Sustainability at Lord’s Cricket Ground

Sustainability Manager Russell Seymour talked about how Lord Cricket Ground’s sustainability efforts have been received by the public, their waste management policy and the sustainable approach of the venue’s redevelopment plan during our SMART & Sustainability Workshop at Amsterdam ArenA.

“Sport is in a unique position to act as a trusted sustainability ambassador.”

Lord’s Sustainability Policy

Lord’s Sustainability Policy provides a framework for making decisions and is based on the One Planet Living Principles. The One Planet Living Principle consists of 10 sustainability guiding principles: Health & Happiness, Equity & Local Economy, Culture & Community, Land Use & Wildlife, Sustainable Water, Local & Sustainable Food, Sustainable Materials, Sustainable Transport, Zero Waste and Zero Carbon.   

In a questionnaire sent out to Lord’s fans two questions focused on the venue’s environmental impact:

• As a spectator, does it matter to you if a venue is trying to improve its environmental performance?
• Are you happy to co-operate with a venue’s efforts to be more environmentally friendly?

“90% said that it matters to them if a venue tries to improve its environmental performance and 95% would be happy to co-operate in becoming more environmentally friendly.” 

Waste Management Policy

According to Seymour the first step in the process is to design a recycling system that meets the local opportunities and to select a waste services provider who can service those needs. Furthermore, it is important that the multiple waste streams are clearly marked and that it is as easy as possible for fans to recycle their waste. Grouping the bins together, regular announcements (both verbal and visual) and providing clear signage and other forms of messaging have helped to support Lord’s waste management policy.

At Lord’s they have three waste streams:

• General waste: including food waste and anything contaminated with food waste
• Recyclable waste: mixed dry recyclable waste including plastic, cans, etc (
• Glass bottles

Lord’s changed its waste management policy and decided to remove paper and cards from recyclable waste as this contaminated the remainder of recyclable waste. 

Furthermore, another waste management project implemented at Lord’s are their reusable cups, made from polypropylene. The reusable cups, which can be purchased for £1, are cricket-branded to encourage takeaway and have operational benefits compared to compostable cups for example.

Redevelopment project

The implementation of sustainable elements was key in their redevelopment plan, including projects such as:

• Use of natural resources in building materials
• Solar panels (6% of the total energy)
• A green roof with e.g. bird and bat boxes
• A semi-transparent roof allowing less lighting for the restaurant
• Waste room
• Plant room with e.g. a ground source heat pump

Key takeaways from sustainability at Lord’s Cricket Ground

• The public are expectant and willing to help
• Design sustainability into facilities and processes
• Be aware of external forces – legislation and markets – and respond to these factors
• Be aware that “quick fixes” may require extra work and extra processes to make them effective
• Environmental change will have an impact on sport
• Implement sustainability elements in your future renovation plans

 “We have an opportunity to recognise that and to communicate our responses to the public.”  

Go to our ESSMA Flickr account for more pictures.

Interview with Russell Seymour:   

 Learn more about Lord's Cricket Ground's sustainability approach

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