When did Wembley’s sustainability journey begin?

The original Wembley Stadium was built in the 1920s. By the close of the 20th century, it was clear that the old stadium was not going to be suitable for the future. Updating or retrofitting it was not a viable option, so a complete rebuild was required.

During the build, the concrete from the old stadium was repurposed into the piling mat for the new Wembley. All the old steelwork was also recycled, but at that time sustainable design was still in its infancy.

However, there was flexibility built into the design to allow for future needs. The ability of the building to adapt and evolve has been invaluable as we have added to and upgraded the rebuilt Wembley Stadium since it opened in 2007.

Does Wembley Stadium have a recognised sustainability standard?

Wembley Stadium’s sustainable event management system is certified to the internationally recognised ISO 20121 standard.

In 2025, the stadium retained its certification following a successful audit, ensuring it will remain certified for three more years.

The latest report highlighted strong performance in several areas across the stadium. Initiatives such as the pitch recycling scheme and the Sustainability Rider were highly praised and demonstrate the stadium’s commitment to taking a leading approach to sustainable management.

Why does Wembley still use single-use plastic cups at some events?

We recognise that single-use plastic cups pose environmental challenges and we are actively working on solutions. However, Wembley Stadium hosts a wide range of large-scale events (up to 90,000 attendees), and each event type — from football to NFL, concerts to boxing — has unique operational demands.

This makes identifying a single solution that works across all event types challenging. What works for one event may present risks for another. Despite this, we remain committed to exploring viable alternatives that balance sustainability with the diverse operational requirements of the stadium.

How does Wembley Stadium adapt its sustainability plans for each event?

The overall plan does not change — we always aim to minimise our impact as much as possible — but the tactics used can vary for each event. Each event type attracts different audiences, presenting unique opportunities and challenges. They also generate different levels of waste and recycling.

Music audiences typically remain on site for longer periods, naturally creating more waste. The same is true for NFL games, where crowds often arrive several hours before kick-off. We work closely with event owners and operational teams to implement policies and procedures that are proven to work for each specific event.

How does Wembley work with fans and guests to encourage sustainable thinking at events?

Where possible, we encourage all guests to use public transport when visiting Wembley Stadium. Around 75% of attendees already do so, and our aim is to increase this to 85%. At the first event of 2024 (the Carabao Cup Final), approximately 90% of guests travelled to the stadium by public transport.

We also promote cycling by providing onsite bicycle storage, and support electric vehicle usage by working with Quintain to install EV charging points in nearby car parks. Around the stadium, we use signage to communicate our sustainability policies — from bin signage that helps guests dispose of waste correctly, to screen messages sharing our initiatives. We aim to tell our story and highlight opportunities for guests to help us deliver on our goals.

Want to learn more or provide feedback?

You can read The FA Group’s sustainability strategy here, and our policy is accessible here.

If you have any sustainability-related enquiries or feedback, please contact sustainability@TheFA.com.