As of March 2022, the proud Frisian football club sc Heerenveen, representing the northern province in the Eredivisie, has joined the Dopper Wave!
Single-use plastic water bottles? Not in our club! That is the new motto of sc Heerenveen. From now on, all players and training staff of the first squad will drink tap water from reusable Dopper bottles and you can no longer find single-use plastic water bottles in the players restaurant. It is the first club in the topflight of Dutch football to join the Dopper Wave and commit to banning single-use plastic from their premises. The club aims to be a sustainable leader for the entire professional football sector.
Siem de Jong
It all started through the initiative of one player in their selection who has become increasingly conscious of the importance of sustainability over the years. Siem de Jong has previously played for the Dutch National team, AFC Ajax, Newcastle United, PSV Eindhoven. As he currently has two kids, he started to think about their future and his own role in leaving the world in a better state for them. This is why he decided to personally join the Dopper Wave and encouraged his club at that time sc Heerenveen to follow his lead. He was surprised by the amount of single-use plastic water bottles used every training and urged the club to take the first step to committing to stop this.
Taking responsibility
The board of directors at the Frisian club had already aimed to incorporate sustainability in the club’s future vision and were instantaneously positive about incorporating the Dopper Wave within the club. As the technical manager Ferry de Haan states: “If the use of reusable Dopper water bottles will structurally decrease the amount of single-use plastic water bottles used within our facilities, then it is a step that we must take. I believe that in current times, it is a requirement for us as an influential football club to take our responsibility regarding sustainability.”
Wave of change
In close collaboration with sc Heerenveen, Dopper hopes to contribute to the club’s sustainable goals, specifically in the area of single-use plastic water bottles. Every sport accommodation promotes a healthy active lifestyle, as well as providing the feeling of community amongst its members. Together, you share your norms and values which you proudly stand for and represent.
Drinking water is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle and is a necessary part of all sports, and water taps are available throughout every sports facility. Unfortunately, plastic pollution is also everywhere. Single-use plastic water bottles are still sold at countless sports facilities while the solution is often right beside it: tap water.
SC Heerenveen is showing that small, everyday actions can inspire a wave of change. By choosing a reusable bottle, the first squad saves 7,500 single-use plastic bottles each year. This has gotten our CEO Virginia excited too: “I am looking forward to see how many others – clubs as well as fans, and maybe even the KNVB – will be inspired by these sustainable frontrunners to join the Dopper Wave too”.
