Major League Soccer Ranks First in League Sustainability Rankings
January 4, 2019
The eighth annual RESPONSIBALL Ranking report looks at the sustainability of over 20 men’s top professional football leagues from around the world through the 2017/18 season. As in past editions, the report again looks at three key topics: Governance, Community and Environment.
Major League Soccer was deemed to be the most sustainable professional league of the 20 surveyed. In addition to honoring the good work of football leagues across the world, the study offers insight into trends and best practices in sustainable sport.
This year’s ranking saw many familiar names at the top of the list, including Denmark and England, two countries which have consistently proven that sustainable actions are both feasible and profitable.
Read the full report here.
There was an overall improvement in the average scores of each of the three pillars, with Community remaining the highest, increasing from 31% in 2017 to 38% in 2018. Governance rose from 24% in 2017 to 31% in 2018, and Environment improved from 6% to 8%. Though there were three fewer countries in this year’s report, the overall scores of each country improved.
The United States and Major League Soccer continued its upward trajectory from fifth in last year’s ranking, finding its place at the top of each of the three categories and ultimately as the highest ranked football league this year. In the environmental category alone, the United States’ Major League Soccer franchises improved from 22% to 38%.
As more clubs with new, sustainably built, football specific stadiums are added to the league, this is an unsurprising development. Atlanta United is a prime example, joining MLS only in 2017 and housed in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a LEED Platinum certified arena.
"Through our Greener Goals platform, MLS has taken steps to address our environmental impacts by measuring and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions associated with select League events and big moments throughout the season," said Joanne Neale, MLS Chief Administrative & Social Responsibility Officer.
"We’re proud to support projects, like the cookstoves in Kenya, that align with our long-standing commitment to fighting cancer, while working in partnership with MLS clubs to promote healthy, sustainable communities throughout North America, and other areas in need throughout the rest of the world."
The MLS is a longtime Beyond Sport partner and a Founding Supporter of the annual Beyond Sport United conference.