READING Football Club and the University of Reading have joined forces in a partnership to save the planet.
As part of Show Your Stripes Day 2022, the university announced that it is lending support to the club to help it deliver on a new 10-point plan set on reducing its carbon footprint.
The sustainability team at the university will lend expertise from its own research, seeking to aid in the use of renewable energy technology and electric vehicle provisions on the stadium grounds, reducing waste, and monitoring energy and utilities usage.
Partnership between the organisations is the latest move spurred on by the stripes graphic created by Professor Ed Hawkins.
Professor Hawkins said: “I love that Reading FC is using the climate stripes to start its own conversation around sustainability and raise awareness of their important message among its large fanbase.
“The steps the club is seeking to take are positive and we are pleased as a University to be joining forces with people across Reading in a new way to make the town greener.”
The graphic is a visualisation of the rapidly warming global temperatures and a representation of the scale and speed of the climate crisis.
During Show Your Stripes Day on Tuesday, June 21, people and organisations around the world joined the likes of Greta Thunberg and UN climate change panel representatives in sharing the graphic on social media.
The stripes are also featured on Ms Thunberg’s new book on the climate crisis.
Tim Kilpatrick, Commercial Director at Reading Football Club, said: “This is the beginning of a long journey, not an ego-trip.
“We may not be perfect but, much like the majority of our fans in our stands, we can be better and help achieve a brighter future for our planet.
“We hope this partnership inspires more climate conversations and that through action at the stadium and the buy-in from Reading fans everywhere, we can all play our part.”
While some sustainable practises are already in place, such as the use of electric lawnmowers for pitch maintenance and the transition towards LED lighting in stadium and club premises, the club will work to do more.
As well as tackling emissions and renewable energy, the club will also seek to implement reusable or recyclable cups at kiosks, sustainable service suppliers, and to educate staff and supporters on tackling the climate crisis.
Copies of the graphic and information about the project can be found at: showyourstripes.info.
