Forest Green Rovers, the Gloucestershire-based National League football club known for its sustainability efforts, unveiled what they claim to be the world’s first fully vegan-certified football kit for the 2025-26 season. The bold move, in partnership with sportswear company Reflo and certified by The Vegan Society, has ignited both praise and criticism, with fans and commentators sharply divided over the kit’s design and its eco-conscious ethos.
We’re at our best when we’re bold.
— Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official) July 22, 2025
Introducing the world’s first Vegan-certified kit from @RefloOfficial
Inspired by nature. Designed to be recycled. 💚👕
A Groundbreaking Step in Sustainability
Forest Green Rovers, under the stewardship of green energy industrialist and chairman Dale Vince, have long been pioneers in sustainable football. Since Vince took over the club in 2010, the team has embraced a vegan ethos, becoming the world’s first fully vegan football club in 2015 and earning a United Nations accreditation as the first carbon-neutral football club. Their latest innovation—a vegan-certified kit—takes their commitment to sustainability to new heights.
The new home and away kits, featuring a striking leopard print pattern inspired by nature, are made from recycled mono-fibre materials using Reflo’s Reloop™ technology. Unlike traditional football kits, these are designed to be fully recyclable, capable of being broken down and repurposed into new products, such as furniture, at the end of their lifecycle. The dyes used in the kits are plant-based, ensuring no animal-derived ingredients are involved, a detail often overlooked in sportswear production. To further reduce waste, the club has committed to using the home shirt for two seasons, easing the financial burden on fans who typically face pressure to buy new designs annually.
Dale Vince, chairman of Forest Green Rovers, emphasized the club’s mission, stating, “We like to push the boundaries on sustainability issues, including what our shirts are made from because the materials we use to make things really matters. This season our new strip pushes the boundary again—we’ve created the world’s first fully certified vegan football kit, by making sure the dyes we use, which are an often overlooked ingredient, are plant-based.” He added, “I’m really pleased to unveil our bold, bright new kit that’s inspired by nature and helping nature—that’s pretty fabulous.”
A representative from The Vegan Society hailed the kit as “the most visible demonstration yet of Forest Green Rovers’ pioneering approach to sustainability in football,” marking another milestone in the club’s eight-year partnership with the organization. Rory MacFadyen, co-founder of Reflo, echoed this sentiment, noting, “This is exactly what Reflo was built for—pushing what’s possible for sustainable performancewear. It’s a milestone moment for us.”
Fan Backlash and Design Controversy
While the kit’s eco-credentials have been lauded by sustainability advocates, its bold aesthetic—a vibrant pink and green leopard print—has drawn significant criticism from fans. Social media platforms have been flooded with reactions, many describing the design as “horrendous,” “vile,” or even comparing it to outdated fashion tropes. One supporter commented, “Genuinely didn’t think it could get any worse than our previous home kits but that tops it, absolutely horrendous.” Another quipped, “Bold!? Lads that’s not bold that’s just horrendous.”
The £50 price tag for the kit has also sparked discontent among fans, with some questioning whether the design justifies the cost. Critics have labeled the kit as a “fashion faux pas” or accused the club of prioritizing progressive ideals over fan preferences. However, not all reactions were negative. Some fans expressed cautious optimism, with one suggesting the kit “may get something of a cult following.” Others praised the club’s commitment to sustainability, appreciating the innovative approach despite the divisive design.
A Legacy of Innovation
Forest Green Rovers’ vegan kit is not their first foray into sustainable sportswear. In previous seasons, the club experimented with kits made from bamboo and recycled coffee grounds, reflecting their ongoing quest to minimize environmental impact. Their broader sustainability initiatives include an organic pitch maintained by a solar-powered “Mowbot,” solar panels at their New Lawn stadium, and a fully vegan matchday menu introduced in 2015. The club’s efforts have garnered global attention, with FIFA dubbing them “the greenest team in the world” and partnerships with brands like Quorn and Oatly reinforcing their vegan ethos.
The club’s latest kit, emblazoned with sponsors Ecotricity, DPD, Candriam, and Smyths Toys, also features three stars below the neck, symbolizing their ambition to climb to the Championship. Despite recent struggles, including consecutive relegations that saw them drop from League One to the National League in 2023 and 2024, Forest Green remains a trailblazer off the pitch. Under new manager Robbie Savage, appointed in July 2025, the club is aiming to blend their progressive values with on-field success.
A Polarizing Yet Pioneering Move
The unveiling of the world’s first vegan-certified football kit underscores Forest Green Rovers’ unwavering commitment to sustainability and animal welfare. While the leopard print design has sparked a firestorm of criticism, it also embodies the club’s bold approach to challenging norms in a sport often criticized for its environmental footprint. As one of the smallest clubs to have competed in the English Football League, Forest Green continues to punch above its weight, using its platform to advocate for a greener future.
Whether fans embrace the kit’s vibrant aesthetic or continue to decry it as “horrendous,” there’s no denying that Forest Green Rovers have once again gotten the football world talking. As the 2025-26 season kicks off, all eyes will be on Nailsworth—not just for the team’s performance, but for how this controversial kit shapes the conversation around sustainability in sport.
