The Iberdrola Queen's Cup Final - Green and inclusive
The match was made possible by using renewable energy, sustainability volunteers in the stands, recycling campaigns and the promotion of the use of public transport. Refugees participating in the RFEF's programme for inclusion through football helped implement the smooth running of the match with their work.
Yesterday's Iberdrola Copa de la Reina Final in Zaragoza was bathed in sustainable green thanks to the measures implemented by the Royal Spanish Football Federation aimed at leaving the smallest environmental impact possible for the event, measuring its carbon footprint and offsetting this impact by planting trees in the Zaragozanos forest.
Among other measures, all the energy for the match came from renewable energies, as certified by Iberdrola, the company that supplies electricity to the stadium and is also a sponsor of this competition and of the women's national team. In addition, sustainability volunteers worked during the match to promote sustainable behaviour and handed out themed bags around the final to encourage recycling.
The campaign also reached areas around the stadium, which was also accessible by sustainable transport, such as trams, bicycles, buses and electric motorbikes, services that were offered at special prices thanks to an agreement reached with Zaragoza City Council. Both the City Council and the finalist clubs have fully supported the Federation with these initiatives that aim to advance the sustainability of major events. Likewise, the tarpaulins and materials that were used in the final will be given another life and converted into other products through organisations and companies employing vulnerable people.
At the final the employment of refugees currently participating in an inclusion programme led by the Spanish Football Federation also took place as part of the institution’s social and sustainability commitments. Some of these refugee workers also form part of the Spanish refugee team, a UEFA initiative supported by UNHCR, which will take the Spanish team to Nyon on 10 October for a European tournament.
