FC Porto Museum and Dragão lead the way in football sustainability 🌍 | OneFootball

The FC Porto Museum and Estádio do Dragão have achieved the Silver Certification from EarthCheck, becoming the first football-related tourist attractions worldwide to reach this level of international sustainability certification.

This recognition marks a significant milestone for FC Porto, the city of Porto, the Northern Region, and sustainable tourism on a global scale. The certification was granted after a rigorous evaluation process, developed over approximately a year, in close cooperation with IPDT – Institute of Tourism Planning and Development, which provided specialized technical support at all stages.

The official diploma ceremony took place at Estádio do Dragão and was attended by Melissa Hamilton, Principal Consultant at EarthCheck, who, on behalf of the organization, presented the certificate to João Borges, vice-president and administrator of FC Porto.

Melissa Hamilton's visit to Porto coincided with the ICCA Congress, also held at Estádio do Dragão, reinforcing the international recognition of these iconic sports infrastructures for their sustainability.

The awarding of the Silver Seal resulted from a demanding and transparent process, which included the collection and analysis of quantitative data, evaluation of qualitative criteria, and an independent external audit. This validation proves the alignment of the FC Porto Museum and Estádio do Dragão with high ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) standards and the best international practices.

The success of this process resulted from the work of the FC Porto Group's Sustainability team and the coordination between various operational areas. The implementation of a solid sustainability policy, the execution of concrete social responsibility actions, investment in energy and water efficiency, and the promotion of innovative accessibility and inclusion projects were decisive. «FC Porto achieves another important milestone in its history: the pioneering certification in the sector of the FC Porto Museum and Estádio do Dragão as sustainable tourist attractions. This reflects our commitment to a more responsible future, both on and off the field. We believe it is possible to combine sporting excellence with leadership in sustainability, and this distinction proves we are on the right path. This result makes us deeply proud, as it translates into formal recognition of one of our longstanding characteristics: the constant pursuit of excellence, with responsibility and a vision for the future,» said João Borges.

The FC Porto Museum and Estádio do Dragão assert themselves as world-renowned tourist attractions by combining sports, culture, heritage, and innovation. In 2025, they were distinguished by the World Travel Awards as the Best Football Stadium Experience in Portugal and represent the country as affiliate members of the World Tourism Organization. Additionally, they are part of the board of the Porto and Northern Portugal Tourism Association (ATPNP).

This is yet another moment of celebration for the rigor, work, and vision for the future that transformed the FC Porto Museum and Estádio do Dragão into sustainable tourist attractions certified by EarthCheck. «This is another moment of great celebration. I believe we can celebrate the rigor, work, and vision for the future that transformed the FC Porto Museum and Estádio do Dragão into sustainable tourist attractions certified by EarthCheck. Our mission, as a museum, is to collect, study, and share history, but we have always viewed the FC Porto Museum as a source of inspiration when thinking about the future. To those who visit us, we wish to convey a message: that it is possible to be competitive, innovative, and exemplary without losing the essence that defines us. This is, therefore, a moment of pride for Porto,» says Mafalda Magalhães, director of the FC Porto Museum.

The EarthCheck certification consolidates an already established path by the FC Porto Group in terms of organizational sustainability, a commitment initiated in 2007 with the implementation of an integrated quality and environmental management system (ISO 9001 and ISO 14001), reinforced by the Club's Sustainability Strategy and the distinction as the first sports organization in Portugal and Europe to obtain EMAS certification (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme).

Teresa Santos, Director of Sustainability at FC Porto, highlights the impact of this new stage in affirming the Club in this area: «When we started this process, we knew the challenge was demanding. The EarthCheck certification is internationally recognized as one of the most rigorous in the field of sustainability applied to tourism and organizations. It was with method, commitment, and conviction that we faced this challenge, knowing that sustainability is part of our winning identity.»

EarthCheck is an Australian organization, recognized worldwide in benchmarking and scientific sustainability certification for the tourism sector. Since 1987, it has worked with destinations and companies worldwide, supporting the transition to sustainable management models based on credible and verified metrics. The EarthCheck Certified program for Companies is globally recognized by the GSTC and applied in over 70 countries, being one of the most demanding international references in sustainability.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.