19,000+ take part in ‘great success’ Eco Match as Ipswich Town FC and Suffolk Green Energy provider game ‘big hit’ with footballing families
Organisers are calling the 2011 Eco Match at Portman Road a ‘great success’ after a home crowd of just under 20,000 people took part in an afternoon of green campaigning.
Ipswich Town Football Club and a local green energy provider Bio Group joined forces to host the 2011 ‘Eco Match’ at ‘The Blues’ Championship home fixture against Brighton on Saturday 1 October 2011. All food waste from the match was used to create green energy while ‘give aways’ for supporters highlighted the low carbon record of the club.
The ‘Eco Match’ was led by Adam Bensusan, Commercial Manager at Bio Group, the company led by Steve Sharratt OBE that designed, constructed and operates the Adnams Bio Energy facility in Southwold. It converts local food waste from Adnams pubs and other local businesses, hotels, restaurants and schools into biomethane which is then used as green gas for the national grid.
“The Eco Match was a great success.” said Adam Bensusan who is also a life-long Ipswich Town supporter. “Our aim was that by working together, supporters and business, we could make a real difference to the environment. Ipswich’s great fans played their part in that and we are delighted in the response.”
In 2007, Ipswich Town Football Club working with Eon, Ipswich Borough Council and CRed, reached the target of being the UKs first carbon neutral club. The accolade came after over 3,000 fans pledged 14,000 energy efficiency savings for their home.
The club has worked hard to minimize energy use and develop good practices, including installing a building management system which only
provides power to rooms when they are in use, fitting low energy light bulbs and ensuring that catering fridges are emptied and turned off between games.
“As a club we were delighted to host the 2011 Eco Match. We are proud of our environmental record here at Ipswich Town
where we recycle almost 80% of all our waste and were recognised as a carbon neutral club in 2007.” said Lynn Warner, Business Partnership Manager, from Ipswich Town FC.
“We’re delighted to be working with Adnams Bio Energy in the recycling of our food waste and would encourage other companies to do the same” she added.
As part of the day, there will be ‘Eco Match’ coverage in the match day programme, information for fans on how their places of work can have their business waste taken to Adnams Bio Energy, free ‘give aways’ for children as well as a competition where someone can win a
night for two at the Swan Hotel in Southwold, two tickets to an Ipswich Town home game including lunch for two at the Centre Spot restaurant and a tour of Adnams award winning eco brewery.
“We made the day fun for families too.” Adam Bensusan from Bio Group added. “Our give aways included ‘green’ rock that went down a storm. Parents and children alike took part with lots of people showing an interest in getting involved more in our work.”
Adnams Bio Energy uses food waste from business across Suffolk and through a process called Anaerobic Digestion turns that waste into green gas which is enough to run a family car 4 million miles.” he added. “We are working with business, including Ipswich Town FC and with others, large and small, to remove their food waste, enabling them to meet their environmental responsibilities.”
