Johan Cruijff ArenA achieves B Corp certification

Amsterdam’s Johan Cruijff ArenA has become the first stadium in the world to achieve international B Corp certification. The certification is awarded to companies that demonstrate a clear commitment to people and the planet. In doing so, “the ArenA shows how sport and entertainment can go hand in hand with sustainable operations and positive social impact.”

Tessa van Soest, Executive Director of B Lab Benelux: “It is significant that Johan Cruijff ArenA can now call itself a B Corp. As a venue where millions of people come together each year for sport, culture and music, the ArenA has extensive social reach. It therefore adds a powerful voice to the movement of businesses that link success to responsibility for people, the environment and society. We are proud to welcome the ArenA to the B Corp community.”

Johan Cruijff ArenA: Pioneer in stadium sustainability.
Johan Cruijff ArenA: Pioneer in stadium sustainability. Image: Johan Cruijff ArenA

Tanja Dik, CEO of Johan Cruijff ArenA: “This recognition confirms that we are doing the right things. Certification is not an endpoint; it is a next step. We will continue to invest in sustainable and social initiatives and share our knowledge with stadiums and other organisations. In this way, we demonstrate how sustainability and social impact can go hand in hand with future-proof business practices.”

Sustainability in practice

The ArenA's battery system
The ArenA's battery system Image: Stadionwelt
Over the past fifteen years, the ArenA has taken major steps to make the stadium more sustainable. Thousands of solar panels on the roof generate renewable energy for the stadium. As one of the first stadiums in the world to invest in large-scale battery energy storage, the ArenA is now able to run events entirely on green electricity. It also continues to develop smart solutions to reduce energy consumption. In addition, the ArenA no longer uses natural gas, making it one of the few stadiums in the Netherlands to achieve this. Energy-efficient cooling and dispensing systems, together with sensors throughout the building, have already reduced consumption by 22 per cent.

You can find an in-depth venue portrait of the Johan Cruijff ArenA and its various sustainability efforts here.

After energy use, catering accounts for the largest share of CO₂ emissions. That is why, in 2024, the ArenA replaced beef burgers throughout the stadium with chicken burgers, which generate 72 per cent less CO₂ emissions per burger. During last summer’s concert season, the ArenA also replaced 18,000 PET soft-drink bottles with drinks served on tap. (stadiaworld, 13.08.2026)