Pitch Presentation: Negative Impact on Sustainability?

Has the drive for a 'perfect pitch' negatively impacted on pitch sustainability? We all want to see a well-presented sports pitch, but have we taken our eye off the bigger picture of sustainability by trying to create a perfect pitch, however that actually is defined? The Performance Quality Standards framework is used as an objective measure of the condition of a pitch. One of the three categories within the framework deals with 'Presentational Quality'; the others being Structural Quality and Playing Quality. Have grounds managers been unduly influenced by comments and perceptions o

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  Pollution

The contamination of the environment with harmful and undesirable materials and/or consequences of activities. Pollution might typically be chemical pollution to the soil, water or air, litter, micro-plastics, as well as activities which create noise or light pollution, or structures or features which create visual pollution.

  Pollution Prevention

The application of processes and procedures, especially good working practices, to prevent pollution occurring in the first place, for example by incorrect pesticide or fertiliser application, to reducing or controlling pollution. The latter can be assisted for example by the use of certificates of competence, having an active CPD programme, the use of less harmful materials, recycling materials (e.g. grass clippings), ensuring a suitable waste management strategy is implemented, having appropriate washdown facilities, minimising fertiliser and pesticide inputs, and reducing petrol and diesel usage.

  Population Pressure

A Social Sustainability Indicator. • Brief Description: This is a measure of the pressure that a population exerts on the local environment. It can be used to compare provision with similar communities or situations. The type of services or number of facilities will vary depending upon the population make-up and requirements of a community.

  Precautionary Approach

Principle 15 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development stated that "In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation." https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/generalassembly/docs/globalcompact/A_CONF.151_26_Vol.I_Declaration.pdf

  Precautionary Principle

"The precautionary principle provides justification for public policy and other actions in situations of scientific complexity, uncertainty and ignorance, where there may be a need to act in order to avoid, or reduce, potentially serious or irreversible threats to health and/or the environment, using an appropriate strength of scientific evidence, and taking into account the pros and cons of action and inaction and their distribution." (European Environment Agency (2013) "Late lessons from early warnings: science, precaution, innovation", EEA Report No 1/2013, p.649, https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/late-lessons-2/late-lessons-2-full-report/late-lessons-from-early-warnings/view)

  Preservation

The management of the environment to maintain a status quo, essentially capturing the current condition and trying to maintain it as such for the future, without change.

  Pressure, State, Response Framework

This identifies the activities which are affecting the condition of the environment and how a suitable response might be developed to address the problems identified. This was originally developed in about 1979 but was subsequently amended to the acronym DSR by the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and further extended to DPSIR by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in the 1990s. Pressure is exerted on the environment by human activities, these change the environmental conditions (i.e. the State), and a Response is made to reduce, mitigate or prevent the

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  Product Energy Analysis

A sustainability assessment tool that measures the total energy (direct and indirect) that was used in the making of a product or delivery of a service.

  Published Environmental / Corporate Social Responsibility Report

An Environmental Sustainability Indicator. • Brief Description: This can measure whether an organisation publishes a report that is directly relevant to social and / or environmental issues. The reports considered in this indicator are environmental; sustainability; or corporate social responsibility reports, or similar.