EPCR is pleased to present impACT, the sustainability strategy for the tournament organisers of the Heineken Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.

The strategy consolidates and builds on EPCR’s existing and ongoing work in sustainability and social responsibility. It also highlights EPCR’s commitment to delivering sustainability and positive environmental change across the organisation, from its administration to its tournaments, players and partnerships.

We aspire to make an impACT through the best club rugby competitions in the world by…

  RESPECT – Committing to GOOD STEWARDSHIP and the resources required to sustain rugby both on and off the pitch.

GROWTH – Maximising the POSITIVE IMPACT of EPCR competitions to create a legacy for the future of our organisation, our game and our society.

Climate

Aspire the EPCR Finals to be Net Zero before 2030 by reducing our carbon footprint as much as possible and offsetting unavoidable GHG emissions.

 

Participation

Promote women’s rugby aiming to integrate an event in future EPCR competitions.

 

Equity

Aim at achieving equity on and off the pitch for EPCR staff and match officials.

 

Partnership

Integrate sustainability within EPCR sponsorship offering to grow revenue and build partnerships to deliver impact (“Partnerships with Purpose”).

 
Health

Champion initiatives within rugby that support the health and wellbeing of players, match officials and EPCR staff.

 

Role Models

Identify and support sustainability champions who can act as role models for fans and the media.

Our planned impACT

  • Implementation of a Carbon Management Plan to actively reduce (and offset) the carbon emissions of the EPCR Finals.
  • Collaborate with our leagues and World Rugby on Women in Rugby activities.
  • Establish an independent EPCR Ethics & Integrity Committee with both internal representatives and external experts.
  • Introduction of a carbon budget for travel of EPCR HQ staff.
  • Initiating a discussion group with experts from the aviation industry on the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (biofuel made from food waste) in sport.
  • Conduct a sustainability analysis (environmental, social, governance) for key EPCR partners.

Our realised impACT

  • Anti-doping Program.
  • Disciplinary Process (Foul Play/HCP)​.
  • Requirement for stadium host for Challenge Cup and Champions Cup Finals to be ISO 20121 certified (since 2022).
  • Baseline calculation of the carbon footprint of the Finals weekend in Dublin.
  • Collaboration with Trigoodi for Finals 2022 (Marseille), creating art out of waste.
  • Sourcing of local products for VIP hospitality at the Finals.
  • Donated GBP 1 per spectator (for a total of  51 500£) at Newcastle 2019 Finals to My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, supporting research on MND.
  • Repairing and maintaining the pitch kit rather than replacing season after season. ​