Andy Devaney
Reflo is bringing a fresh meaning to football’s green credentials this week. The sustainable performancewear brand is at the heart of an unprecedented environmental initiative marking Friday’s Emirates FA Cup First Round fixture between Luton Town and Forest Green Rovers — two clubs proudly donning Reflo kits this season.
In what’s been dubbed “The Reflo Derby,” the clash isn’t just about goals and glory. Reflo has pledged to plant at least 1,000 trees, plus another 1,000 for every goal scored during regular time. It’s a bold move that turns the beautiful game into a living, breathing legacy of environmental action — and a powerful example of how sport can lead the sustainability charge.
The match, broadcast live on TNT Sports on Friday, 31st October, marks a milestone for Reflo. The brand’s cutting-edge Reloop design process transforms recycled materials into high-performance kits using a mono-fibre construction that makes them fully recyclable. It’s not marketing spin — it’s a genuine step toward solving one of sport’s dirtiest problems: textile waste.
And it’s not lost on anyone that the two clubs involved are walking the same eco-friendly path. Forest Green Rovers, celebrating a decade as a fully vegan football club, remain the only team in the world to wear a Vegan Society-certified kit — made, fittingly, by Reflo. Luton Town, meanwhile, are pushing forward with their own environmental commitments, from a tree-planting initiative linked to their third kit to sustainable plans for their new Power Court stadium.
“As soon as we were drawn against Luton, we knew that this would be an extra special FA Cup game between the only two teams using Reflo playing kit,” said Dane Vince, CEO of Forest Green Rovers. “Sustainability is at the core of everything we do at FGR, showing how sports can and should become sustainable – including the world’s first certified vegan kit with Reflo.
This fixture is the perfect celebration of our unique journey and planting thousands of trees as part of this game is something we are proud to be part of!”
For Reflo, this moment is as much about purpose as it is performance. “This match is more than football – it’s a celebration of progress,” said Rory MacFadyen, Co-Founder of Reflo. “To see both our partner clubs, Luton and Forest Green Rovers, go head-to-head on live television, both wearing Reflo, is incredibly special.
We’re proud to mark it by planting 1,000 trees for every goal scored, creating a lasting impact that goes beyond the pitch. Football has a unique power to inspire change, and this is proof that sustainability and sport can thrive together.”
Reflo’s rise in the world of sportwear has been anything but ordinary. In an industry still littered with empty greenwashing slogans, the brand’s Reloop system stands out for its tangible innovation — blending durability, comfort and recyclability in a single fibre.
“The Reflo Derby” is more than just a football fixture; it’s a statement that performance and purpose can share the same pitch.
As the floodlights come on and the cameras roll this Friday, the scoreline will matter — but so will the growing forest behind it.
For more information, visit reflo.com or follow @Reflo on Instagram.
