Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY
At Manchester City, we are driven by a passionate belief that football can have a positive impact on our communities and empower better lives.
Manchester City is proud to publish its annual Sustainability Report, reflecting our continued commitment to social, environmental and economic responsibility across every part of the Club during the 2026/27 season.
GAME PLAN HEADLINES
- CO₂ emissions were reduced by 5% across the year, with Scopes 1 & 2 maintaining an operational carbon zero for a second consecutive year.
- In 2026, the new Women’s First Team Facility opened, using all-electric, locally sourced materials and new woodland planted alongside the main public carriageway helping expand our biodiversity net gain.
- Water remains an environmental priority for Manchester City, continuing to work with our Official Water Technology Partner, Xylem. For example, during last season City Football Academy achieved 100% self-sufficiency in water supply for pitch irrigation.
- The City Link walking route and match day buses continue with increased usage and positive feedback.
- The year ending June 2026 finished with a 73% recycling rate, up by 4% on last year this was helped by the focus put on a better segregation of cardboard, metal and glass.
OUR PRIORITIES
We are committed to three main priorities which include maintaining operational carbon zero, the reduction of Scope 3 emissions and a local focus on sequestration across our neighbourhoods and communities.
To achieve this, we have identified the following areas as priorities:
- Energy and Water
- Transport and travel
- Waste Reduction
- Consumables and Food
- Measurement and Reporting
- Impactful Biodiversity
- Materials
ENERGY AND WATER
Manchester City continued to work with Jinko Solar delivering Tiger Neo Solar Panels for the construction of the solar energy generation array at City Football Academy.
The Club has reduced potable water consumption by 87.6 million litres since 2023, including 7.6 million litres during 2025-26, working with Official Water Technology Partner Xylem. During the season, City Football Academy achieved 100% self-sufficiency in water supply for pitch irrigation.
The Joie Stadium completed a full LED lighting upgrade alongside new solar panels, improving energy efficiency and supporting the Club’s energy transition. Across CFA operations, new drinking water systems and bulk procurement of cleaning consumables have further reduced packaging waste.
Beyond its onsite operations, Manchester City continues to raise awareness of water challenges and deliver positive change in communities around the world through its partnership with Xylem.
This season, the partnership launched the Rainmakers series, showcasing a project in Teotihuacán, Mexico, delivered alongside Love.Fútbol, which created a football pitch designed to capture, store and reuse rainwater for a community of almost 60,000 people. At the heart of the system is a solar-powered Xylem pump capable of moving more than 27,000 litres of water per day.
The project reflects the wider impact of the Manchester City and Xylem partnership, which combines water innovation with community engagement. In Teotihuacán, Manchester City also supported leadership training for 40 local young people, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to drive positive change across their communities.
Across wider global programmes, more than 3,000 people have been educated on water challenges and responsible water use.
TRAVEL & TRANSPORT
Compared to the 2015 baseline, the proportion of emissions attributable to fan travel has reduced from 91% to 78%, reflecting the growing use of walking routes and public transport options.
Manchester City also partnered with Love To Ride to encourage supporters to cycle to home matches as part of the Club’s commitment to promoting sustainable travel and healthier lifestyles.
Fans were encouraged to log their journeys, compete in cycling challenges, and engage with fellow supporters.
The programme helped raise awareness of low-carbon transport options and make use of the extensive cycling infrastructure available across the Etihad Campus, including bike storage facilities and Starling Bank Bikes.
WASTE REDUCTION
Manchester City and Eastlands Venue Services (EVS) continued to reduce operational waste through improved monitoring, packaging reduction and supplier engagement initiatives.
EVS is s a joint venture between City Football Group (CFG) and Oak View Group (OVG), the company delivers high-quality event catering, private security, and business support services year-round.
The year ending June 2026 finished with a 73% recycling rate, up by 4% on last year this was helped by the focus put on a better segregation of cardboard, metal and glass.
Regarding food waste, this was closely measured across hospitality areas with the aim to improve production planning and minimise surplus, packaging was reduced as single-use plastics were eliminated from operations.
The Club also replaced polystyrene transport boxes with reusable insulated containers and transitioned supplier deliveries to reusable crates, contributing to significant reduction in waste across the Etihad Stadium.
CONSUMABLES AND FOOD
During 2025-26, Manchester City and Eastlands Venue Services (EVS) also worked together to improve food sustainability through enhanced production planning, surplus food redistribution and active food waste monitoring.
Working with Clean Event, their detailed waste data helped drive significant year-on-year reductions in food waste across hospitality operations.
The Club also introduced a reusable micro cress growing systems called Field 28, this live micro cress has eliminated approximately 130 single use 80g plastic containers per matchday.
The supplier collects and reuses the growing trays, creating a circular process that reduces plastic waste and supports sustainable growing practices.
MEASUREMENT AND REPORTING
In 2026 we continue to use Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) as an international framework for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions.
Manchester City has continued to measure its actions and activities across the GHG Scopes 1, 2 and 3, including an embodied carbon and retrospective measurement.
This continuous use of the protocol ensures authenticity across measurements and reporting.. The Club achieved ‘operational CO2 zero’ – Carbon Zero - (Scopes 1 & 2) in 2025-26 and will continue working to maximise reductions in Scope 3.
IMPACTFUL BIODIVERSITY
Mancgroves is the driving action for the Club’s biodiversity as a unique biodiversity initiative by Manchester City for East Manchester.
The initiative works to create living landscapes within local environments. These spaces help reduce CO₂ through planned carbon sequestration, while also providing improved walking routes and supporting the Club’s STEM education outreach work.
Manchester City also continues to embed biodiversity across the Etihad Campus, maintaining over 30 acres of landscaped habitat, including 2,000+ mature trees, 3km of hedgerow, 16 acres of wildflower meadow and wetland areas.
All new developments incorporate biodiversity net gain principles, supporting habitat creation and long-term environmental resilience.
During 2025,26, the Club also began working with the Cyan Lines initiative to strengthen connections between the Etihad Campus, local green spaces and the River Medlock, this has further enhanced biodiversity and community access to nature.
MATERIALS
In 2026 Manchester City opened the new Manchester City Women’s New First Team Facility, putting sustainability first by renovating a former bank building.
This project was developed with sustainability at its core; as an all-electric facility which incorporates locally sourced materials and new woodland planted alongside the main public carriageway giving significant biodiversity net gain.
City’s facilities team led a successful fundraising initiative raising £6,891.84 for City in the Community through staff and public auctions.
Surplus furniture, equipment and office supplies were rehomed to local charities, extending the life of unused assets, these were relocated to Manchester Youth Zone, Tree of Life Centre, 4CT, Revive, Street Style Surgery and Camberwell SEN School.
