2023 Environmental Justice Mission Report

As we prepare for the 2024 USL League Two season—the third campaign since our foundation—we’re taking a moment to look back at our Environmental Justice Mission efforts from 2023. In publishing this report, we aim to celebrate the accomplishments made by the club with our community and our partners, and to reflect and think critically on the work. We’re looking back at a season that was incredibly successful on and off the pitch, and taking a moment to express gratitude to the many hands and hearts that went into such a memorable year.

While 2023 brought the team and our fans many moments of joy and renewed the spirit of collaboration that is so essential to our ethos, it also presented very real and very tangible challenges. The summer was in some ways defined by a harrowing reminder that the climate crisis that our club is dedicated to addressing was not some distant concept, but an immediate threat. Not just in distant lands or in far off futures, but right here and right now.

Vermont experienced the effects of the wildfires in Canada that filled our skies with smog and poor air quality for weeks, making exercise and recreation difficult and even threatened our ability to host a league match. Our communities were then struck by the catastrophic flooding that ravaged Vermont towns, destroyed homes and businesses, and displaced families. The Green Mountain State, often presented naively as a “climate haven,” was suddenly experiencing the rapid, unpredictable consequences of a warming world. For Vermont Green FC, the circumstances of these crises pushed our club, staff, players, and fans to quickly adapt from climate educators and advocates, to a dedicated, responsive community. One could argue that in 2023, a sixth mission goal was added out of necessity: Mutual Aid.

Despite these difficulties, the Vermont Green FC 2023 season was truly defined in one moment, a moment we will never forget. Our final match of the season was set to be played on Sunday, July 13th at home against Boston City FC. At this juncture in our season, we’d been officially eliminated from playoff contention. It was a match that—by all traditional sporting standards—was meaningless. With the playoffs mathematically out of reach and large parts of the state having to rebuild after the disastrous floods, it would have been understandable if this match saw a serious drop in attendance and the club quietly faded into the off-season. But the opposite happened, in the face of adversity, Vermont Green FC fans and our community at large opted to capitalize on this moment to do what Vermonters do best: come together to support one another.

Not even one more encore from mother nature—a one-hour delay for a thunderstorm that forced fans into their cars or to huddle underneath the Gutterson Fieldhouse—could stop 2,500 loyal, loving, and determined Vermonters from waiting it out and packing the stands for the Boys in Green. Fans donated their money to nonprofits and relief efforts, purchased fundraiser tshirts, and dropped off food and other supplies. Most importantly, we were together. 

The players, in a way they’d never done before, clapped for the crowd before kick off, knowing well what some of them had been through. The crowd received the love and reciprocated with noise and adoration. “Welcome to Paradise” by Green Day played before kickoff, and “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan played at the final whistle. Things were as they ever were, but despite it all, the match seemed to have more meaning than ever before. 

The Boys in Green won 6-1 that night, and in the celebration climbed the fence to be absorbed into the crowd. After the final whistle, the separation was non-existent. The 2023 season had ended, but it was clear that the story, and the work, were only just beginning. 

The lesson in all of this, from the perspective of our club, is that recognizing the urgency of our situation and maintaining an informed optimism are not mutually exclusive. If we are going to combat the climate crisis in an effective way, it must be rooted deeply in the solidarity and togetherness of our communities. Our 2023 Environmental Justice Mission Report, in the grand scheme of things, represents a small effort. Vermont Green Football Club cannot change the world on our own, even if our community  makes us feel like we can. We can, however, continue to ponder, strategize, and make progress in tackling issues here in our backyard, and in doing so we hope we can play some part in inspiring others. We remain eternally hopeful.

The gratitude we have for the community that supported us in 2023 is beyond our words. We continue to draw inspiration from each and every one of you who gives some part of yourself to uplifting this football club. We are counting down the days until we’re back at Virtue Field, together.

