Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has joined forces with the UK’s Green Football Weekend for The Great Save 2025, a global campaign tackling football kit waste.
By bringing The Great Save to Australia, the PFA is urging clubs, players, and fans to rethink how they dispose of kit and its environmental impact.
The Great Save aims to keep sports kit in play for longer – via donations, re-sale, reusing or upcycling – helping to reduce waste, save money, and support those in the community who may otherwise lack access to kit.
The players’ union is partnering with several sustainability organisations to drive real impact.
KitAid Australia and The Salvation Army will distribute donated kit to disadvantaged communities, while Unwanted FC will help players upcycle old jerseys.
With a large demand due to new fashion trends, Vintage resellers will also keep classic and retro kits in circulation.
PFA Chief Executive Beau Busch explained how the need for sustainability in football has become a major topic and lead to this alliance.
“Sustainability in football is increasingly important to players and fans. The Great Save 2025 offers a real chance to keep kits in use longer, reduce waste, and provide gear to communities in need,” he said via press release.
“Building sustainable practices in clubs and leagues requires a whole-of-industry effort, and I’m proud that players are once again leading on this critical issue.”
An extension of the PFA’s Greener Games 2024, The Great Save follows the PFA’s nomination for Elite Organisation of the Year at the BBC Green Sport Awards.
Emma Ilijoski, a member of the PFA’s climate-conscious advocacy group, Our Greener Pitch, said supporting The Great Save would help leverage football’s global appeal, and connect fans and players to make an impact in the UK and Australia.
“Footballers collect a lot of gear during their careers, from junior clubs through to senior professional football,” she said via press release.
“Instead of letting it go to waste, we can create a cycle where kit is reused, keeping its nostalgic value, and also benefit those in need. The Great Save makes that possible.”
In 2024, the PFA’s Stoppage Time report explored football’s climate impact in Australia and New Zealand, sports and with that football has always had an important place for supporting sustainability.
This collaboration has the unique positions of positively effecting all pyramids in the industry in active sustainable practices and arguably having greater effect.
