Eco-friendly footy finals

September signals the start of every footy fan’s favourite time of year: the finals series.

With thousands of punters pouring into stadiums across the country and just as many finals get-togethers being hosted in our homes, our fan footprint has the potential to swell to the size of the ladies’ toilet queue at half-time.

St Kilda player and Footy For Climate co-founder Tom Campbell has some simple tips everyone can follow to reduce their emissions and waste while still supporting their team.

Make sustainability the real winner this September and follow Tom’s game plan for kicking green goals during the finals campaign.

Leave the car at home

Transport is the fastest growing and second largest source of emissions in Victoria.

Whether you’re heading to a mate’s place to watch the game, or going to the MCG or Marvel Stadium, Tom says your mode of travel can make a big difference.

“Taking public transport during the finals series can be a great way of reducing your emissions,” Tom says.

“Especially if you jump on the tram. Melbourne’s tram network is 100% offset by renewable energy, so I try to take the tram whenever I can. It’s also way cheaper than paying for parking.”

If your destination is only a drop punt away, you could also consider walking or cycling for part or all of your journey.

Smart snacks

Save money and avoid excess waste by bringing your own snacks and drinks to the game.

Tom says this is a great way to slash our reliance on single-use packaging.

“When I go to the footy, I look at the food and drinks being sold in individual packets and containers and think about all the waste we create,” Tom says.

“Both the MCG and Marvel Stadium have water stations where you can refill your water bottles. And they allow fans to bring their own food and drinks to the game, as long as it isn’t alcohol.

“So packing snacks in reusable containers can be a great way to do your bit and reduce waste.”

Less is more

We’ve all hosted barbeques or parties where we might have over-catered.

As well as hurting your hip pocket, throwing out food wastes the resources used to grow, process and transport that food like water, soil and energy. And if it’s not recycled, discarded food will rot and produce methane, which is a greenhouse gas.

Tom has some simple tips to cut food waste when you’re having friends over to watch the game.

“Before I start planning my menu, I like to confirm just how many people are coming to give me a better idea of how much food I’ll need,” Tom says.

“Then I make a grocery list and make sure I stick to it when I’m at the shops.

“If we have leftovers at the end of the day, I take the time to store them correctly so they last as long as possible.”

Bin behaviour

Don’t get done for incorrect disposal!

Whether you’re at home or at the stadium, Tom says it’s important to take the time to choose the right bin for your rubbish so our recycling has a better chance of being used again.

“Everyone wants to do the right thing, but sometimes when we’re in a rush, we can put things in the wrong bin,” Tom says.

“Taking that extra moment to double-check which items go in which bin is really important so we can make sure the waste we do create can be recycled.”

At the MCG, recycle your takeaway coffee cups at a Simply Cup collection point so they can be turned into roads, outdoor furniture and building material instead of ending up in landfill.

And to ensure your household recycling is contributing to our circular economy, put items in the bin loose rather than in a bag, keep soft plastics and e-waste out, and visit your local council website to check exactly which items can be recycled.

Repair and share

If the finals campaign has inspired you to pull out some of your old footy gear from the cupboard and it’s not looking its best, think twice before throwing it out.

Tom says there are a number of ways you can save your goods from landfill.

“Charities like Boots for All will take your reusable sporting goods and give them to people in need across Australia,” Tom says.

“For old footy gear that is falling apart, take it to Upparel who will recycle it into things like packaging, signage and even stuffing for soft toys.

“And if your favourite guernsey has a few tears or holes in it, but you’re not ready to say goodbye just yet, you could track down your local repair café and give it a new lease on life.”