In solidarity,
Vermont Green Football Club

The Mission

Vermont Green Football Club believes soccer can be a powerful catalyst for a more environmentally sustainable and socially just world. We’re on a mission to build a soccer club that reflects these values and embeds environmental justice into its competitive strategy, operational processes, and culture. We’re building a club that prioritizes the environment in all business decisions impacting our local and global communities.

What is Environmental Justice?

Environmental justice is a social movement that fights for the equal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens in our society. It is also a lens that allows us to understand how human rights, equality, and environmental stewardship are interconnected. Through this lens, it is clear that efforts to address environmental crises – like climate change – will be most effective only if they are rooted in social justice.

2023 Mission Goals

In our pursuit to embed Environmental Justice into all club operations, our team set five distinct mission goals that would help guide our work in building the club.

• Net Zero
• Fighting Systemic Racism in Soccer
• Purpose Driven Merchandise
• Giving
• Education and Awareness

Net Zero

GOAL

Become a net zero club following the standards set forth in the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative.

PROGRESS

We progressed foundational work in partnership with an external team of consultants to build out our internal system to track emissions, while working with our venue, vendors, and supporters to collaborate on emissions reductions.

We encouraged environmentally-conscious transportation options such as carpooling, biking, walking, and bus riding for players, staff, and fans with CATMA’s commuter solution tool.

We partnered with Local Motion on the “Bike-to-the-Match” initiative to have a free bike parking valet at every Vermont Green FC home match. The initiative gave incentives for fans to ride to matches on bicycles with a no cost parking option that also automatically entered riders into a raffle to win prizes — such as BERN bicycle helmets — in the stadium. 

We continued working with kit apparel partner PlayerLayer, a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, and uses the HIGG Index tool to guide best practices in more sustainable product development. Their facilities are powered by solar energy, they’ve developed award-winning waste management systems at their facilities, are removing 12 million plastic water bottles from landfills in their product design, and are transitioning their factory vehicles to hybrids.

We partnered with Wasted* to bring innovative and sustainable portable toilet systems to all home matches at Virtue Field this season. The 12 Wasted* portable toilets at Vermont Green FC games collected human waste and processed the bodily matter into natural fertilizers, recovering the rich nutrients that ordinarily go to waste. Wasted* are focused on upcycling human waste to create valuable byproducts. Their toilet innovation supports a circular economy.

Immediately after all home matches, staff sorted through trash, recycling, and compost bins at the stadium to ensure contents were recycled or disposed of properly.

We continued hosting games at the University of Vermont who sources electricity from 100% renewable sources. Virtue Field, on the University’s campus, remains a fantastic shared space to discuss Environmental Justice and a more sustainable future.

“SunCommon is honored to join forces with Vermont Green FC in our shared mission for environmental justice. Together, we’re finding ways to bring joy to our local communities while advancing crucial conversations about sustainability. Vermont Green FC’s dedication to becoming a net-zero emission soccer club directly aligns with our vision of a cleaner, brighter future for all. We believe that ensuring a habitable planet is some of the most important work of our lifetimes, and through collaborative efforts like this, we can inspire communities and drive tangible change, both on and off the pitch.” — Madeline Hammer, SunCommon.

Fighting Systemic Racism in Soccer

GOAL

Stand up to systemic racism in soccer and beyond, and work towards using our platform and resources to build an anti-racist soccer club.

PROGRESS

We continued our commitments made with the Anti Racist Soccer Club coalition in our first season, and built on the goals set in conjunction with ARSC in our 10-Point Plan. 

We published a case study showing our meaningful progress towards combating racism within the sport of soccer in partnership with ARSC.

We hosted a second annual friendly match with Juba Star Football Club to raise funds for their participation in the Louisville International Outdoor Cup, as well as hosting free local soccer clinics for children. Ben & Jerry’s were an active partner for Vermont Green FC and Juba Star FC in raising funds and awareness for the effort.

We donated 25 sustainably sourced soccer balls made by Alive & Kicking to the club to use for their free youth soccer clinics. 

