The R&A has marked the tenth anniversary of its Greenlinks sustainability initiative at The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, outlining a decade of emission reductions, waste management milestones, and community investments.

Launched in 2016, Greenlinks serves as the environmental framework for both The Open and the AIG Women's Open. According to the organization, the program focuses on reducing emissions, implementing circular economy practices, protecting local biodiversity, and supporting host communities.

Key Emission and Waste Reductions

Over its 10-year history, Greenlinks has shifted 100% of the Championship's on-site energy generation to renewable sources. By transitioning to solar power and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), on-site emissions have decreased by more than 93%. Between 2023 and 2025 alone, total emissions from The Open fell by 11,785 tonnes of CO₂e.

The event has also recorded zero waste to landfill for the past five consecutive Championships. Additionally, water usage within hospitality structures has dropped by 25% since 2019.

Fan Experience and On-Site Initiatives

Several sustainability features are active for spectators at Royal Birkdale this week:

• Sustainable Golf Hub: A solar-powered facility located in the center of the Spectator Village, drawing from the event's on-site solar infrastructure which generates over 30,000 kWh annually.
• Nature Trail: Developed alongside Hilton Head Island to showcase local biodiversity.
• The Open Water Initiative: Run in partnership with Mastercard and the Priceless Planet Coalition, the project has eliminated more than 750,000 single-use plastic bottles and funded the restoration of over 110,000 trees globally.
• Travel and Materials: Spectators have logged over 10,000 personalized routes via the YouSmartThing travel planner. On-site amenities include compostable food packaging, locally sourced food, and a Sustainable Golf Bench constructed from recycled materials from the 2025 tournament.

Ecological and Community Impact

The R&A’s Sustainable Agronomy team and ecologists have documented 2,145 distinct species during ecological surveys at Open venues over the past four years to assist in preserving links course habitats.

Financially, the initiative extends beyond tournament week through The Open Legacy Fund, which has distributed more than £1 million to local communities over the last decade.

Leadership Perspective

To commemorate the milestone, The R&A’s Sustainable Golf Development team is hosting a seminar at Royal Birkdale on Tuesday, July 14, bringing together sports and sustainability leaders to discuss environmental strategies for major events.

Daniel Lightfoot, Director of Sustainable Golf Development at The R&A, stated:

"For ten years, Greenlinks has helped us continually improve how we stage our championships and reinforcing our ongoing commitment to finding better ways of delivering world-class sporting events.

"As we work towards our purpose of opening golf to the world, we want The Open to inspire not only through the golf that fans experience, but through the positive impact it can have on communities, the environment and the future of our sport. We are proud of the progress Greenlinks has delivered over the past decade and remain committed to building on our commitment for many years to come."

The 154th Open is being held at Royal Birkdale from July 12–19, 2026.