Liverpool FC Uses DAC To Offset Fan Product Emissions

Liverpool FC is taking a bold step on its sustainable path by introducing a pioneering carbon removal program in partnership with 1PointFive, a leading U.S.-based carbon removal company. Under this partnership, the club will be launching special fan merchandise whose carbon footprint will be captured by Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. This is a major step forward in integrating Liverpool FC's commercial operations with its environmental ambition under The Red Way, the club's sustainability strategy.

The initiative marks Liverpool FC's efforts to address its carbon footprint at a product level. The club will quantify the emissions produced during the manufacturing and distribution of such fan products—until they are delivered to LFC locations—and subsequently offset an equivalent quantity of CO2 from the air by utilizing DAC technology. This will ensure that each product's carbon footprint is adequately offset, providing fans with a chance to engage with their club while contributing to a better environment.

A Strategic Sustainability Step

By using DAC, Liverpool FC becomes the latest addition to a list of multinational companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Airbus in the use of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits to offset carbon. These firms see the potential of DAC technology as a lasting and quantifiable solution to the issue of carbon emissions at scale. As opposed to carbon offsetting methods that work through nature-based solutions such as planting trees, DAC offers a more conclusive and lasting solution to removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

This move represents a groundbreaking feat in the football world, where Liverpool FC has become one of the first heavyweight football clubs to incorporate carbon removal technology into their sustainability drive. The move further represents a sector-wide corporate wave towards high-performance carbon removal strategy that goes further than mere curtailments of emissions and endeavors to completely avoid them.

Ben Latty, Liverpool FC's Chief Commercial Officer, highlighted the commitment of the club towards sustainability, saying, "Sustainability is at the very heart of everything we do. With 1PointFive, we get to look at new innovative carbon-removal technologies and accelerate our path to net zero." His words highlight Liverpool FC's aim to be at the forefront of environmentally friendly business practices, ensuring that sustainability will become a fundamental aspect of its commercial activities.

Michael Avery, 1PointFive President and General Manager, expressed similar sentiments, citing the efficiency of DAC technology. "Direct Air Capture is a measurable, transparent, and resilient solution to product emissions and giving consumers confidence to make carbon-smart choices," he stated. This reinforces the position of DAC as delivering a verifiable and scalable solution to carbon elimination that is trusted by companies and consumers alike.

An Expanding Role for Direct Air Capture in Corporate Sustainability

Liverpool FC's deployment of DAC technology is one component of a wider movement in which companies across industries are seeking novel means of delivering on their net-zero promises. The increasing enthusiasm for DAC represents the rising acceptance that conventional methods of offsetting, as beneficial as they are, might prove inadequate to capture the immediacy of climate action. Rather, companies are increasingly looking to engineered solutions that deliver long-term carbon removal with a high degree of accountability.

By buying CDR credits, Liverpool FC is contributing directly to the development and commercialization of DAC technology, facilitating its mass deployment. This is especially relevant since DAC remains a new and emerging area of technology, and cost and infrastructure development are significant challenges. As more businesses invest in DAC, though, the technology should become increasingly cost-effective and accessible, opening the door to wider usage.

What's Next for Liverpool FC's Sustainability Journey?

The partnership between Liverpool FC and 1PointFive will formally launch at CERAWeek in Texas, one of the world's top energy conferences. The event will allow the club to highlight its dedication to sustainability and address the role of DAC in defining the future of corporate climate action.

Supporters will soon hear more about Liverpool FC's carbon-neutral offerings, as the rollout gets under way. In addition to driving the club to be a leading football force on sustainability, it also paves the way for other sports institutions to follow in its footsteps.

As companies across the globe are under mounting pressure to act meaningfully on climate change, Liverpool FC's adoption of DAC technology is a strong testament to the potential for sports clubs to be at the forefront of environmental change. Through collaboration and innovation, the club is demonstrating that sustainability and success are not mutually exclusive, paving the way for a greener future for football and the world.