In addition to the 1,250 Season Tickets sold, fans purchased 74 Spread-the-Love Season Ticket Donations, a ticketing plan that allows fans to purchase tickets for donation to local youth programs to attend matches.

“Working with Vermont Green has been truly transformative for our community. Their support and passion have uplifted the spirits of our players, instilling in them a belief that there is something truly special to fight for on and off the field. The connections and trust we have built with Vermont Green have not only strengthened our organization, but have also led to increased collaboration and support from communities and organizations around us. Together, with Vermont Green by our side, we are creating a positive impact that resonates far beyond the confines of a soccer match. It’s a partnership that embodies the true spirit of unity and empowerment.” — Noor Bulle, Juba Star Football Club

Purpose Driven Merchandise

GOAL

Source merchandise that satisfies the highest standards of environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

PROGRESS

Our 2023 Home Jersey, the “Wildflower Kit,” was an incredible success and wildly popular with fans in Vermont and around the world. While we were pleased fans enjoyed the vibrant colors of the kit, its far reach also expanded the story of our 100% recycled materials and commitment to sustainably sourced apparel for our team and fans. 

We source our merchandise from environmentally and ethically responsible producers, including Recover Brands, PlayerLayer, Coal Headwear, and Econscious. Some of our fabrics include: 100% organic cotton, 100% recycled polyester from recycled plastic water bottles, upcycled cotton from manufacturing waste scraps, and hemp.

We partnered with kit producer PlayerLayer, who works with manufacturers that are members of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, operating in state-of-the-art factories designed with climate change and environmental stewardship in mind.

We launched the Closed Loop Program with Recover Brands, embracing a circular apparel model by encouraging fans to bring their used clothing to games to be collected and recycled into new garments by Recover Brands, effectively keeping hundreds of pounds of textile out of the landfills. 

We hosted a “Circularity Night” match on June 24th to educate fans on the process. The Club believes in the importance of transforming the linear consumption-production model into a circular one. Recover Brands have developed the technology that allows them to take back everything they sell, including blended fabrics, and recycle used fabric into new products. This process is what’s known as a closed loop, and our supporters can rest easy knowing their purchase never has to go to the landfill. Throughout the 2023 season we collected approximately 200 lbs of clothing.

We ensured all cotton we sourced for tees and hoodies was certified organic. This means we avoided pesticide chemicals that can harm worker health and contaminate soil and watersheds. This also reduces carbon emissions associated with pesticide production and use, and longer distance transportation.

Examples of products using recycles, organic, or other innovative materials: The ‘Ball Is Leaf’ tshirt, Alive & Kicking ball, Natural Fiber Welding wallets, Polylana beanies, organic cotton hats, and recycled polyester hats.

“A big part of sustainability is durability, but we also recognize that all apparel, including even your most well-loved Recover tees, doesn’t last forever and will eventually need to be retired. That is where our new Closed Loop Program comes in – we are excited to offer anyone and everyone a way to keep your old t-shirts out of the landfill by giving them infinite life through a fully circular textile recycling system ” — Recover Brands

Giving

GOAL

Donate money, time, and resources to like-minded organizations to advance our Environmental Justice mission.

PROGRESS

​​Philanthropy is practical, and forward-looking, like an insurance policy. Having a healthy environment and society is good for humanity and business, and we aim to reflect this value in our business practices.

We are a 1% for the Planet member. 1% for the Planet is a Burlington-based non-profit whose global members commit to donating 1% of their annual sales to non-profits working on behalf of the environment. We’re proud to incorporate philanthropy into our mission, and display the 1% for the Planet logo on all of our jerseys and training tops.

We worked with Vermont State Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale to collect supplies for Vermont families, towns, and small businesses in need after the flooding.

We split ticket revenue from the friendly match played against Juba Star FC to help raise funds for their participation in the Louisville International Outdoor Cup.

