Councillor praises LFC for food sustainability award but insists more can be done

A city councillor has praised Liverpool Football Club after they became the first football club globally to earn the Food Made Good Standard for food sustainability.

Cllr Tom Crone, Leader of the Greens at Liverpool City Council, said: "Our global food system has significant environmental impacts, and we know almost 150,000 tonnes of food is wasted locally every year, so it's encouraging to see a cultural giant like Liverpool FC leading clubs and organisations globally.

"Football has such a huge audience in this city and the world that it can be no bad thing for clubs to be reducing waste.”

The Food Made Good Standard is a certification awarded by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) for performance in sourcing, society, and environmental impact.

The club was assessed across its sites, including Anfield and the AXA Training Centre.

And initiatives such as removing single-use plastics and on-site allotments for produce contributed to the club's performance.

Liverpool FC Chief Operating Officer, Paul Cuttill, said: “Creating a food system that is environmentally restorative and socially just is central to our approach at LFC.

“Certification to the Food Made Good Standard, a comprehensive global sustainability mark, reflects the progress we are making across our operations.”

Cllr Crone stressed that despite the improvements, more needs to be done locally.

He said: "We must also recognise that about one in three people across this city do not know where their next meal is coming from. 

“Many, including kids, are not getting the nutrients they need to live a healthy life. 

"What the Greens really want to see is a transformation of our food system so that it works for local producers, local people and nature.

"We would love to sit down with leaders at LFC to find out how they can support this vision."