FA Cup Eco-friendly Pitch Banners
What our client needed
Service Graphics, a key part of Paragon's brand activation proposition, were the perfect partner for this ambitious project to create eco-friendly pitch banners for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. The giant pitch banners would weigh over 700kg, and be made from an eco-fabric material. They had to be visually striking, and capable of being unveiled and removed to very exact timings as the centrepiece of the ‘banner parade’ before the match started. Post-event, the banners also had to be recovered for the next phase of their lives.
What we gave them
Working closely with waste management specialists Veolia, and in partnership with The FA and Wembley Stadium, we designed, printed and delivered a pitch cover that would employ the world’s biggest stage to send a clear message, and leverage innovation to highlight the positive use of eco-materials rather than manufacturing from raw materials.
The recovered banners were then upcycled again using the latest recycling innovations to convert the material into over 1,000 items of clothing, drawstring bags and sports bibs that The FA donated to local communities to inspire the eco-footballers of the future.
- Concept design support and coordination
- Full consultation on eco-materials
- In-house super-wide format printing
- End-to-end project management
- Full coordination with client and all project stakeholders
- Transportation and on-field support
- Post-match recovery and recycling
What was the impact
The banners were a huge success, delivering on our client's expectations and forming a stunning centrepiece of the FA Cup Final celebrations. As well as the visual impact, the banners also had an environmental impact too:
- 1.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions saved by using recycled materials
- 47,600 plastic bottles recycled to make the banners
“The 150th anniversary of the Emirates FA Cup Final is a momentous occasion, and we are delighted sustainability played an important role in this event. The recycled pitch banner designed and printed by Service Graphics took centre stage on match day, and importantly it will take on a second life when upcycled. The knowledge, foresight and expertise of our production partner was exceptional in helping bring a landmark project of this scale and innovation together”.
The FA Events Team