The Impact of Football Teams’ Transportation on the Carbon Footprint for Away Matches

Roman Domański ()
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Roman Domański: Institute of Logistics, Faculty of Engineering Management, Poznan University of Technology, ul. J. Rychlewskiego 2, 60-965 Poznań, Poland

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: Problem: Participating in professional sport involves constant travel. From a review of the literature, the issue of transport in sport (passenger transport) in generating a carbon footprint has already been noted. A reliable assessment of the scale of this phenomenon is currently underway. The aim of this article is to assess the carbon footprint of transporting football players to away matches. It is complemented by a proposal to change the way matches are played using the Sports Centre concept. Methods: A systematic literature review was carried out in the theoretical part. The research part was conducted based on EN 16258 and the centre of gravity method. The objects of this study are five selected football clubs from the Polish Ekstraklasa, and their method of travel (by coach) to away matches. Results: The use of alternative (low-carbon) modes of transport reduces GHG levels from 13 per cent (Pogoń Szczecin) to 34 per cent (Jagiellonia Białystok). An interesting solution, although not yet adapted to the current times, is the implementation of the Sports Centre concept, which allows a 48 per cent reduction in the distance travelled (81,940 kgCO 2 e per year). Conclusions: Football clubs can neutralise their remaining carbon footprint through investments that indirectly contribute to total carbon neutrality, such as the planting of oxygen trees or the installation of a photovoltaic system to completely neutralise the carbon footprint.

Keywords: carbon footprint assessment; football; sustainable coach transport; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); systematic literature review; EN 16258 standard; centre of gravity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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