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Australasian Leisure Management: Sports Environment Alliance shortlisted for renowned community initiative award

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Sports Environment Alliance (SEA) has been shortlisted for the Community Initiative category in the upcoming Sport Positive Awards 2025 for its project ‘Reducing Community Waste: A Team Sport’.

The Sport Positive Awards, recognised globally, celebrate organisations and individuals leading the way in sustainability, climate action, biodiversity, and environmental justice within the sports industry.

The Community Initiative award specifically honours community-led efforts that have made significant strides in reducing environmental impacts while engaging staff, volunteers, participants, members, and local communities.

The SEA project stands alongside other global leaders from Hong Kong, Brazil, Canada, Australia, and more, showcasing the power of sport as a platform for positive environmental change.

Claire Poole, Founder of Sport Positive notes “It has never been more vital to platform and celebrate those in sport leading on sustainability and climate action. As we witness the climate crisis increasingly disrupt the sports we cherish, we must take bold steps to protect not only the future of sport, but also the communities and ecosystems that support and sustain it. Those shortlisted are doing just that.”

Adam Cheyne, Chief Executive of Sports Environment Alliance, added “being shortlisted for this award is a tremendous honour and a reflection of the dedication and passion of our members and partners. At SEA, we believe that protecting the environment is a team effort, much like sport itself. Our ‘Reducing Community Waste’ initiative demonstrates how collaborative action at the grassroots level can deliver meaningful impact and inspire lasting change.”

The winners will be announced at the Sport Positive Awards ceremony on 7th October 2025 in London, coinciding with the Sport Positive Summit (7th-8th October 2025). This event brings together the global sports community to celebrate and accelerate the positive influence of sport on the environment and society.

Reducing Community Waste: A Team Sport project in 2024
With support from the Government of Western Australia and the WasteSorted Community Education Grants 2023 program, Sports Environment Alliance partnered with five member clubs – Fremantle Dockers, West Coast Eagles, Western Force Rugby, Vasse Soccer Club, and Swamp Rats Cricket Club – to deliver the Reducing Community Waste: A Team Sport project in 2024.

Through a mix of education, communication, and engagement – and using tools like WasteSorted resources and waste audits, clubs reported meaningful progress, including:

  • Increased recycling, resource recovery, and landfill diversion
  • Reduced contamination, particularly in commingled recycling streams
  • Introduction of new recycling streams at club facilities
  • Replacing single-use plastic bottles and cups with reusable alternatives
  • Greater awareness of correct bin use
  • Collaboration with merchandise suppliers to minimise plastic packaging
  • Embedding education and engagement strategies to drive impact

What worked?
To create lasting change, clubs identified several key success factors:

  • Start early and engage often
  • Keep signage and messaging simple and positive
  • Integrate initiatives into seasonal planning
  • Align with key stakeholders — clubs, local government, contractors
  • Recognise that behaviour change takes time and consistency
  • Overcome resistance with clear, early communication

To read more about Sports Environment Alliance’s Reducing Community Waste: A Team Sport, follow this link: www.sportsenvironmentalliance.org/resources/reducing-community-waste-a-team-sport

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