Sutton United FC
It was a proud moment for Sutton United FC when the club played its first EFL League Two match in August 2021, marking a decade of progress both on the pitch and in terms of sustainability.
Since 2011, Sutton United has made sustainability a board-level agenda item and aimed to reduce the organisation’s environmental impact. Sustainability is now embedded in the club’s decision-making, and whenever new work is undertaken at Gander Green Lane stadium, opportunities to be more sustainable are considered. This has included changing to LED internal lighting and floodlights, the removal of gas boilers and the installation of heat pumps, double glazing and waterless urinals.
Joining the EFL, Sutton signed up to GreenCode to support and report its environmental initiatives. Taking the survey was stress-free, and the scoring system helped the club identify areas for improvement. In parallel, the local authority introduced an environmental scheme using lower business rates as an incentive, and the club was able to not just set targets but work towards a stronger financial position.
Sutton is proud to be one of the first three GreenCode-accredited football clubs, even though it is smaller than many of the other clubs on the journey. It has been well received by supporters, with the club providing sustainability advice via its outreach tools. Having sustainability as a central pillar of Sutton’s ethos has helped bring in several sponsorships.
Now a full GreenCode member, the good work continues at the club. In 2024, Sutton introduced an EV charging point for club and community use, and in 2025 the club is aiding local biodiversity by planting raised beds around Gander Green Lane, which will add colour to the environment and provide herbs for the club kitchen.
The survey process was simple to follow and the GreenCode team were always quick and helpful to deal with our questions. We think all EFL clubs should aim to be certified under the scheme.
-Dave Farebrother, Sustainability Lead, Sutton United FC