Sustainability Commitment Plan

Overview

At YARD, we recognize the profound role football can play in addressing global challenges, from climate action to social equity. As a research and consultancy hub specializing in football leadership and management, we see sustainability not just as a responsibility but as a strategic priority essential for the sport’s future.

Our commitment aligns with the United Nations’ “Football for the Goals” (FFTG) initiative, which harnesses the power of football to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By integrating sustainability principles into our operations and services, we aim to contribute meaningfully to this global movement, ensuring football remains a force for positive change.

While YARD operates on a regional and stakeholder-focused scale, we believe that every step—no matter how small—can create a ripple effect within the larger football ecosystem. Through research, consultancy, and collaboration, we are dedicated to helping clubs, associations, and communities embrace sustainable practices, fully aligned with the values and goals of FFTG.

This plan represents YARD’s unwavering commitment to sustainability as a core pillar of our mission. By taking deliberate and actionable steps, YARD strives to amplify the sustainability agenda within football and contribute to a better, more inclusive, and sustainable future for the sport.

What is Sustainability?

The concept of sustainability emerged from a growing recognition that the world’s resources are finite and that unchecked development could jeopardize the future of both humanity and the planet. This realization became a global focal point in 1987 with the publication of the Brundtland Report, formally titled Our Common Future. Commissioned by the United Nations, this landmark report introduced the idea of sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

The Brundtland Report laid the foundation for modern sustainability discourse, emphasizing that humanity shares a collective responsibility to ensure the well-being of future generations. It underscored the need to balance competing demands across three interconnected dimensions, now widely known as the three pillars of sustainability:

  • Environmental Sustainability: Protecting and responsibly managing natural resources to preserve ecological health and prevent degradation. This includes addressing challenges such as pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
  • Social Sustainability: Promoting inclusivity, equity, and social cohesion to foster well-being and resilience in communities. It focuses on ensuring access to resources, upholding human rights, and supporting fair opportunities for all.
  • Economic Sustainability: Encouraging long-term economic growth and prosperity while considering environmental and social impacts. This involves efficient resource use, sustainable business practices, and the creation of inclusive economic opportunities.

Since the release of Our Common Future, the United Nations has championed sustainability through initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals build on the principles of the Brundtland Report, providing a global framework for addressing critical challenges, including poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.

At YARD, we believe that sustainability is not just a concept but a shared responsibility—one that requires collective action from governments, organizations, and individuals alike. By understanding and integrating these three pillars, we can build a future that balances development with the needs of people and the planet.

Football Sustainability

Football, as the world’s most popular sport, holds immense potential to advance global sustainability. It transcends borders, languages, and cultures, bringing people together and influencing billions of lives. This unique power places football at the forefront of collective responsibility in addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges.

The principles of sustainability—environmental, social, and economic—are directly applicable to football. By integrating these pillars into its operations, culture, and goals, football can lead by example in creating a more sustainable and inclusive future. Recognizing this potential, the United Nations launched the Football for the Goals (FFTG) initiative in 2022. This initiative mobilizes the global football community—including organizations, clubs, and players—to leverage the sport’s influence in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

FTTG encourages its members to commit to four key principles:

  1. Sustainability Policies and Practices: Implementing operational changes to align with the SDGs.
  2. Human Rights-Based Approach: Ensuring inclusivity, equity, and dignity for all.
  3. Equality and Equity: Promoting gender equality and fair opportunities across all levels of football.
  4. Climate Action: Taking concrete steps to reduce environmental impact and contribute to the fight against climate change.

At YARD, we embrace the vision of FFTG as a guiding framework for football sustainability. We believe that football can serve as a powerful tool for advancing shared global goals, from reducing inequalities to combating climate change. Our commitment is to help stakeholders at all levels—clubs, associations, and communities—integrate FFTG principles into their operations through research, consultancy, and collaboration.

By aligning with initiatives like FFTG, YARD contributes to the collective effort to ensure football remains a force for good, inspiring action both on and off the field.

Why YARD Should Care?

At YARD, we believe that supporting sustainability is a vital part of our mission: “To increase value, bring prosperity, and achieve the quality of life in the football industry.” Sustainability is not just an obligation but a fundamental necessity for ensuring football’s future.
As a research and consultancy hub dedicated to advancing football leadership, we understand the importance of addressing global challenges such as climate change, social inequality, and economic instability.
Our alignment with global initiatives reflects our belief that football has the power to drive positive change. By integrating sustainability into our work, YARD strives to contribute to a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future for football and the communities it serves.

Benefits of Sustainability Commitments

Sustainability is not just about meeting global responsibilities; it also provides tangible benefits to organizations that embrace it. For football-focused entities like YARD, committing to sustainability can unlock significant advantages that enhance performance, credibility, and long-term success.

