Surf Coast FC displays sustainable approach

SURF Coast FC continue to take leadership in the environmental space and have high aspirations of bringing other community groups along for the ride.

The local soccer club has switched to using Sustainawrap for its club banners at its home base at Banyul-Warri Fields.

Sustainawrap is a recyclable alternative to traditional fence mesh and is proudly made in Australia by Flagworld and recycled through partner BlockTexx.

The product will be used to exhibit the club’s advertising of sponsors and partners.

Surf Coast FC environmental lead Denis Holtgrefe said they were hoping to get more local clubs on board with the technology.

“When you consider the number of banners that get produced every season across all sporting codes, imagine the pile this makes up in a landfill.

“Currently 95 per cent of clubs are using mesh banners which are made of polyster which can’t be recycled.

“With the Sustainawrap, the entire banner can be recycled and as a community we can close the loop.

“The ideal scenario for us is to lead in this space and get other clubs to also do the right thing and protect the local environment.”

This commitment follows efforts during the 2024-25 season to curb waste at their facilities by introducing a four new bin system as part of a sponsorship with Victorian-based recycling machinery company CEMAC technologies.

“We never had a Container Deposit Scheme at the club and no one really wanted to get involved, so I enlisted my company to buy us bins and we started to get communication out there to members to not throw cans into the waste bin.

“The club gets a 10 cent donation, and those cans get diverted from landfill.

“If we can start on a small scale and then inspire other clubs from across Victoria to change their mindset, that’s all we can hope for.”

Local sporting organisations can source Sustainawrap via MCG Signs based in Torquay if they want to support closing the loop and diverting advertising banners from landfill.