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In this episode we discuss the challenges in making sport ‘greener’. We talk to two sustainability professionals working at the top level of professional sports, Caroline Carlin from the Southampton Football Club and Jaime Mc Keown from World Rugby. Together we talk through some of the sustainability issues in sports and what they are doing to embed sustainability across their organisations. If you would like to ask a question, share your thoughts, or want us to discuss an issue you think we should cover, please email us: [email protected]
Caroline joined Southampton Football Club in 2018. In her role as Operations and Sustainability Manager she has been instrumental in the development and launch of the club’s sustainability strategy ‘The Halo Effect’. As part of this she has been making company-wide improvements across four key pillars - Environmental Responsibility, Corporate Responsibility, Fan Responsibility and Social Responsibility. She has played a key role in the club being recognised for its progress in becoming more environmentally sustainable by rising to 3rd place in the 2021 Premier League Sustainability table. She’s also been the driving force behind several of the club’s most powerful initiatives, including the Home-Grown initiative which involves planting trees for every Academy and RTC graduate making their first team debut, sending zero waste to landfill and switching to 100% renewable green energy. Through developing The Halo Effect, Caroline has become an active member in sports sustainability networks in the UK including being a member of the Management Board at The British Association for Sustainable Sport. Caroline is passionate about the environment and ensuring everyone plays their part no matter how small that change might be. Earlier this year, she was recognised and named in the ENDS Report Top 100 Power List, which showcases the environmental professionals that have had the greatest green impact across the UK during the past two years.
Jaime took on the role of Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at World Rugby back in January of this year, having previously worked in the Development and International Relations team since joining the organisation back in 2008. Working on a broad range of initiatives from Olympic inclusion to rugby for development programmes, he recognises the value of partnerships when working towards a common goal, something that he knows the successful delivery of the recently launched World Rugby Environmental Sustainability Plan 2030 will rely heavily upon. A strong believer in the values of rugby, the power of sport to influence positive change, and the importance of protecting what we have for future generations, when not at the office (physical or virtual), you’ll find him coaching at his local rugby club, advocating for sustainable development, walking the dog or keeping the birds and the bees happy in the garden.
