“The biggest impact that sport can have on carbon emissions is to mobilise fans to act”, Tom Gribbin, Co-founder of Planet League

Tom Gribbin is the Co-founder of Planet League, a platform leveraging football to inspire sustainable living. Since 2019, Tom and Planet League have helped football fans and clubs score green goals for the planet. He has worked in sustainability, behaviour change, marketing, sports, and venture space for over 20 years. 

He has an MBA from the University of Cambridge and has been a Trustee of Nottingham Forest Community Trust.

AL Circle Team had the distinct privilege of interviewing Tom Gribbin, the visionary Co-founder of Planet League.

AL Circle: What motivated Planet League to collaborate with Ball Corporation and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment on the Green Action League? How does this align with Planet League’s broader mission?

Tom Gribbin: We use the passion of sports to create real change for the planet. Partnering with Ball Corporation and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment on the Green Action League is a perfect fit because we all share the same goal: making sustainability something fans can actively engage with in their everyday lives. Working with iconic teams like Arsenal, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Avalanche, we have mobilised fans to take small steps that add up to big impacts. The collaboration amplified our mission to make going green something fun, impactful, and accessible to everyone. The Green Action League was a huge success, and we look forward to next season.

AL Circle: Planet League mobilises sports fans for climate action. Can you elaborate on the initial vision that led to the founding of Planet League and how it has evolved into partnerships like the Green Action League?

Tom Gribbin: The idea behind Planet League came from realising the unique power of sport to bring people together and inspire action. We wanted to tap into that energy to help tackle climate change. So, we’ve made it fun, easy, and rewarding for fans to sign up for their team and take simple green actions that have an impact. Our tournaments create a stronger bond between fans and their team. We started in the UK in football (soccer), and so we were really excited to bring our Planet League to the US through Ball Corporation and the Green Action League.

AL Circle: The Green Action League emphasises simple, impactful actions like recycling an aluminium can, opting for a meatless meal, or picking up litter can score points and help their team lead the way in sustainability. What strategies have most effectively motivated fans to participate and stay engaged in these initiatives?

Tom Gribbin: It’s all about making it fun, simple, and impactful. Nobody wants to be made to feel guilty or overwhelmed, so we’ve designed activities that fit easily into people’s daily lives. Adding a competitive twist is a game-changer—fans love representing their team and seeing their efforts contribute to the leaderboard. Plus, the chance to win amazing prizes like signed merchandise, game tickets, or even meeting players keeps the excitement alive. The sense of community—knowing you’re part of a bigger movement—is a huge motivator. Fans see their small actions adding up and making a difference, which inspires them to keep going.

Finally, getting players like three-time All-NBA star DeAndre Jordan from the Denver Nuggets on board makes a huge difference in engagement and impact. DeAndre is vegan and hugely passionate about sustainability, and when he shares his story and sustainability journey, fans really sit up and listen, so we were delighted to have him as the spokesperson for the Green Action League.  

AL Circle: Planet League employs innovative tools like the VAR system to verify green actions. How has technology played a role in ensuring credibility and enhancing fan participation in sustainability campaigns?

Tom Gribbin: Technology plays a big part in making tournaments work so well. To score points for your team, a fan selects an activity, like choosing an aluminium can, they take a picture of it and upload it to the site. Our VAR system then checks this is real, so fans know the competition is fair. Credibility is so important—it keeps people invested and confident that their efforts count. The platform also lets fans see their progress, compare scores, and even get tips for earning more points. It’s like a game within a game, and that level of interactivity makes the whole experience even more rewarding.

AL Circle: With partnerships involving marquee teams like Arsenal and the Los Angeles Rams, how do you see the role of sports as a catalyst for sustainability on a broader societal level? How can other industries learn from these collaborations?

Tom Gribbin: Sport has this incredible ability to reach and inspire billions of people from all walks of life. Fans look up to their teams, and when those teams say, “Hey, let’s do our part for the planet,” it resonates. By weaving sustainability into something as beloved as sports, we’re normalising these behaviours and showing how small actions can make a big difference.

The biggest impact that sport can have on carbon emissions is to mobilise fans to act, and we have proven that fans will take a wide range of greener living actions in their day-to-day lives because their team has made it fun, impactful, and rewarding.

Other industries can learn from this by tapping into what they’re already good at—whether it’s storytelling, community building, or innovation—and using that to drive positive change. Collaboration is key, and sport is proving it works.

AL Circle: Ball Corporation has long championed aluminium recycling. How does this partnership enhance your efforts to promote aluminium as a sustainable packaging solution?

Tom Gribbin: Ball is an amazing partner because they bring such deep expertise and commitment to sustainability. Aluminium is one of the most recyclable materials out there—75% of all aluminium ever made is still in use today. With Ball’s support, we’re able to show fans just how impactful something as simple as recycling a can is. But don’t take my word for it; the top action, across the four teams in the Green Action League, was to choose an aluminium can!

Ball has also fully transformed Ball Arena in Denver into a plastic-free beverage facility, and we saw hundreds of Nuggets and Avalanche fans score green points by recycling their beverage containers during games.