Southampton FC has pledged to plant 250 trees for every academy player that makes their first team debut. Through its new "Home Grown" initiative, the club has said it will plant a minimum of 3,000 tress in Southampton and the wider region over the next four years. In doing this, Southampton FC will offset 3,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions and will also work to preserve 3,000 trees overseas, helping the club to achieve carbon neutral status by 2030. This forms part of its broader sustainability strategy "The Halo Effect" which is launching this month. Tim Greenwell, Chief Legal and Risk Officer at Southampton FC, said: “We’re proud to launch the Home Grown Initiative as a unique means of combining our commitment to sustainability with our club's reputation for developing world class talent on the pitch.