Professional Footballers Australia is partnering with UK’s Green Football Weekend to promote sustainability in football and address the global issue of kit waste.
Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) is launching an initiative called The Great Save 2025 in collaboration with the UK’s Green Football Weekend, aiming to address the issue of football kit waste on a global scale. The PFA is advocating for a re-evaluation of how football clubs, players, and fans manage their kits, highlighting the significant environmental impact of improper disposal.
The Great Save campaign encourages the longer use of sports kits through methods such as donations, resale, reuse, and upcycling. This initiative is designed not only to reduce waste but also to save money and assist community members who may lack access to adequate sports apparel.
In partnership with several sustainability organizations, the PFA intends to facilitate tangible benefits from this campaign. KitAid Australia and The Salvation Army will take part in distributing donated kits to communities in need, while Unwanted FC will help players repurpose old jerseys into new items. Additionally, vintage resellers are expected to play a role in keeping classic and retro kits available as they cater to growing fashion trends.
Beau Busch, the Chief Executive of PFA, emphasized the increasing importance of sustainability in football to both players and fans. “The Great Save 2025 offers a real chance to keep kits in use longer, reduce waste, and provide gear to communities in need,” he said in a press release. He noted the necessity for a collective industry effort to establish sustainable practices in clubs and leagues, expressing pride in the players for leading this crucial movement.
The initiative is a continuation of the PFA’s Greener Games 2024 program and follows the organization’s nomination for Elite Organisation of the Year at the BBC Green Sport Awards. Additionally, Emma Ilijoski, a member of the PFA’s climate-focused advocacy group, Our Greener Pitch, highlighted this collaboration’s potential to leverage football’s global footprint. “Footballers collect a lot of gear during their careers, from junior clubs through to senior professional football,” Ilijoski stated. “Instead of letting it go to waste, we can create a cycle where kit is reused, keeping its nostalgic value, and also benefit those in need. The Great Save makes that possible.”
In 2024, the PFA released the Stoppage Time report, which examined football’s impact on climate issues in Australia and New Zealand, showing the sport’s historical role in promoting sustainability. This latest collaboration positions the PFA to positively influence every level of the football industry by encouraging sustainable practices and creating a broader impact.
Source: Noah Wire Services
