12.09.2025
FIBA EuroBasket 2025 in Tampere awarded WWF sustainability label as the first-ever event
The European Basketball Championship held in Tampere has been awarded WWF’s new sustainability label for the sports and events sector, making it the first event in Finland to receive this recognition.
WWF Finland has developed the sustainability label to cover environmental responsibility, social responsibility, and good governance within sports and events. The label is designed for sports teams and clubs, federations, arenas, and event organisers. The industry has long needed clear and concrete sustainability criteria, and WWF’s label is intended to meet that demand.
The WWF sustainability label in pilot phase
In addition to the EuroBasket 2025 home tournament, the pilot phase includes the Salpausselkä Ski Games, the Finnish Sports Institute in Vierumäki, and Espoo Metro Arena. By the end of 2025, the label will be open for applications from any sports or events organisation.
FIBA EuroBasket 2025 is the first event to receive WWF’s sustainability label.
“We had already committed strongly to sustainability work before joining WWF as a pilot partner. Receiving the label now confirms that our organising committee, together with our partners, is fully committed to hosting a responsible major event. We also want to set a practical example for other basketball events both in Finland and internationally, as well as for events in general,” says Jaana Helminen, Head of Sustainability and Volunteers for EuroBasket 2025.
“It is significant that EuroBasket 2025 is the first event in Finland to meet WWF’s sustainability criteria and commit to comprehensive responsibility work. Sports and events play an important role in addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. Events and competitions generate emissions, consume energy, and can cause direct or indirect environmental harm. That is why it matters that EuroBasket 2025 is helping to develop sustainability practices for the entire sports and events sector,” says Jari Luukkonen, Secretary General of WWF Finland.
Sustainability integrated broadly
Sustainability is visible throughout the European Championships. The largest single theme is transportation, which typically accounts for the greatest share of an event’s emissions. At EuroBasket, extensive measures have been taken to promote public transport use. For instance, every ticket includes travel rights on public transport. The more than 400 volunteers also receive Nysse cards for their shifts. The arena provides charging points for electric cars for both the organisation and the audience, and hybrid cars are in use by the organising committee.
Circular economy principles, material reuse, and other key environmental themes are also addressed. Helminen is particularly pleased that detailed waste sorting is possible even in the back-office facilities.
“This is not usually feasible at events, but Nokia Arena is an ideal venue because sustainability has been carefully considered in its operations,” Helminen notes.
Social responsibility has also been given strong emphasis. The championships adhere to fair play and safer space principles, and the volunteer program is designed to be inclusive of minority groups, individuals at risk of exclusion, and those with functional or mobility limitations.
“We also want to strengthen positive experiences of the community. That is why our volunteer program is inclusive, bringing together people from many different backgrounds and in many different ways,” Helminen explains.
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Photo: Ville Vuorinen / Susijengi
Source: WWF, https://wwf.fi/uutiset/2025/08/fiba-eurobasket-2025-tampere-sai-wwfn-vastuullisuusmerkin-ensimmaisena-tapahtumana/ (in Finnish)