Case Studies Sustainability in Dutch National Sports Federations’ strategic vision documents and communications 

Researched by Sam Geijer

In 2016, the Paris Agreement on climate change was signed with the aim of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (United Nations, n.d.). The Netherlands also agreed to this accord and subsequently formulated the Dutch Climate Act, which applies to Dutch sports stadiums as well. Due to the significant ecological impact of sports stadiums, including factors such as fan travel and waste production, it is necessary to take measures in this area. This research examines the current status of ecological sustainability in Dutch sports stadiums, identifies the key challenges they face, and explores innovative solutions to reduce their ecological footprint. The findings of this study can contribute to a more sustainable future for sports stadiums. The following research question has been formulated for this research: What is the current status of ecological sustainability in Dutch sports stadiums, and what are possible innovative solutions to reduce their ecological footprint and become more sustainable? (Schuitemaker, 2023). 

Methodology

Qualitative research with semi-structured interviews  

• Literature and ethnographic research 

Methodology

Qualitative research with semi-structured interviews  

• Literature and ethnographic research 

Key Insights

1. The top 10 Dutch Sports Federations have a significant amount of members and digital reach.
2. The platform of sports can be used for communication to bring awareness and generate societal change.
3. Actions of federations stem from year plans and/ or strategic vision documents.
4. 8 of 10 sports (mostly) take place outside/ in nature.

Key Insights

The top 10 Dutch Sports Federations have a significant amount of members and digital reach.

The platform of sports can be used for communication to bring awareness and generate societal change.

Actions of federations stem from year plans and/ or strategic vision documents.

8 of 10 sports (mostly) take place outside/ in nature.

Field studies

Factors which influence the configuration of a sport innovation and process before implementation in a Dutch national sports federation

In 2016, the Paris Agreement on climate change was signed with the aim of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (United Nations, n.d.). The Netherlands also agreed to this accord and subsequently formulated the Dutch Climate Act, which applies to Dutch sports stadiums as well. Due to the significant ecological impact of sports stadiums, including factors such as fan travel and waste production, it is necessary to take measures in this area. This research examines the current status of ecological sustainability in Dutch sports stadiums, identifies the key challenges they face, and explores innovative solutions to reduce their ecological footprint. The findings of this study can contribute to a more sustainable future for sports stadiums. The following research question has been formulated for this research: What is the current status of ecological sustainability in Dutch sports stadiums, and what are possible innovative solutions to reduce their ecological footprint and become more sustainable? (Schuitemaker, 2023). 

