William Troost-Ekong and carbon neutral away games thanks to olive trees: “Football can do more for the planet”

All rooting for the same team: the health of the planet. It is the message launched by William Troost-Ekong professional footballer who recently moved from Watford on loan to Salernitana who wanted to offset CO emissions₂ due to his transfer from England to Italy starting to collaborate with Alberomi. for a project that helps olive growers in southern Italy to replant olive groves and adopt more sustainable farming practices.

Born in Nigeria, Troost-Ekong is now 30, has played in six different European league series and has 63 international caps. Raised in the Netherlands, his mother’s country of origin, however, he spent most of his childhood holidays in Nigeria, where his father lives, and where Troost-Ekong has seen what pollution does and how it is leading us to global warming. And just by combining the two passions of his life, he understood that football, thanks to the strength of his global community, can do a lot to help the environmental battle. In short, football can make a difference because, like the climate crisis, it transcends geographical, cultural and social boundaries.

In January, Troost-Ekong as he was about to leave Watford to come to Italy, agreed to collaborate with the manufacturer of ecological football boots Sokito. The goal that the footballer had set himself was precisely to calculate the carbon footprint of his transfer: using that type of footwear, the player was thus able to monitor the emissions of all car journeys and flights made by both him and the his team. According to William Troost-Ekong, within the football community, the largest community on the planet (about 5 billion people support a football team), there is already a desire to contribute and do one’s part for the environment. And now he hopes that by making his gesture of having offset carbon emissions by planting olive trees public, a virtuous circle will be triggered among colleagues. Convinced that many of them (but also clubs, fans, companies) are ready to mobilize.

“When I announced to make my transfers carbon neutral – says the footballer – I received messages from many players on social networks asking me for details: how I solved it, what it meant to compensate for the footprint. It’s been nice to see the enthusiasm from people who have never really thought about this stuff before. I hope it sets in motion a domino effect. I’m sure there are footballers who are ready to commit themselves seriously to the issue of climate change”. Why didn’t they do it sooner? “They simply didn’t receive the necessary information – says Troost-Ekong who adds – In my opinion, it hasn’t been done still enough from clubs at all levels of the game to promote such education and understanding. I can only speak for myself, but there are many, many players who have a position of privilege that has a much wider reach than my sphere.”

The interview

“I would like to see my climate stripes projected on the Colosseum”

by Cristina Nadotti

04 April 2023

The greatest environmental impact, as Troost-Ekong explained, is given by travel. A global game requires global travel, European competition requires regular air travel, and the weekly pilgrimage across the country, particularly to places where public transport links are unreliable or expensive, drives people into cars. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the world of football greener. Troost-Ekong mentions two specific ideas: a levy under which clubs in Europe’s top five leagues should agree to offset their carbon footprint on international transfers and rethink the scheduling of air travel for moving within the same country. Easier option, but with more impact.

“We should all be trying to leave the planet in a better place than we found it for our children and their children too. And right now, we’re not. It’s not about being a footballer; it’s about being a responsible person. This all starts with us, with small changes, but educate yourself. Live a more sustainable life: turn off the lights, take public transport, walk when you can. I understand people will think ‘Well, I’m just a person ‘, but only when we all start contributing can a small difference combine to create a meaningful change. Anyone who can make a difference, must make a difference. Because what other choice do we have?”