Johan Cruijff ArenA aims to be Net Positive by 2030 and launches Global Sustainable Venue Benchmark with GSES

The Johan Cruijff ArenA is advancing its sustainability journey with a commitment to net positive operations by 2030 — meaning the organisation will contribute more to the world than it consumes. Working alongside partners Ajax and the Municipality of Amsterdam, the arena is embedding sustainability across football matches, concerts, and all other events.

CEO Tanja Dik: "Our net positive ambition contributes to a sustainable world for future generations and Amsterdam's environment. It's a journey with real learning opportunities and clear goals, supported by strong partners."

Global Sustainable Venue Benchmark

In partnership with GSES, the arena launched the Global Sustainable Venue Benchmark — a framework that measures organisational, event, and supplier sustainability across three dimensions: climate impact, social responsibility, and governance.

Kelly Ruigrok, GSES founder: "The GSES platform allows the arena to measure sustainability performance and scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. All dashboard data receives independent verification through Control Union Certifications."

Rather than following a standard template, the arena conducted a thorough analysis with KPMG to determine what net positive means for its specific operations — identifying key ESG topics that required the most attention.

25 years of environmental leadership

The arena's net positive commitment builds on over 25 years of environmental investment, including Europe's largest energy storage system in a commercial building, more than 4,200 rooftop solar panels, wind energy procurement, and active participation in the "1,000 Jobs for Zuidoost" employment initiative.

Supply chain collaboration

Achieving net positive requires the entire supply chain to participate. The arena's Net Positive dashboard and events module on the GSES platform enables measurement and reporting across all suppliers and partners — making transparency a shared responsibility rather than a solo endeavour.

Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema: "I'm proud of the arena's long-standing sustainability commitment and its new net positive ambition. The arena serves as a model for Amsterdam and for society at large."