MCC win Sustainability Campaign of the Year at BOCAs

MCC has been awarded Sustainability Campaign of the Year at this year’s Business of Cricket Awards (BOCAs), for its energy saving campaign.

Over the past year, MCC reduced its energy usage by 14.8% - surpassing the target of 10% - across gas and electricity combined, with a total approximate cash saving of £374,190.

The reduction in energy consumption came despite an increase of general activity at Lord’s. During 2023 to date, event revenue increased by 38.9%, general footfall at the Ground saw a rise of 29.9%, whilst overall matchday attendance rose by 6.59%. When measured against these factors, the case can be made that the reduction in energy consumption has been even more significant in relative terms. In reducing its gas and electricity consumption, MCC were also able to save 166.3 tonnes of carbon.

MCC’s Estates Department ran numerous schemes to achieve the reduction in energy usage, and engaged staff via regular communication and an incentivisation programme to ensure all electrical and gas devices were switched off when not in use.

Robert Ebdon, MCC’s Estates Director said: “Winning this award is testament to the incredibly hard work put in by numerous individuals across our Estates team, whose dedication ensured that we were able to massively exceed our target energy reduction at a time where energy costs have soared.”

The win comes after MCC released its Net Zero Strategy in September, which sets out the steps required to reach net zero by 2040, if not earlier. The Strategy received coverage from Sky Cricket and talkSPORT.

In addition to Sustainability Campaign of the Year, MCC’s Sustainability and Accessibility Manager, Stuart Dunlop, finished as a finalist for the Rising Star category for his work in producing MCC’s Net Zero Strategy.

The Club was also shortlisted in the Communications Campaign of the Year category, for its Community Cricket Heroes campaign.