The club donated 50+ pairs of soccer cleats to Juba Star FC, collected from fans via drop off bins at home matches from community members. 

We created and sold 18 limited edition, unique tie dyed tshirts and gave 100% of proceeds to the Farmer Emergency Fund during the devastating floods that impacted Vermont. The white organic cotton shirts from the club’s inventory were dyed blue to raise awareness.

We hosted a Trivia Night with Vivid Coffee that included raffles to raise money for the NOFA Farmer Emergency Fund during the floods. 

We contributed 100% of proceeds from the sale of the 2023 Pride Scarf at our Pride Night on June 3rd to the Pride Center of Vermont.

Organized Vermont Green player visits to local community events at King Street Center and youth soccer club practices.

Our annual 1% for the Planet donations were split between the following environmental nonprofits:

Friends of the Winooski River

• Friends of the Winooski River helps communities rebuild and restore Vermont’s watersheds after natural disasters, offering technical support and resources to those impacted by flood damage and advocating for sustainable floodplain management.
• The organization actively supports Vermont towns in navigating the aftermath of floods, working collaboratively on road and culvert repairs, and promoting policies for resilient infrastructure.
• Through data collection and partnership with UVM’s Functioning Floodplains Initiative, Friends of the Winooski River plays a crucial role in understanding and communicating the benefits of open floodplains for flood mitigation and ecosystem health.

Intervale Center

• Intervale Center champions climate resilience by mobilizing community support, restoring ecosystems, and aiding local farmers in Vermont, emphasizing sustainable practices and food security.
• Post-flooding, the center has been pivotal in leading volunteer efforts, influencing climate policy, and providing essential services to ensure the continuity and adaptation of agriculture in changing climates.
• With a vision for a community-led food revolution, Intervale Center advances public policies and land stewardship practices to protect and nurture the land and people of Vermont.

NOFA Farmer Emergency Fund

• NOFA Farmer Emergency Fund offers crucial support to Vermont’s organic and member farmers facing crises such as extreme weather or economic hardships, ensuring the viability of a just and ecological local food system.
• Established in 1997, the fund aids farmers with emergency cash flow, helping them to recover from disasters and continue their crucial role in Vermont’s agriculture and environment.
• Committed to building resilience among farmers, the fund is a testament to NOFA-VT’s dedication to an agricultural future that is economically sound and socially equitable.

350 Vermont

• 350 Vermont engages communities in building a just, thriving world by addressing the climate crisis through social justice, empowering Vermonters to take collective action and hold leaders accountable.
• The organization focuses on dismantling systemic injustices that exacerbate the climate crisis, advocating for inclusive solutions that are informed by those most affected.
• By fostering strong relationships and community involvement, 350 Vermont strives to transform political landscapes and promote sustainable, people-powered initiatives for climate justice statewide.

“King Street is proud to be one of VGFC partners. I love the clubs mission and focus to bring awareness on how we can become a more environmentally sustainable and socially just world. I enjoyed bringing kids and watching their excitment and engagement in the game. The car ride home was a filled with conversations about the players and their skill level. A few of the kids have aspirations of playing college soccer so for them watching these players was inspirational.” — Gabe Tufo Strouse, Director of Community Outreach, King Street Center

Education and Awareness

GOAL

Educate ourselves and our supporters on how we can influence change through the lens of environmental justice.

PROGRESS

We won USL2 Organization of the Year, chosen from the league’s 122 clubs across the US and Canada, celebrating exemplary clubs and front office executives that delivered for their communities over the past year.

We were nominated by the BBC Green Sport Awards as one of the Grassroots Organizations of the Year nominees for our work as a community-focused club putting initiatives in place to move towards our goals of becoming a more environmentally-friendly and socially-responsible club.

We hosted a live taping of the Men in Blazers Podcast at a sold-out, 450+ person event at South Burlington’s Higher Ground. Roger Bennett’s signature brand of American soccer-loving passion brought the Vermont Green FC story and mission to an even wider audience.

