Football, the fight against CO2 and cigarette butts in the stadium starts from Udine

Less carbon dioxide in the air, drastic reduction of small waste around stadiums, all in compliance with the new EU rules on environmental, social and governance sustainability (ESG) in which Italian football wants to excel in Europe. There are many objectives of the 'One Mission, One Planet' initiative, which aims to reduce CO₂ emissions and combat littering (small waste, such as cigarette butts) in the areas around stadiums. The "One Mission, One Planet" campaign - realised by the Fondazione Marevivo in collaboration with Bat Italia and Udinese Calcio (who could see themselves assigned on Monday 16 December by Uefa the venue for the next European Super Cup on 13 August 2025, i.e. the winner of the new super Champions League against the first-place winner in the Europa League, also in the new format) the participation of the start-up JustOnEarth and the patronage of the Regione Friuli Venezia Giulia - is part of the European regulatory framework that dictates stringent rules for football teams, which are required by EU directive 2464/2022 to address environmental, social and governance (ESG) sustainability. In this direction, Italian football is leading the way in a new sustainable approach desired by Uefa, through the Lega di Serie A, which has adhered to the sustainability goals indicated by the United Nations' 2030 Agenda.

Traditionally, football represents a powerful instrument of social aggregation that drives thousands of people to flock to stadiums at matches. The indirect effect of this phenomenon is the generation of a strong impact on the environment. According to recent estimates, European football produces around 750,000 tonnes of waste, an amount greater than that produced annually by a state like Liechtenstein. A figure that highlights the urgency of taking concrete and effective measures to mitigate the environmental consequences of this popular sport.

In this direction, the Marevivo Foundation - which in collaboration with Bat Italia has already promoted the 'Small gestures, Big crimes' campaign to limit the dispersion of cigarette butts and small waste and raise awareness among citizens - has therefore decided to launch the 'One Mission, One Planet' campaign. In the course of the current championship and during the 2025-2026 season, during Udinese's home matches, a fan awareness campaign will be carried out followed by air quality monitoring. One of the objectives is also to start a process to make the Bluenergy Stadium the first smoke-free stadium in Italy.

The objective of 'One Mission, One Planet' is to combine technological innovation and information to raise the level of awareness among fans and the public about the environmental impact of inadequate disposal of small waste products at sports events. The campaign will raise awareness of the problem and encourage the use of sustainable means of transport to reach the stadium (e.g. car sharing and electric vehicles). Among the planned media: billboards and video projections during matches. Also planned is the promotion of the commitment to adopt virtuous behaviour by signing the 'Manifesto del Tifoso' on the digital platform www.onemissiononeplanet.it.

In parallel, thanks to the contribution of the start-up Just on Earth, satellite data on litter production and CO₂ emissions will be collected and analysed through various measurements in the days before and after matches played at the Bluenergy Stadium. The results will then be shared on the digital platform with a constant update of progress.