Simple Ways to Be More Sustainable

Becoming more sustainable doesn’t have to mean making expensive investments or changing everything overnight.

Often, it’s the small, everyday decisions that make the biggest difference. Whether you’re a grassroots sports club, community organisation, workplace or local venue, there are simple actions you can take to reduce your environmental impact while creating healthier, more sustainable places for everyone.

This guide brings together practical ideas that you can start implementing today. You don’t need to do everything at once. Choose one or two actions that work for your organisation and build from there.

If you’re looking for a more structured approach, you can also download our Sustainability Action Plan to help prioritise actions and track your progress over time.

Waste and procurement

Simple improvements to the way you purchase, recycle and manage waste can significantly reduce your environmental impact. Examples include:

• Asking suppliers about their sustainability practices before purchasing
• Providing clearly labelled recycling and general waste bins
• Separating food waste in line with the Simpler Recycling legislation
• Reducing or eliminating single-use plastics at events

Energy and utilities

Reducing energy consumption is one of the simplest ways to lower both carbon emissions and operating costs. You could:

• Switch to a renewable energy supplier
• Replace halogen bulbs with LED lighting
• Install motion sensors to reduce energy usage
• Turn off lights and heating when buildings aren’t in use
• Invest in solar panels or heat pumps (explore the movement fund)

Travel and transport

Travel is often one of the biggest contributors to an organisation’s carbon footprint. You could:

• Encourage spectators, participants, staff, volunteers etc to car share or use public transport where possible
• Use a climate friendly train booking platform, such as Train Hugger
• Switch to an electric vehicle supplier where transport is required

Think beyond your building

Supporting nature can be part of your sustainability journey too.

For example, if your organisation manages outdoor spaces or playing fields, planting trees around the perimeter can help improve drainage, reduce flooding and provide shade for participants during warmer weather.