Eco Sport Project leads the way

adidas and Common Goal team up for an environmental project in South Africa 

Located in Bethelsdorp village in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, this community is confronting climate challenges, including heatwaves, rising temperatures, droughts, and unpredictable flooding. 

The Eco Sport Project addresses these issues through a focus on sport and environmental sustainability. The project centres around the construction of a 20m by 40m all-weather football pitch featuring GreenSource’s innovative water purification and storage system.

Beyond the pitch, the project will introduce environmental education programmes and sustainable practices to empower local youth and support long-term community resilience. 

Climate adapted infrastructure:  

The project’s infrastructure is designed to address both recreational and environmental needs:

• All-weather football pitch with synthetic grass to accommodate five-a-side games year-round.

• Integrated water system by GreenSource that transforms the pitch into a rainwater catchment and purification system, creating a potable water supply for the community.

The project offers dual benefits by encouraging sports participation and addressing water insecurity in an area prone to drought.

Education on environmental sustainability through sports:  

The project will deliver a tailored curriculum to raise environmental awareness: 

• Youth Development Through Football programme to promote environmental knowledge alongside physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Coach training focused on environmental education, with an emphasis on climate change, global warming, and sustainable practices.

Community management for long-term impact:

To ensure long-term community involvement and environmental action, there will be two community initiatives: the Eco Club and the community garden.

• A student-led Eco Club to promote recycling and circular economy practices at the local school.

• A community garden funded by income generated from collected recyclable materials, where students will plant vegetables. Those grown in the garden can provide daily meals as part of the school feeding scheme, linking sustainability with nutrition and education.