Meanwhile, the biodiversity programme — part of the UN Sport for Nature framework — is supported by ecological monitoring at the training ground. Acoustic sensors track pollination activity and bird populations, creating data-driven insights into ecosystem health and informing land-management decisions. Under this model, restoring nature is not separate from climate action; it is recognised as a foundational requirement for long-term resilience.
ISO 20121: From Ambition to Assurance
Tottenham is one of only two Premier League clubs certified under ISO 20121 – Sustainable Event Management. This certification obliges the organisation to demonstrate continuous improvement, undergo rigorous annual audits and embed sustainability into every operational process, from crowd management to vendor engagement.
With 45 events delivered last year — from Premier League matches to concerts and major boxing events — ISO 20121 provides the structural discipline required to ensure consistency and reliability across all staff, partners and temporary workforces.
Sustainability as Cultural Infrastructure
Tottenham’s sustainability journey illustrates that infrastructure alone does not deliver sustainability — culture does. The club’s success lies in aligning teams, suppliers and community stakeholders behind a shared long-term vision. From rebaselining Scope 3 emissions to transforming matchday menus and rethinking material flows, the club demonstrates that environmental responsibility can coexist with commercial value, operational excellence and fan experience.
Tottenham’s evolution offers a replicable model: sustainability becomes most powerful not when it sits at the margins, but when it becomes the foundation upon which a modern venue operates.
Five Key Takeaways
1. Sustainability is structurally embedded across all club operations.
Tottenham’s approach is board-led, fully integrated into decision-making and aligned with UN climate and nature frameworks, ensuring long-term continuity rather than isolated initiatives.
2. Scope 3 emissions are the decisive challenge for achieving net zero.
With 82% of emissions stemming from procurement, and 18% from F&B alone, the club is prioritising lifecycle analysis and supplier cooperation to achieve meaningful reductions.
3. Food and beverage operations serve as a powerful accelerator for decarbonisation.
Low-carbon menu design, carbon-rated dishes and innovative packaging (such as Notpla) are delivering substantial, measurable emission savings while maintaining fan satisfaction.
4. ISO 20121 provides operational discipline for sustainable event delivery.
Annual auditing and continuous improvement ensure consistency across all events — from Premier League fixtures to large-scale concerts — embedding sustainability into everyday practice.
5. Tottenham exemplifies how environmental goals can reinforce commercial and fan priorities.
From improved operational efficiency to enhanced supporter engagement, the club demonstrates that sustainability and high-quality venue management are mutually reinforcing.
