MUMBAI: Britain’s dominant dominant subscription television sports network Sky Sports has announced an initiative called ‘#PassonPlastic’ with the Premier League in which they will use their global reach to raise awareness of the environmental issues caused by plastic.
The partnership targets to inspire Premier League clubs and fans across the world to reduce their single-use plastic intake, making small changes that will have a big impact.
On their part, the Premier League will provide support and guidance to clubs on how they can phase out single-use plastic from their stadiums and operations. They will be supported by the Sky Ocean Rescue Ninjas, Sky Sports’ specialist team of plastics experts who are dedicated to helping businesses reduce their single-use plastic usage.
A top club that has already pledged to go plastic-free is Tottenham Hotspur. Its state-of-the-art new stadium, due to open next season, will be free from plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery and its retail outlets will phase out standard 5p carrier bags.
Sky and the Premier League have come up with youth wings of the initiative. In the Premier League Primary Stars programme, children from 15,000 primary schools across England and Wales will learn about what it means to be single-use plastic free. Using fun games and challenges, they will learn how they can make a difference and educate their parents in the process.
For secondary school pupils, the Premier League also runs the Enterprise Challenge, an opportunity to present ideas about tackling a specific issue to Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore. Next season’s challenge will be a Sky Ocean Rescue theme, giving young people a chance to showcase their ideas and innovations on how to reduce the impact of single-use plastic.
Barney Francis, managing director, Sky Sports, said: “Football has a unique ability to reach billions across the world and I’m delighted that the Premier League and clubs throughout the country are getting involved. Inspiring simple everyday changes will help stop our oceans drowning in plastic, today is an opportunity to call on fans of the game to join us and #PassonPlastic.”
Richard Scudamore, executive chairman, Premier League, added: “We are extremely proud to be joining Sky Ocean Rescue in the fight to save our oceans. As an organisation with a global audience we, and our clubs, are able to encourage people around the world to think and take positive action to reduce their use of plastic.”
Daniel Levy, chairman, Tottenham Hotspur, said: “We are dedicated to minimising the environmental impacts of our activities and are committed to playing our part in reducing single-use plastics across our club operations. We shall be encouraging our suppliers, partners and supporters to help us to phase out their use. This is a worldwide problem so we are delighted to see the announcement of this partnership to further raise awareness and continue to drive home this message to an even bigger audience.”
