Premier League partners with Sky to eliminate single-use plastics by 2020

In October last year, Sky announced that it would remove all single-use plastics from its products, operations and supply chain by 2020. The broadcasting firm has today (27 April) announced that it will work with the Premier League to help remove all single-use plastics from its operations and supply chains in the next two years.

Tottenham Hotspur and Watford FC are two of the first clubs that have agreed to explore ways to reduce single-plastics use. Tottenham’s 62,000-seater stadium is set to open later this year; as part of the new commitment, it will be free from plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery in retail outlets, with standard 5p carrier bags to be phased-out.

Sky Sports’ managing director Barney Francis said: “Football has a unique ability to reach billions across the world and I’m delighted that the Premier League and clubs throughout the country are getting involved. Inspiring simple everyday changes will help stop our oceans drowning in plastic, today is an opportunity to call on fans of the game to join us and #PassonPlastic.”

Sky will work with the Premier League to help educate young fans on the harm that single-use plastics can cause to environmental ecosystems, as more than 95% of the rubbish in the world’s oceans has been identified as plastic. The Premier League Primary Stars programme will reach out to 15,000 schools on the issues of single-use plastics.

The Premier League will also be supported by a team of plastic experts from Sky, aptly named the Sky Ocean Rescue Ninjas, to help the organisation reduce its reliance on single-use plastics.

The Premier League’s executive chairman Richard Scudamore added: “We are extremely proud to be joining Sky Ocean Rescue in the fight to save our oceans. As an organisation with a global audience we, and our clubs, are able to encourage people around the world to think and take positive action to reduce their use of plastic.”

Ocean Rescue

Sky’s Ocean Rescue campaign was launched in January alongside a 45-minute documentary which was aired across the company’s TV channels. It is designed to raise awareness on the issues of plastic waste, utilising reports from the likes of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Sky has taken the Ocean Rescue campaign into the world of cricket. The broadcaster formed a partnership with the Kia Oval stadium to hand out around 20,000 refillable water bottles to fans during England’s match against South Africa in July. A similar partnership has been created with National Geographic.

Matt Mace