Kia Oval to become single use plastic free by 2020
Surrey CCC has announced plans to make the Kia Oval a single use plastic free ground by the year 2020.
The vow follows a number of recent announcements for the 2018 season, including a ban on plastic straws being used in the ground, the introduction of compostable coffee cups and the phasing out of plastic bags in the club shop.
All beer served in public areas at the ground has been served in recyclable and reusable pint glasses since 2015 and over the next three years the club will work towards supplying all soft drinks in the same format. 2018 will also see the introduction of recyclable and reusable glasses in members’ and hospitality areas of the ground.
As well as this, there are a wide range of other areas that will be worked on across the club and ground – with Surrey working alongside club partners in all areas of business to achieve this ambitious goal.
The club has also announced a partnership with new Surrey sponsor Fidelity Energy and ENGIE, which will see all electricity used at the Kia Oval be generated from sustainable sources. This deal has already been in the place for the last year, saving 223.8 tons of carbon.
In 2017, the Kia Oval partnered with Sky Ocean Rescue to hand out 20,000 reusable water bottles to fans attending the ground’s 100th Test. As part of this work, 20 new permanent water fountains were also installed at the ground. There will be further collaboration with Sky this year, with full details set to be announced closer to the Test Match, which this takes place in early September.
Surrey CCC chief executive, Richard Gould, said: “The club has always been very conscious of reducing its impact on the environment wherever possible and, after a great deal of thought, has decided to make this ambitious commitment.
“Ever since the introduction of recyclable and reusable pint glasses in 2015, we have been introducing more sustainable policies around the ground – and the banning of plastic straws, introduction of compostable coffee cups and phasing out of plastic bags will all play a big part.
“To achieve this, we will need to work with our Members, fans, partners and staff to analyse all areas of the business and work out where we need to introduce alternative products and ways of working.
“With so many big events at the ground over the next three years, it’s going to be really exciting to see how we continue to improve the sustainability of everything we do and work out how we will achieve this target.”
Scott Carey, operations director at the Kia Oval said: “In times of market volatility and uncertainty by working in partnership with Fidelity Energy and ENGIE, we will not only achieve an extremely competitive tariff in the market, but also demonstrate to our customers and stakeholders our commitment to sustainable business practices and show our support for renewable energy generation.”
Paul Havell, co-founder of Fidelity Energy, added: “We are delighted to have secured a 100% renewable green electricity contract for the Kia Oval and are thrilled to be able to help the club achieve their goal of reducing their carbon footprint. This move demonstrates their commitment to renewables and sustainability.”