Two Premier League clubs among stadiums to ditch beef burgers for venison - in order to cut carbon emissions

Brentford and Wolves have stopped selling beef burgers at their stadiums as venues across the UK and Ireland attempt to reduce carbon emissions.

In a sustainability initiative driven by catering company Levy UK, more than 20 stadiums have followed suit, with beef to be replaced by wild venison.

Wild venison is a lean, nutrient-rich meat which comes from free-roaming deer.

Levy say the move will have a dramatic impact on emissions, with wild venison reported to have an 85 per cent lower carbon footprint per kg than beef, while they are also said to have a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance.

Levy CEO Jon Davies claimed wild venison is 'the most sustainable and healthy red meat by miles' and Brentford similarly explained the environmental benefits of the move.

'Beef has the highest impact in terms of carbon emissions in all of our ingredients that we offer,' said James Beale, the head of sustainability and community at Brentford.

Several stadiums across the UK and Ireland have ditched beef burgers to cut carbon emissions

They have replaced beef with wild venison. Brentford (above) and Wolves are two Premier League clubs to have followed the sustainability initiative

'We wanted to replace that with wild venison that has 85 per cent less carbon emissions per kilogram than our beef burgers. So, it has a massive impact. Our fans really like it. It's more popular ‍than the beef burger from last year.'

Levy added: 'With an estimated two million wild deer in the UK and no natural predators, incorporating wild venison into the food chain removes the need for artificial additives or fertiliser, supporting carbon reduction, reducing water contamination, and improving land use by supporting biodiversity and woodland health.'

Alongside the Gtech and Molineux, the sustainability push has also been implemented at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham and the Oval cricket ground among others.

The success of the project reportedly saw 5,500 wild venison burgers sold across one month at the Allianz Stadium earlier this year.

The move has been welcomed by various organisations, including the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, Eat Wild and The Countryside Alliance.

The venison burger is served in an eco-friendly seaweed-lined tray, in a brioche-style bun that is formed through regenerative flour, with ketchup and mayonnaise produced from surplus vegetables on top.

Levy believe the switch will save up to 1,182 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

Fans at the Gtech Community Stadium will help reduce carbon emissions when having a burger

Speaking earlier this year to announce the decision, Levy CEO Davies explained the reasoning for the move.

'Championing wild venison is the next big move in our deep decarbonisation journey,' he said.

'Levy is committed to driving sustainability at scale and wild venison is the most sustainable and healthy red meat by miles.

'Getting more of this underrated, yet delicious meat into the food chain is a necessary, but also fantastic move for people and planet.'