With the help from Visy, Carlton has set out to become an AFL green club, with a host of environmentally friendly initiatives to impact the Club, players and supporters.
Carlton has developed an innovative schools program called the Visy Effective Disposals Schools Program. The aim of this program is to demonstrate how primary school students can leave a positive environmental footprint, through increased awareness of recycling, water management and energy saving.
The Carlton Football Club in partnership with Visy is committed to educate, motivate and inspire young people to lead more sustainable lives through healthier lifestyle choices and increased environmental awareness.
On Friday night against Geelong at the MCG, the Blues will promote the environmental message on and off the ground as part of the ongoing program with Visy. The AFL’s green round is not until round 20 but Carlton are taking advantage of a home game in round 19 to commence the promotion of the green round.
On the field Eddie Betts, who is a Carlton environmental ambassador in our Visy Effective Disposals Schools Program, will wear green boots as a reminder to supporters at the ground and watching on tv of the important role we all play in caring for our environment.
The Cheer Squad banner will be Green and some members of the cheer squad will paint their face green. Around the ground supporters are encouraged to have their face painted Blue and Green at the free face painting locations around the MCG, supporting the Navy Blues Go Green.
On the spot prizes will be given away including environmental jigsaws, environmental tip autograph books. Origin will also be handing out information about their special Green Packs and a handball competition (into Visy Bins) will also be conducted prior to the game. Plus a special Effective Disposals running race will be held on the field prior to the game.
The official Carlton President’s function will also have a green flavour tonight with the menu featuring ingredients that have been sourced from local producers within a 160km radius of the MCG. The aim is to reduce the environmental impact by reducing the transportation of food to less than 160km thus lightening our carbon footprint.
Carlton’s involvement with green round will extend beyond Friday’s match with further promotions featuring Chris Judd in conjunction with the AFL for the round 20 matches. Arthur O'Bryan is tossing the coin for Friday night’s match. Arthur won the opportunity through a joint Carlton/Visy promotion that has been run in recent weeks with entrants nominating how they help the environment around their home.
Another important awareness promotion has been held in conjunction with Leader Newspapers with one lucky Primary School winning a Visy Effective Disposals School Clinic with Chris Judd and two other Carlton Environmental Ambassadors. The lucky winning school is Altona Green Primary School.
Through the green round Visy and Carlton are aiming to have all footy fans make their disposals effective. A lot of the recyclable packaging consumed by fans at AFL grounds isn’t recycled as fans simply leave them under their seats so they then get sent to landfill along with the waste. The only was to make sure your packaging gets recycled is to place them in the recycling bins at the ground or take them with you and discard in your kerbside bin at home.
Fans can also get involved at home doing minor things to change their behaviour such as conscious of their personal usage of water and energy. The activities and promotional initiatives around Friday night’s game and the AFL’s round 20 Green Round will help raise awareness of the environment.
