Green alternative

ESG EVALUATION CRITERIA – APPLIED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF A SPORTS FIELD

In the environmental context, the management of the ordinary maintenance of a turf makes a lot of difference because it must prevent and mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses, making limited use of pesticides or herbicides and extending the life of the field. If maintenance is designed with foresight and monitored by experts it can even offer a positive environmental impact.

In a sports field, the frequent cutting of the natural grass associated with a balanced nutrition, the restoration of the playing holes and the integrative reseeding, in addition to making the grass more resistant to play, increases its photosynthetic potential which captures more CO₂, fine particles and lowers the temperature thanks to a greater efficiency of the cooling effect that the grass produces.

The control probes of the conditions of the plant substrate provide useful information to the technician to better manage maintenance interventions and above all allow him to save more on irrigation water by optimizing the growth conditions.

The hole of the growth substrate mitigates play compaction and promotes soil biology which mineralizes nutrients; it also allows rainwater to be absorbed more, contributing to hydraulic governance and the prevention of damage due to climate change.

The removal of the felt accumulated on the surface, associated with all the other maintenance practices, inspired by the principles of regenerative agriculture, makes the plants healthier, resistant to diseases and less attractive to insects.

The waste management during the maintenance period and at the end of the field's life cycle, the waste disposal process must be documented and the process must be checked in several phases, even unexpectedly, to prevent the controls from being circumvented.

In the social sphere, the use of specialized companies with workers and technical staff employed with permanent employment contracts, present in the company for a long time, ensures a commitment to high working standards and proof of the attention to workers' rights consolidated thanks to a long-term employment relationship. When, from their personal CV, it is clear that they are qualified because they have participated in the company's work team during the implementation of at least three similar jobs to the contract in question, they ensure greater efficiency thanks to experience, safe working standards and consumer satisfaction. The hiring of apprentices chosen by the local community ensures the growth of human capital in the area.

The selection criteria among companies that carry out a training and information activity contribute to the dissemination of its skills which is proof of transparency and safety for consumers and of relations with the community. Checking that the company's suppliers respect the same values ensures that its efforts are not wasted or hidden through the illicit management of subcontracts.

In the context of governance, the principle of equal opportunities must be guaranteed, therefore, the qualitative criteria must not include the technical data sheet of a specific supplier, unless there is an objective technical, functional or aesthetic reason.

The verification of appropriate prices, the effective planning of the timing for the execution of the works during the tender are the key elements to offer fair compensation to the company, as a driving force to allow it to respect the criteria of fair remuneration for its employees and other elements in the social sphere.

Checking that subcontracting contracts are also profitable and the integrated and direct management of the subcontractors staff during the execution phase can prevent phenomena of exploitation and irregularities with criminal repercussions for all those involved.

The guarantee contract must contain certain and transparent clauses while the after-sales assistance service must list in detail the services offered and whether they are sufficient to meet the needs of the sports field management project.

In the management of sports infrastructures, the use of an external technical advisor in monitoring the correct execution of maintenance ensures the control necessary for contractual compliance.

The assignment of an independent analysis laboratory of the state of conservation of the infrastructures better ensures that maintenance is effective and that there are no conflicts of interest or mix-ups between the interested parties.

The regulations require that the executive design, of any work, is verified by a second technician who issues an opinion of conformity even before validation by the Client's manager. Most of the time, however, the technician limits himself to verifying the documents and not the contents also because, going into the merits of the contents, a conflict is created between the technicians and the verification times can be extended. This is why we must always comply with the application of the rules with greater clarity and transparency, without however constraining progress and innovation so that the final decision is entrusted to the free will of the Client. For example, the LND preventive opinion which verifies the conformity of the project of a synthetic field with the standard is therefore considered a necessary step that should also be replicated by other trade associations, as long as the technicians in charge do not have a double role (proposers and controllers). At the same time, the creation of an innovative field in the absence of specific rules cannot be restricted if it captures the interest and trust of the client who is willing to take the risk that every innovation entails.