The captain of the National Team, Gianluigi Buffon, presented, in a video, the goals achieved by the FIGC in the first 18 months since the launch of its Sustainability Strategy. These results are detailed in the 2023-24 Progress Report, the first transparent and comprehensive update on Social and Environmental Sustainability through the steps taken as part of the FIGC Sustainability Strategy published in July 2023.

 

The FIGC 2023-2024 Progress Report on the Social and Environmental Sustainability sets a standard in reporting. FIGC is the first Italian sports federation to develop a Social and Environmental Sustainability Strategy, and the first Italian sports organisation to implement a reporting system. One that can be used as a model at all levels in the football community and by other federations, to measure ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) objectives, KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), and the results achieved.

 

With medological support from Lundquist, FIGC’s approach to sustainability reporting gives all stakeholders a clear and prompt view of progress on social and environmental initiatives. The report highlights the actions taken and milestones achieved, demonstrating the Federation’s commitment to a more inclusive and sustainable football, fully aligned with human rights and environmental standards. The report covers the period from June 2023 to December 2024, providing a complete overview of the first 18 months since the launch of the FIGC Sustainability Strategy, which takes inspiration from UEFA’s ‘Strength Through Unity 2030’ Sustainability Strategy. The process implemented by the Federation aims to create a domino effect, consistently encouraging the entire football community to engage more actively in sustainability, fostering a network of mutual inspiration to generate a meaningful and lasting impact for both the footballing world and the whole country.

 

The Federal President Gabriele Gravina said, “With the publication of this Progress Report, we are sharing a clear picture of the targets set out in our sustainability strategy with our stakeholders, as well as measuring the tangible impact of all of our initiatives we have implemented. Openness and full transparency are fundamental to the propelled FIGC as the first Italian sports federation to publish its own Sustainability Strategy, built on UEFA’s sustainability frameworks. We are proud of the progress we’ve made so far, but equally determined to keep working towards the goals that still need further effort. This commitment is a pillar of our pledge to help build a more sustainable future, not only for our sport. We will continue to do our part and work towards our shared goal. We are fully aware that this is the most important match for the planet, and we intend to play it, giving it everything we’ve got.”

 

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

FIGC has signed an anti-racism framework in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Sport, launched awareness campaigns against homophobia, racism, and violence against women, and delivered over 46,000 training courses on Child and Youth Protection, supported by dedicated workshops. As part of Policy 2, the Federation has also established the Federal Commission responsible for Safeguarding Policies.

 

In terms of equality and inclusion, the Federation has supported projects such as ‘Zona Luce’ at the Nisida Juvenile Detention Centre, which was the recipient of the prestigious 2024 UEFA Foundation for Children Award and has given internship opportunities to students from the Caivano Hospitality Institute. In keeping with this commitment, it has also promoted the employment inclusion of young people with disabilities. The ‘Il Calcio è di Tutti’ championship, organised by the Paralympic and Experimental Football Division, has seen major growth, with an increase in participation from football clubs and around 4,000 registered players. The Federation has also continued to promote accessibility and inclusion during the home matches of the Men’s Senior National Team, through services such as live audio description and the introduction of a Quiet Room. The FIGC has also promoted health-focused projects, ranging from research (Un Gol per la Ricerca with AIRC) and breast cancer prevention (Komen Italia’s Race for the Cure and the Carovana della Prevenzione) to anti-doping education through the Anti-Doping Commission. Under Policy 6, the Youth and School Sector's RETE Refugee Teams project involved 1,668 young refugees in its first year and 2,700 in 2024, reaching a total of 10,000 participants over ten years. Alongside further support from the Youth and School Sector, the Federation also organised the Road to Unity EURO Cup and took part in the third edition of the Unity EURO Cup, in collaboration with UEFA and the UNHCR. In response to emergencies, the FIGC created a fund to restore sports facilities damaged by floods in Emilia-Romagna and hosted a training camp in Coverciano for young Ukrainian footballers, alongside workshops for their coaches and staff.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

The FIGC has also made major progress on environmental issues, reducing plastic use and promoting circular economy initiatives. Among them: eliminating plastic badge holders at all national team matches – saving 9,500 units between September and December 2024 – and installing 10 atmospheric water generators at the FIGC headquarters in Rome, with 10 more added later that year, avoiding the use of over 12,000 plastic bottles.

To raise awareness about the climate emergency, the FIGC launched the Foresta Azzurra (“Blue Forest”) during EURO 2024, planting 260 trees in Italy on land confiscated from organised crime. In line with UEFA sustainability guidelines, a new eco-friendly matchday format has been introduced for Italy’s home games. This approach, tested during the Italy vs. Belgium and Italy vs. France matches played between October and November 2024, involves eliminating single-use plastics, using local organic products, and redistributing surplus food. For Italy vs. Belgium, UEFA’s Carbon Footprint Calculator was used to measure the match’s environmental impact. At the same time, the Federation has also calculated the carbon footprint of the Coverciano Technical Centre and launched the Coverciano 3.0 project to improve the sustainability of its operations and facilities.

 

COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY

In December 2024, the FIGC launched Sostenabilia – a multimedia platform dedicated to the Federation’s social and environmental sustainability work. The platform brings together all ongoing and planned initiatives, featuring exclusive content such as videos, infographics, reports and awareness campaigns. Organised into 11 thematic sections corresponding to UEFA and FIGC’s 11 Sustainability Policies, Sostenabilia serves as a reference point for stakeholders, fans and institutions, helping to make football more inclusive, accessible and environmentally conscious.

 

MONITORING KPIs AND ACHIEVEMENTS

The Progress Report tracks key performance indicators (KPIs), results achieved, and future objectives as part of the FIGC’s roadmap toward full social and environmental sustainability. The final section outlines the achievements measured against the Federation’s Sustainability Strategy, supported by a monitoring system for collecting and analysing data for each goal.

This system evaluates progress and completion levels, indicating whether objectives are on track or already met. For more complex targets, potential barriers and delays are identified early, allowing timely action to ensure successful delivery.