  1. Enhanced Reputation
    Organizations that prioritize sustainability are often viewed as responsible and forward-thinking. This fosters trust and strengthens relationships with stakeholders, including clubs, associations, and communities.
  2. Attraction of Partnerships and Funding
    Aligning with sustainability goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), can attract like-minded partners and investors. Many organizations prioritize collaborations with entities committed to creating positive social and environmental impacts.
  3. Operational Efficiency
    Sustainable practices often lead to cost savings and resource optimization. For example, energy-efficient systems or waste reduction initiatives can lower expenses while supporting environmental goals.
  4. Innovation and Growth
    Embracing sustainability drives innovation by encouraging new ideas, strategies, and technologies that contribute to long-term growth. For YARD, this can mean developing creative solutions for stakeholders seeking sustainable football practices.
  5. Talent Attraction and Retention
    Increasingly, professionals and collaborators prefer working with organizations that reflect their values, particularly in sustainability. Demonstrating a strong commitment to these principles can attract talented individuals and foster loyalty.
  6. Risk Mitigation
    Sustainability helps organizations identify and address risks, such as environmental regulations or social unrest, ensuring resilience in an evolving landscape.

For YARD, these benefits align closely with our goals of advancing football leadership and sustainability. By adopting a comprehensive commitment to sustainability, we not only contribute to the greater good but also enhance our capacity to support stakeholders and strengthen the football ecosystem

Our Commitments

At YARD, we are committed to integrating sustainability principles into all aspects of our operations and services. To ensure our efforts are actionable and aligned with global standards, we pledge the following:

  1. Adopt Sustainability Practices Internally: Implement sustainable practices within YARD’s operations, including waste reduction and energy efficiency.
  2. Promote SDG Alignment: Advocate for the integration of the SDGs into football management and operations.
  3. Foster Inclusivity and Equality: Ensure that our work supports diversity, equity, and inclusion across all levels of football.
  4. Support Climate Action: Encourage resource-efficient practices and contribute to initiatives aimed at reducing football’s environmental impact.
  5. Measure and Report: Regularly assess the impact of our efforts and transparently report on progress to ensure accountability and improvement.

These commitments form the foundation of our strategy, ensuring that all our initiatives align with global sustainability frameworks and contribute to meaningful change.

Our Strategy

Our strategy focuses on integrating sustainability across all aspects of our operations and services, ensuring that our work contributes to a more sustainable football ecosystem. This involves:

  1. Sustainable Football Project Management (SFPM): Implementing tailored methodologies to initiate, plan, and manage football projects that deliver sustainable outcomes. SFPM aligns with the SDGs and FFTG principles by ensuring inclusivity, equity, and environmental responsibility are at the core of every project.
  2. Research and Insights: Producing actionable research and analytical reports to identify challenges, opportunities, and best practices in football sustainability.
  3. Advisory Services: Supporting stakeholders—clubs, associations, and communities—in implementing sustainable practices tailored to their unique needs.
  4. Knowledge Sharing: Organizing workshops, webinars, and publications to educate and inspire action among football stakeholders.
  5. Collaboration and Advocacy: Partnering with organizations to amplify the impact of sustainability initiatives within football.

Next Steps

To begin implementing this plan, YARD will focus on actionable steps that align with our commitments and strategies. These steps ensure a structured, collaborative, and measurable approach to advancing football sustainability:

  1. Communicating Our Commitment and Plan
  • Communicate our plans internally to ensure our team understands our sustainability commitments and invite their active participation in these efforts.
  • Publicly share this plan by creating a dedicated page on our website.
  • Actively collect feedback from stakeholders and team members after publication to refine the plan and ensure alignment with expectations and needs.
  1. Internal Sustainability Implementation
  • Adopt a virtual work model to reduce environmental impact by minimizing travel and office resource use, while combining it with well-planned in-person engagements to maintain environmental responsibility and foster meaningful connections.
  • Assess YARD’s operations to identify areas for improvement in resource efficiency, waste management, and energy use.
  • Establish internal benchmarks and track sustainability metrics to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
  1. Developing the Sustainable Football Project Management (SFPM) Framework
  • Design a tailored methodology for managing football projects that integrates sustainability principles, aligning with the SDGs and FFTG goals.
  • Pilot the framework with a selected football organization to test, refine, and showcase its impact on sustainability outcomes.
  1. Launching Research Initiatives
  • Identify key challenges and opportunities in football sustainability and develop actionable insights through whitepapers and case studies.
  • Prioritize initial research on environmental sustainability in football infrastructure and fostering inclusivity in talent development pathways.
  1. Engaging Stakeholders
  • Build relationships with clubs, associations, and communities to advocate for and support the integration of sustainability practices.
  • Organize workshops and webinars to share knowledge and inspire action.
  1. Advocating for Global Alignment
  • Seek membership in global sustainability initiatives, with Football for the Goals (FFTG) as a primary goal by 2025.
  • Actively participate in global forums and discussions to stay informed and contribute to sustainability advancements.
  • Collaborate with like-minded organizations to amplify the impact of sustainability efforts in football.
  1. Monitoring and Reporting
  • Develop a transparent reporting mechanism to measure progress against our commitments and share results with stakeholders regularly.
  • Use feedback from stakeholders and performance data to refine strategies, improve accountability, and drive continuous progress.