When the world's largest youth football tournament gathers tens of thousands of players from around the globe, it is not just about matches, goals, and medals. Behind the scenes, there is also a long-term effort to make Gothia Cup more sustainable – and to give participants knowledge that stays with them long after the final whistle. One of the individuals driving this work is

– We want to harness the power of Gothia Cup to inspire the next generation. When so many people gather in one place, there is an amazing opportunity to show that small actions can indeed make a big difference, says Emelie Jacobsson, sustainability manager, Gothia Cup.

A competition that makes a difference
During the tournament, 486,000 meals are served. Gothia Cup actively works to reduce food waste. One of the initiatives is that the youth should not take more food than they believe they will eat.

To create engagement, the Plate Waste Challenge is organized – a competition among the schools where the winning school is the one that throws away the least food per diner during the week.

– It’s a simple concept, but the impact can be significant. If each player leaves a little less food on their plate, the overall climate benefit becomes substantial, explains Emelie Jacobsson.

The competition also makes sustainability efforts tangible. Instead of just talking about climate issues, the players themselves get to be part of the solution. At the same time, the importance of reducing food waste for climate transition is highlighted.

Where sustainability efforts become reality
For Linnéa Frykholm, one of the 99 food waste managers at Gothia Cup, sustainability is about the small decisions made at each meal.

– When we serve so many meals in one week, every portion matters. If everyone takes just the right amount of food and helps themselves to more if they are still hungry, we can significantly reduce food waste, she says.

Together with kitchen staff and volunteers, the restaurant team continuously works to track food waste and create conditions for guests to make sustainable choices. Linnéa continues

– The beauty of the competition is that it engages. The players become curious and start talking to each other about how they can help their team while also helping the environment.

Small choices with a big impact
Food waste is one of the issues where everyone can make a difference immediately. By planning their portions and reducing the amount of food that is thrown away, they also decrease the resources such as energy, transport, water, and raw materials that would otherwise be wasted.

– We hope that participants not only think about this during Gothia Cup but also carry the behavior home with them. If they continue to make the same choices at home, in school, or with their teams, the project will have an impact long after the tournament is over, says Emelie Jacobsson.

Celebrate the Planet
Plate Waste Challenge is part of Gothia Cup's sustainability initiative Celebrate the Planet, which aims to make the tournament more sustainable from several perspectives – environmentally, socially, and economically.

This involves both concrete actions during the event and using Gothia Cup's international platform to spread knowledge and inspire young people.

– Football unites people from all over the world. We also have a responsibility to show how we can collectively contribute to a more sustainable future, says Emelie Jacobsson.