Reading have partnered with the University of Reading to spotlight the climate conversation with their new home kit for the 2022/23 Championship season.
Reading's new jersey has the university’s ‘climate stripes’ infographic on the sleeves to demonstrate changes in temperature in Reading since the club was founded in 1871.
The infographic was created by the university's Professor Ed Hawkins, and each stripe represents the average temperature of every single year from 1871 onwards - with the red stripes indicting the sharp rise in temperatures in recent years, something many in south England have felt the brunt of during July's record-breaking heat wave.
The kit is made from 'Eco-Fabric', 100% of which comes from recycled plastic bottles.
Speaking to the club's official website regarding the kit, Professor Ed Hawkins said: “The climate stripes are intended to start conversations about climate change - and making them visible to thousands of football fans across the country every week brings that to a new audience.
“Support is a powerful thing in football and this collaboration makes it a key theme for the season. We hope Reading Football Club’s fans will push them on to success this season, while at the same time the players and the club will be supporting climate action and recognising the science.”
Reading's Head of Commercial, Tim Kilpatrick hailed the kit as 'the start of a journey' for the club in the fight against climate change, saying: “Last week we all endured the hottest day on record in Reading and that heatwave aptly underlines how vital it is to spark a conversation about climate change and environmental sustainability.
“We are not perfect, but this is the start of a journey. We will not aim to change the world overnight. But we want to aim to reduce our carbon footprint as a football club and give our fans the opportunity to come with us on the same journey.
"Featuring the climate stripes in the design of our home kit is one way we hope to inspire more climate conversations amongst our supporters and our local community.”
Source : 90min