WEMBLEY'S PITCH WINS!

Wembley Stadium was recently recognised by a panel of industry experts at the Stadium Business Awards, winning the Sustainability & Community category for its recyclable pitch initiative. 

The owners say the award spotlights the stadium’s commitment to becoming a greener venue.

Earlier this year the stadium’s grounds team revealed it had developed a unique new process to make its pitch 100% recyclable. 

It is believed to be a first in the world of football and the result of a meticulous two-year plan to find a suitable solution to recycling modern-day sports pitches, which are a hybrid of grass and synthetic plastic.

The plastic means pitches do not break down naturally, and the majority of old pitches are sent to waste landfill sites at the end of their life-cycle.

The team at Wembley Stadium came up with a process which allows the plastic to be extracted from the pitch and repurposed. In the first of its kind, they created a bench, made entirely out of plastic from the pitch.

Karl Standley grounds manager at Wembley Stadium said, “We’re incredibly proud to have won The Stadium Business Award for Sustainability and Community and be recognised for the team’s incredible efforts.

“By ensuring old pitches don’t go to landfill we have created a cycle that will ultimately reduce our impact on the environment and give something back to local grassroots football along the way.”