Neftekhimik Launches Comprehensive Sustainability Initiative for the 2026/2027 Campaign
04.09.2026
Neftekhimik partners with SIBUR's Nizhnekamskneftekhim to start Environmental Initiatives in the upcoming season.
The new campaign will see the Neftekhimik and the Nizhnekamskneftekhim plant, part of SIBUR, jointly implement a series of environmental measures. A key element of this collaboration is the full offset of the carbon footprint generated by all home matches throughout the 2026/2027 season.Under this arrangement, greenhouse gas emissions attributable to hosting games – covering arena energy consumption, team and spectator transportation, and all related operational processes – will be meticulously calculated and neutralised through Nizhnekamskneftekhim's climate project. The project itself has already achieved a significant reduction in natural gas usage at the facility by utilising production by‑products in a combined‑cycle gas turbine for on‑site electricity generation. As a result, the project has generated verified carbon credits, which are now being deployed to mitigate the climate impact of other industries and public events, including large‑scale sporting fixtures.
This initiative represents a further milestone in the club's commitment to promoting sustainable sports practices. It aims to actively engage fans, partners, and the broader hockey community in adopting more environmentally responsible approaches. Additionally, the club will intensify its cooperation with SIBUR's educational environmental space, Ecodom, during the new season. Opened in Nizhnekamsk on November 15, 2025, on the premises of the Children's Ecological and Biological Center, this is the first Ecodom in the Republic of Tatarstan and the ninth in cities where SIBUR operates. In its initial six months of operation, the centre has already attracted over 6,000 visitors, underscoring the growing public interest in environmental education.
The facility features a designated recycling collection zone, a hands‑on recycling workshop, an environmental literature library, a game library, and an educational lecture area. In advance of the official launch of the environmental program, members of the Neftekhimik roster visited Ecodom. During the excursion, the players gained practical insight into plastic recycling technology – from the initial sorting of bottle caps to their processing in a specialized machine – and subsequently produced commemorative keychains bearing the club's emblem. These souvenirs were crafted from recycled plastic bottle caps, molded into the shape of the Wolf, the totemic symbol of Neftekhimik.
Moreover, for the forthcoming season, a partnership agreement with SIBUR and the Volga Region Environmental Company will enable the installation of branded collection containers for PET bottles at Neftekhim Arena. The club will channel all collected bottles to SIBUR's facilities for recycling and repurposing. These eco – boxes will be made accessible to all spectators attending matches, further reinforcing the club's commitment to fan engagement in sustainable practices.
For the upcoming season, Nizhnekamskneftekhim, in collaboration with its partners, is scheduled to stage a series of environmentally themed fixtures – an initiative that has already become a well – established tradition within the region.
All of the aforementioned initiatives are united by a singular objective: to integrate environmentally responsible behaviour into everyday culture and to demonstrate that ecological stewardship begins with tangible, practical actions. Neftekhimik and SIBUR are committed to harnessing the influential platform of professional sport to convey the principles of environmental responsibility to a broad audience – engaging fans, inspiring the younger generation, and collectively forging a more sustainable future for Nizhnekamsk and the wider region. In this context, each home game serves not only as an opportunity to rally behind the team, but also as a meaningful step toward fostering a conscious and responsible relationship with the natural environment.
