At our recent Platinum Inner Circle Meeting, Pete Bradshaw, Director of Sustainability at Manchester City FC, took centre stage with an inspiring sustainability showcase at the Etihad Campus. This session gave our members an in-depth look at how the club is leading the charge toward a greener future through innovative, sustainable practices.
Our Platinum Inner Circle Meetings are held regularly for our Platinum ECOsmart-certified venues to discuss best practices, provide individual updates, and experience sustainability in other venues. Our Inner Circle meetings are always extremely well received and our team love the opportunity to catch up with the most sustainable venues in the UK.
A History Rooted in Social Impact
Founded in 1894, Manchester City FC has always been deeply connected to its community, with a strong focus on social value and positive impact in East Manchester. The construction of the Etihad Campus, spurred by the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games, transformed a derelict brownfield site into a world-class facility. Since then, the club has become a shining example of how football can drive both social and environmental change.
Community, Environment, and Energy
Manchester City FC’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond football, embedding itself deeply within the community and the environment. The Etihad Campus exemplifies this with its thriving community-driven programs, such as its street-to-stadium initiative, which includes a sixth-form college, community football centre, leisure facilities, and a school. Supported by 106 full-time community workers, the campus is a vibrant hub with 17 outdoor pitches and one full-sized indoor pitch—an impressive feat considering its transformation from a brownfield site only a decade ago.
Journey to Net Zero
As part of a global collective of 12 football clubs, Manchester City is committed to achieving Net Zero by 2030. Sustainability efforts have been robust from the get-go. When the campus was constructed decades ago, 80% of building materials were sourced locally from the M60 corridor, reducing transportation emissions.
Since then, they have weaved sustainability into everything they do. Water sustainability is a key priority with the campus becoming fully self-sufficient in water use through its partnership with Xylem, saving 2.8 billion units of water since 2016. The club is further expanding these efforts, with 184 self-sufficient rain gardens set for completion by summer 2025, creating natural drainage points for improved filtration.
Energy conservation is equally vital. The campus is implementing 10,500 solar panels, 64 electric vehicle charging points, and has secured planning permission for a wind turbine that will allow it to become fully self-sufficient for electricity. Remarkably, 37% of the campus’s electricity is dedicated to growing the pitches’ grass to meet professional play standards, hence the need for a renewable energy source.
The club’s environmental initiatives don’t stop there. Since banning single-use plastics in 2019, they have introduced on-site composting for cups, burger boxes, and other materials. Even the indoor 3G astroturf pitch is made from recycled materials, highlighting Manchester City’s innovative approach to energy use and recycling.
Rewilding and Biodiversity
The team have recently created a large sandbank next to one of the City Football Academy’s outdoor pitches for solitary burrowing bees to encourage biodiversity. After rewilding efforts including bug hotels, the campus is now home to 504 unique bug species. In a further effort to reduce its carbon footprint and encourage wildlife, the club have imported and planted 3,500 mature trees to the site, where originally there was not a tree in sight. The tree species have been carefully selected to suit Manchester’s climate to ensure the best chance of survival.
Building with Purpose with Future Developments
Manchester City’s future development projects are deeply intertwined with sustainability goals. A new stand, set to be completed by September 2025, will feature locally sourced steel from Bolton and sustainable concrete made from reused resources, reducing its carbon footprint. This stand will also boast a sky bar, executive boxes, and even the option to abseil from it. By 2026, the campus will see the addition of a retail centre, events space, and a 400-bed hotel, further embedding its sustainable vision.
In addition, 84 local apprentices are contributing to these projects, which are expected to create 2,000 permanent jobs. The club is also collaborating with local schools to install new rain gardens throughout the campus.
Nurturing Young Talent with a Focus on Education
Sustainability at Manchester City FC is not just about the environment—it’s about encouraging responsible global citizens. Young footballers participating in the club’s community programs are encouraged to engage in volunteer work through initiatives like the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. Currently, eight of these players are pursuing degrees alongside their football development, showcasing how the club promotes both academic and athletic growth.
Pete Bradshaw’s Advice on Sustainability
Closing the showcase, Pete Bradshaw shared his valuable insights with our Platinum members:
“Having a passion for sustainability is so important. If you believe in what you’re doing, it will come through in what you’re doing within your venues. Get your team involved and ensure you have buy-in from everyone involved, and the rest will follow. Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Get the low-hanging fruit first and aim for marginal gains. Sustainability is a marathon, not a sprint.”
With Manchester City FC leading the way in sustainable sports development, the Etihad Campus stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when passion, community, and sustainability come together.
Get in touch with us to learn more about becoming a Platinum member to gain access to inspirational showcases and great discussions.
