Bradford City only third professional football club to achieve top mark for cutting carbon footprint

The Valley Parade club has become only the third professional football club in the world to achieve a top international standard for its green credentials. Bradford City has joined Premier League champions Manchester United and fellow Premier League club Bolton Wanderers in gaining the Carbon Trust Standard.

City earned the accolade after measuring, managing and reducing its carbon footprint by nearly 15 per cent – leading to the award of the standard which recognises only those organisations for real carbon reduction.

Club bosses say the resulting cost savings will release extra funds to help strengthen the team under new manager Peter Jackson.

Valley Parade now sits alongside Manchester’s Old Trafford and Bolton’s Reebok stadium which were previously recognised by the Carbon Trust.

Based on independent assessment, the Standard certifies that organisations have cut their carbon emissions across their operations and are committed to continuing year-by-year further reductions.

Bradford City director Roger Owen said: “We’re delighted to have achieved the Carbon Trust Standard.

“It is a great way of showing that we are on the front foot when it comes to carbon management best practices and gives us an opportunity to communicate our environmental credentials with integrity to those that matter.

“Bradford City set out to reduce its energy costs to enable more money to be available for playing budgets to produce a successful side. We are delighted that we are able to achieve the cost-cutting aims while cutting our carbon emissions. Being one of the most talked about companies in Bradford, we can now highlight to all supporters the importance of making carbon reductions.

“Going through the assessment process to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard has helped us to reduce our carbon footprint, make essential cost savings and will help us to stay competitive and ahead of the game in the future.”

The club’s achievement also marked a first for the Carbon Trust Standard as the cost of the assessment process was sponsored by local company Pitts Wilson Electrical to help City overcome its financial constraints and achieve the award.

PWE’s managing director Mark Flude said: “We were delighted to be able to support Bradford City to reduce its carbon emissions and release funds for the further development of the club.

“We hope that our support will mean the club can continue to achieve the benefits of greater cost reductions while the community at large benefits from the club’s reduced carbon footprint.”

Harry Morrison, general manager of the Carbon Trust, said: “Achieving the Carbon Trust Standard shows that Bradford City FC is taking serious and credible steps to manage their carbon footprint. We congratulate the club on its achievement.”