SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Allwyn, the UK-brand of European lottery operator SAZKA Group, has made a commitment to become the first net zero lottery company by 2030.
As part of the plan, the group will align itself with the UN Race and Zero, and has also gained the Planet Mark Zero Carbon Commitment to pledge to achieve net zero carbon emissions.
“By 2030 or sooner, Allwyn will deliver the world’s first net zero lottery operations,” said David Craven, who became CEO of Allwyn at the start of last month. “Where we can, we will share our learnings to help other national lottery operators around the world achieve a similar result.”
The firm will undertake a series of key steps to achieve its net zero goal, implementing plans to develop a net zero supply chain by 2030 with the support of key partners and ensuring all new sites operate with zero emissions from their first day of operation.
An affordable energy scheme is also under development for the firm’s retail partners. By 2025 all of the company’s suppliers must report their carbon emissions and share reduction plans, and zero waste to landfill by 2030 will also be strived towards, with all single use plastic removed from the supply chain to help achieve this.
Lastly, all paper sourcing will be 100% FSC certified, all Allwyn vehicles will produce zero emissions and 20% of exec remuneration will be linked to wider social value commitments with net zero goals.
“Combating climate change is the issue of our generation,” remarked Sir Keith Mills, Chairman of Allwyn. “Every human activity creates carbon emissions – even buying a lottery ticket.
“Addressing that, achieving net zero, is not someone else’s problem, it is everyone’s responsibility. Business has a vital role to play.”
The announcement comes as Allwyn competes in the Fourth National Lottery Licence contest, going up against incumbent operator Camelot, Italian firm Sisal and former adult magazine publisher Richard Desmond for the 10-year operating rights to the National Lottery.
So far, the competition – overseen by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) – has seen the participants strike agreements with a range of partners, with Allwyn cooperating with Vodafone and Sisal with Bernados and BT.
Commenting on Planet Mark’s new partnership with Allwyn, Founder and CEO of the organisation, Steve Malkin, said: “We are delighted Allwyn are making a net zero commitment with the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign, the world’s largest coalition of organisations committed to reducing their carbon emissions across all scopes in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.”
