The main objectives of FREE KICKS (ERASMUS-SPORT-2022-SCP) were to support the football sector’s transition towards the goals of the European Green Deal by strengthening the capacity of sports organisations to measure, govern and reduce their environmental impacts. The project promoted the adoption of advanced environmental management practices and increased awareness of the environmental pressures generated by football, helping federations and clubs build the skills and tools needed to integrate sustainability into their decision-making processes.

From the very beginning, FREE KICKS carried out a structured analysis of the environmental governance and management models of the five partner organisations and conducted four environmental footprint studies (Life Cycle Assessments) using the European PEF/OEF methodologies. These assessments evaluated both organisational activities and football events, allowing the consortium to identify key environmental hotspots and to guide targeted interventions aimed at reducing environmental impacts.

A key outcome was the development, for each partner, of an Environmental Improvement Plan, articulated into governance and operational actions related to energy, mobility, waste, water and procurement. All organisations implemented the actions defined in their plans, initiating a process of continuous environmental improvement.

FREE KICKS also introduced and applied strategic EU environmental management tools -most notably the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the EU Ecolabel - making them an integral part of the clubs’ organisational development. Four organisations successfully completed the EMAS certification process, becoming the first football entities certified at European level (and among the very few in the wider sport sector), significantly strengthening their monitoring, reporting, and governance systems.

Alongside these technical achievements, the project invested in building a broader culture of sustainability through webinars, internal training courses, workshops, networking activities and fan-oriented campaigns, helping raise awareness among managers, staff and the general public on environmental sustainability within football.

Overall, FREE KICKS reached approximately 7 million people, confirming the project’s capacity to generate wide-ranging and lasting impact across the football sector.
 

Partnership

• Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (coordinator)
• Malmo Fotbollforening (Sweden)
• European Football Club (formerly "European Club Association") (Swiss)
• Sport Positive Ltd (United Kingdom)
• Federatia Romana De Fotbal (Romania)
• Racing Club (Argentina)
• Futebol Clube Do Porto (Portugal)
• Fundacion Real Betis Balompie (Spain)

_{Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.}