Our partners SunCommon, in conjunction with the Men In Blazer’s event, premiered an independent film called “Up The Green” that followed the club’s inaugural season and showcased the Environmental Justice mission in action.

We partnered with the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association to celebrate Vermont’s most famous export, and work with the organization to promote the production and sustainability of the maple syrup industry. This partnership was promoted via the Maple Man of the Match, awarding a small bottle of syrup to each home game’s most valuable player, as well as a gifted bottle for the captains of visiting teams. The club hosted “Maple Night” on June 8th against Kingston Stockade FC. Throughout the season, Vermont Green FC goalkeepers wore an amber-brown kit with the VMSMA logo proudly displayed on the back. 

We hosted the first Pick Up & Pickup event with community members, coupling an hour of trash pickup and greenifying public spaces with an hour or more of pickup soccer at Virtue Field. 

We leveraged social media as a tool to communicate our mission and educate our supporters, including highlighting messages from environmental legislation and how to get involved.

We received organic media attention worldwide, including major pieces in The Guardian and Grist, VTDigger, the Senator Bernie Sanders “Bernie Buzz”,  and the Men In Blazers Podcast.

We continued a second year of our partnership with King Street Center, building relationships with local youth around soccer and climate justice. This partnership is focused on building community ties between players and local youth from underrepresented and historically marginalized communities, cultivating an inclusive and inviting club environment for these communities, and empowering teens through educational initiatives on climate justice. In 2023, this included five drop-ins at King Street Center’s headquarters with club founders, staff, players, and interns. 

Club founders mentored students at U32 High School in East Montpelier, VT about the sports industry, climate awareness in sports, professional development, and more. 

In the wake of a summer filled with wildfire smoke and devastating flooding, the climate crisis had been a tangible, local problem in a way that Vermonters were not accustomed to dealing with. This even included narrowly avoiding a cancellation of a match due to unsafe air quality. Our team reflected on the imminence and urgent nature of the crisis in A Window Into a Warmer World. 

We hosted the Adult Twin State Classic between Vermont and New Hampshire before a Vermont Green FC game at Virtue Field to expand the club’s presence in the regional soccer community as well as bring in new fans and organizations to the match day experience and environmental justice campaigns. 

We hoisted two 80 foot field signs stating: CLIMATE JUSTICE IS SOCIAL JUSTICE. These signs took the place of potential sponsor signage, and were displayed behind the south and north goals at all home matches.

We worked with partners including SunCommon, Burlington Beer Co., and Ben & Jerry’s to expand our mission’s reach.

We launched our Paid Internship Program, hiring six paid interns for the summer season. Alongside six sporting staff, volunteers, supporters, and founders, the personnel grew significantly, and expanded the reach of our club and its mission.

For the 2023 season, all Vermont Green FC home games had an associated theme, designed to put a spotlight on a specific cause, organization, or policy. For the majority of these theme nights, there was a Community Spotlight speaker at half-time who spoke to the fans about their specific advocacy. Theme nights utilized the important time represented by the break in play to continue building education and awareness. While everyone, of course, was eager for the Boys in Green to return to the pitch after the break, this window of time allowed for the night’s cause to take an uninterrupted center stage, even if just for fifteen minutes or less.

We utilized halftime of each of our home matches to provide a platform for local mission-aligned organizations to communicate their mission to our fan-base.

“Our 2023 season represented a period of tremendous growth for our club in all categories. As we grow as an organization, the reach and effectiveness of our Environmental Justice mission expands. Everyone has their role to play, players represent the badge and create moments that draw folks in, our partners who all firmly believe in and co-sign our mission will use their resources and platforms to amplify what we’re doing, and most importantly, our fans carry the identity forward, they exemplify what it means to be Vermont Green FC. We’re so proud of this collective effort, and we know we can continue growing into 2024 and beyond.” — Sam Glickman, Vermont Green FC co-founder.