Old Trafford, new certificate

13 March 2012

Manchester United has become the first major stadium in the UK to achieve the international Environmental Management System standard, ISO14001.

For the last 10 years, Manchester United has worked closely with Mike Goodfellow-Smith, a director of Quest for Future Solutions, to improve the club’s sustainability. Over the years, this has paid off for them with savings mounting to over £500k so far, and closer working relationships with some of their key suppliers that have resulted in additional cost and process efficiency savings.

During 2011, Manchester United’s dedication to reducing their carbon emissions was recognised when the club achieved the Carbon Trust Standard, and was at the top of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme league tables. They’ve now been awarded ISO14001, but they’re not stopping there. Their next challenge is to be the first major stadium in the UK to also achieve the International Standard for Sustainable Events Management when the standard is launched later this year.

“It’s a privilege to be working with Manchester United,” says MikeGoodfellow-Smith, “Sporting facilities and large stadia have some unique challenges that make the implementation of environmental management systems much harder than for many companies. But Manchester United has never been known to shy away from a challenge, and they have risen to this one admirably. They have some exciting future plans to improve their sustainability further, which we’re looking forward to working on with them.”