Sporting events occur daily throughout the UK, from major sporting events, such as the World Cup to local community team events. Exercise is a great way to keep healthy and many of us join in with a number of local sporting activities.

See our tips below for how you can start to make your local sports activity an eco-friendly event:

Venue
Make sure the venues you use to train or host an event, are energy efficient, this will lower your emissions and your sporting activities carbon footprint.

This doesn’t apply for all sporting activities, as many require being outside and don’t need electricity, such as hiking, a kick about on a field, mountaineering and many outdoor water sports.

Reduce waste
If you are joining in with the sport, or you are spectating, consider what you bring to the activity or event. If you bring food and drinks with you make sure they are in reusable containers instead of plastic packaging. This means you can take them home with you to be used again instead of creating waste that could potentially end up in landfill or as litter that can damage the local environment.

If your sporting activity provides food, reusable containers and compostable or reusable cutlery are great options.

Waste can be reduced further if water coolers are provided as those with reusable water bottles can keep refilling, removing the potential for plastic waste.

Waste can also be reduced through using recycled paper for flyers or opting to advertise online. If you use a ticketing service for your activity, especially for events, switch to a paperless ticket.

Make sure you also provide bins for recyclable materials and non-recyclable waste.

Transport
If the activity contains a lot of people from the same area, consider hiring a minibus to get those participating to the venue for the activity. If this isn’t possible consider car sharing, both for those joining in with the sport and those that are there to watch.

Either of these ways will reduce the number of cars on the road and will reduce emissions.

Equipment and clothing
When buying equipment and clothing for yourself or your team, look for companies that are sustainable and that produce goods that have a low carbon impact on the planet.

Another option is to not buy new, especially if you are just starting out in the sport or are not 100% sure it is the right sport for you. Look in charity shops and second-hand shops as you may find the equipment and clothes you need for the activity you are taking part in.