A2ZERO Partners with AFC Ann Arbor Soccer for Sustainability and Youth Access to Sports
A meaningful collaboration between environmental action and community engagement is underway, as the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI) is announcing its sponsorship of the AFC Ann Arbor 2025 season. AFC, Ann Arbor’s hometown soccer team, has been working to advance the sustainability of their operations, and now, OSI and AFC have teamed up to ensure all the team’s jerseys and clothing merchandise are made from sustainable, eco-friendly materials!
From jerseys and scarves to fan gear, every item will reflect a choice to invest in sustainably sourced materials — highlighting the importance of being intentional in material selection in our daily lives. In further commitment to sustainability, the OSI and AFC Ann Arbor have also collaborated to ensure that, at the end of the season, all gear will be repaired, cleaned and then donated to youth who lack the means to purchase athletic equipment necessary to participate in recreational sports: A win-win-win for the youth, our planet and our community.
“This partnership isn’t just about going green, it's about building a stronger, more equitable community,” said Dr. Missy Stults, director of sustainability and innovations at the City of Ann Arbor. “By supporting AFC Ann Arbor, we’re proud to help create a model of environmental leadership and social equity in sports while also celebrating our hometown athletes.”
AFC Ann Arbor echoes the enthusiasm: “AFC Ann Arbor has always strived to be more than a soccer club; we aim to be a force for positive change within our community," said Mike Lorenc, co-owner of AFC Ann Arbor. "This partnership with the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations and A2ZERO initiative is a powerful expression of that commitment. Choosing sustainable materials for all our team jerseys and fan merchandise, and then ensuring this gear is later donated embodies our dedication to environmental stewardship and equitable access to sports. We are incredibly proud to collaborate with Dr. Stults and the OSI, and we look forward to celebrating these shared values with our fans during A2ZERO Week and at our special home game June 1. This initiative is a clear win for our community, our young athletes and the planet.”
This partnership will be celebrated during A2ZERO Week with a home game at Holloway Field at Pioneer High School June 1 at 3 p.m. The city encourages all to stop by to cheer on AFC Ann Arbor in their game against Kalamazoo, and cheer on climate action in Ann Arbor and the kick-off to A2ZERO Week! Get tickets for the game at afcannarbor.com and see the full schedule of A2ZERO Week events at osi.a2gov.org/a2zeroweek.
A2ZERO is the City of Ann Arbor’s plan, vision, framework and associated actions to achieve a just and equitable transition to carbon neutrality, community wide, by the year 2030. Caretakers and stewards of this plan are the staff of the office of sustainability and innovations. To learn more about A2ZERO and the work happening now in Ann Arbor, please visit a2zero.org
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Media Contact:
Dr. Missy Stults, Director of Sustainability and Innovations, mstults@a2gov.org