The second largest stadium in Europe is taking charge on their environmental performance. Almost 40,000 people travel to Wembley on an event day to eat, drink, and enjoy the festivities. Like any stadium in the world, this activity requires tons of energy and creates a mass amount of waste. Wembley, however, has been improving their environmental impact since the new stadium opened 10 years ago.
They have extensive reports on how they have worked to improve the energy, waste, water, and transport within and surrounding the stadium. These are all vital discussion topics when it comes to the sustainability of a stadium that seats over 90,000 fans.
Energy
This stadium runs on 100% renewable energy. They have reduced their carbon emissions by 30% from 2007 to 2014. They try their best to only use what they need when they need it. There is no unnecessary lighting used in or outside the stadium.
Waste
Wembley is a zero-waste-to-landfill stadium. This means that they sort and recycle the majority of the waste produced in the stadium. They recycle the recyclables and make energy and fertilizer from the food and liquid waste through anaerobic digestion. It was one of the first stadiums to achieve the Carbon Trust Waste Standards.
Water
Similar to the lighting in the stadium, they try their best to use water only when necessary. There is only so much they can do about water usage on game days or during concerts when fans will frequently use the facilities. However, the water they use for power washing can be reduced with a more efficient clean.
Transport
They constantly encourage their fans to travel by public transit rather than by car. If they travel by car, they recommend car pooling. However, there are three major stations and five underground lines by the stadium, so it is easy to get to and from the stadium without a car.
With 6 green awards and certifications, Wembley hits their marks not only for being one of the best stadiums in the world but for being one of the greenest.
Sources: Wembley Stadium
