Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is proud to provide a season review of all the sustainability work undertaken so far in 2024, and the launch of a new sustainability campaign, Batting For a Better Future, encompassing exciting plans for 2025.
In 2024, MCC made significant strides in its sustainability commitments by focusing on emissions, waste management, and energy efficiency. A big moment in the 2024 season saw the floodlights at Lord’s converted to LEDs, becoming the first major international Test cricket venue in the UK to do so.
The Club recycled 51% of its waste, up from 17% in 2022, reduced water consumption by 15.5% and diverted 100% of waste from landfill. Innovative approaches included installing electric lawnmowers and using natural, recyclable coconut fibres for practice wickets.
MCC further advanced its sustainability initiatives by converting the Nursery Pavilion to electric heating/cooling, eliminating gas in the kitchens, and removing its diesel storage tank. Building Management Systems (BMS) were installed across 80% of Lord’s to better monitor energy use.
The Club also collaborated with other like-minded institutions on its sustainability efforts, including working with Loughborough University on a study of renewable energy and battery potential at the Ground.
Elsewhere, sustainability efforts and the challenges facing the planet were brought to life and supported by the Club as it welcomed a leg of the Running Out of Time Relay in partnership with the University of Reading, demonstrating its commitment to both internal initiatives and public engagement in terms of cutting carbon footprint.
The culmination of the season also coincided with MCC releasing an updated version of its Carbon Impact Report, which builds on the success of last season’s net zero strategy. ‘A Journey to Net Zero Carbon,’ highlights the Club’s commitment to environmental sustainability and carbon reduction.
The updated report focuses on MCC’s overall carbon footprint and sets a new baseline including emissions from ground maintenance and company fleet vehicles. Notably, for the first time, the Carbon Impact Report introduces a baseline measurement for Scope 3 emissions, capturing supply chain impacts across a range of categories.
The Club collaborated closely with carbon consultants, Net Zero Group, to collect the critical data. The report also highlights progress made in energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and sustainability achievements over the past year.
MCC’s sustainability planning will keep going in earnest for 2025. Plans to update the Club’s ESG Strategy are underway, ensuring sustainability remains central to its operations. MCC's efforts will also include expanding energy efficiency projects, such as upgrading Building Management Systems, LEDs, and electrifying grounds equipment.
A key focus will also be the launch of a sustainability education programme within schools and universities in Westminster, fostering environmental awareness, as well as creating a branded sustainability trail around Lord’s for fans coming to the Ground.
With various ongoing projects in the sustainability space at Lord’s it provided an opportune moment to also introduce an overarching brand that will be used when talking about MCC’s sustainability work going forward entitled ‘Batting for a Better Future’.
The ‘Batting for a Better Future’ campaign will be seen across all assets including website, social media channels and any branding at events and around the Ground, ensuring that MCC’s sustainability initiatives are visible to those who interact with the Club.
MCC Chair Mark Nicholas spoke of the necessity for climate action within cricket and the role that MCC is playing in that: “It is surely clear to us all now that greater ambition in the sustainability space is important to future-proof sport in general and, in this instance, the game of cricket. Ultimately, we want to ensure that cricket continues to thrive for generations to come.
“This subject has been a key priority for the Club for more than a decade and as I reflect on the work achieved during the past 12 months alone, I can proudly say that MCC has delivered major projects to reduce waste and emissions, and to become more energy efficient.
“With the launch of Batting for a Better Future, we will further embrace and strengthen our commitment to this new world of thinking around one of the most important issues of our time.”
Reflecting on 2024 to date and the exciting initiatives in the pipeline for 2025, MCC Sustainability Manager, Stuart Dunlop, gave his thoughts on the Club’s ongoing sustainability commitment:
“It has been a strong year for sustainability at MCC as we continue to make meaningful progress. There is still much to do, but we’re committed to using our platform to inspire change wherever possible.
“Our new campaign, Batting for a Better Future, reflects this commitment and offers a fresh opportunity to use our independent voice and lead by example. I'm excited about the future at Lord’s as we advance further on our sustainability journey.”