To arrive at solid conclusions and recommendations, both primary and secondary research have been conducted.
A total of 10 interviews with representatives of Dutch sports stadiums (e.g. the Johan Cruijff ArenA and the Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix).
4 interviews with sustainability experts (organizations such as the Revolution Foundation, responsible for sustainability at festivals like DGTL).
Secondary research was also conducted in the form of desk research to identify best practices in the sports industry and explore how Dutch sports stadiums/clubs could potentially implement them.
Additionally, conferences such as the SPOBIS conference in Düsseldorf, Germany, were attended.
By not solely focusing on sustainability efforts within the sports sector, an attempt has been made to provide a broader perspective on the topic and make recommendations, not only from the sports sector but also from other areas.
Conclusion
After conducting primary and secondary research, the research question has been answered as stated below:
What is the current status of ecological sustainability in Dutch sports stadiums, and what are possible innovative solutions to reduce their ecological footprint and become more sustainable?
Regarding the current status of ecological sustainability, most stadiums seem to opt for solar panels and LED lighting to reduce their ecological footprint. For example, the implementation of LED lighting has led to a 50% reduction in electricity consumption in the BUKO Stadium. The Johan Cruijff ArenA can be powered by energy generated by solar panels and stored in a battery beneath the stadium throughout the week, including match days (Schuitemaker, 2023, p. 47).
In addition to sustainable energy use, many stadiums are seeking ways to prevent (plastic) waste. Innovative solutions have been developed and implemented, such as “smart” trash bins in de Galgenwaard stadium, where waste is sorted afterwards and fans can earn points and receive discounts in the fan shop for cleaning up their waste. Various stadiums have also conducted trials with hard cups to permanently eliminate disposable plastic cups from the stadium environment. For instance, limited edition cups have incentivized supporters to keep their cups instead of throwing them away (Schuitemaker, 2023, p. 47).
Furthermore, there is innovation in water usage. The Johan Cruijff ArenA utilizes a sprinkler system that can measure humidity within the stadium, allowing adaptable water usage for irrigation, resulting in a water savings of 10 to 20%. Water usage can also be reduced by implementing water-saving measures for beer taps. De Galgenwaard stadium has implemented a pilot program that indicates when each beer tap was last used and when it needs to be cleaned, saving water by not flushing every tap every two weeks (Schuitemaker, 2023, p. 47).
Apart from Dutch sports stadiums, there are also solutions to reduce the ecological footprint. The festival sector, for example, utilizes a token system where visitors receive a recycling token in advance, which they have to exchange when purchasing drinks. Visitors are encouraged to keep their cups or return them to a recycling station to avoid extra costs for their drinks, with the aim of preventing plastic waste. The same approach is applied at the Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix, where waste is also separated afterwards, resulting in the cleanest weekend at Circuit Zandvoort in 2022. Initiatives from other countries are also applicable to Dutch stadiums, such as Real Betis’ “Forever Green” program in Spain, which educates the public about sustainable living and aims to inspire them. Forest Green Rovers in England is the world’s only vegan football club, demonstrating that offering vegan options in catering can influence fans and supporters to adopt a vegan lifestyle. FC Dordrecht and Vitesse are involved in community programs to raise awareness among their supporters and society as a whole, supporting the community in sustainability efforts. Football, as a popular sport in the Netherlands with 8.2 million enthusiasts, has the potential to reach and inspire a large audience (Schuitemaker, 2023, p. 47).
Apart from these initiatives, it is crucial for Dutch sports stadiums to focus on reducing scope 3 emissions, which account for 80% of a stadium’s total emissions. The CO2 footprint of VFL Wolfsburg is shown in the figure, indicating that 79.95% of the total emissions consist of scope 3 emissions. It is important to reduce these emissions in order to decrease the ecological footprint. In the Netherlands, some initiatives have been started by sports organizations to achieve this. For example, the Formula 1 Heineken Dutch GP provides travel advice on its website to encourage the use of public transportation to the circuit. Dutch stadiums are exploring possibilities for carpooling among supporters who do not use public transportation, which can help reduce scope 3 emissions. As scope 3 emissions significantly contribute to the total emissions, it is essential for Dutch stadiums to find and develop solutions in this area (Schuitemaker, 2023, p. 47).
In conclusion, the current status of Dutch sports stadiums shows a focus on implementing solar panels and LED lighting to reduce their ecological footprint. However, there are already initiatives to further decrease the ecological footprint. It is particularly important to address measures related to scope 3 emissions in order to reduce the ecological footprint. For instance, the Dutch GP provides travel advice, and clubs are initiating carpooling programs among supporters to reduce emissions (Schuitemaker, 2023, p. 47).

Recommendations
Based on the conclusions, the following recommendations are made:
Emphasize the reduction of scope 3 emissions by making public transportation more accessible, for example, by providing travel advice. Also, consider the possibility of carpooling among supporters, which reduces emissions and promotes a sense of community among fans. Since scope 3 emissions account for about 80% of the total emissions, this is crucial. It is important to collaborate with local authorities to achieve this, as sports organizations depend on their cooperation.
Undertake more initiatives towards society. Use the societal influence of sports to reach a broader audience and inspire sustainable choices.
Explore sustainability practices in other sectors. Look, for example, at the festival sector, as they often lead in sustainability initiatives (Schuitemaker, 2023, p. 51).
Personal opinion
After conducting this research, I believe that Dutch sports stadiums focus too much on what is happening in other stadiums or clubs and too little on other sectors. By exploring practices in other sectors and potentially collaborating, significant progress can be made. However, I have noticed that many football clubs do not have sufficient resources to fully prioritize