On Tuesday 6th November, in a pristine exhibition space down Langley St, just off Covent Garden, Football FanCast attended the Unity brand launch event.
Having been offered a chilled and slightly sparkling rhubarb-based health drink, we were guided through a series of exhibitions and installations, with Unity and its mission being explained along the way.
Through a claustrophobic enclosure, overburdened with discarded plastic containers and wasted packaging – designed to highlight the vast swathes of un-recycled plastic that are currently polluting the oceans and blighting the landscape – we came to a mini indoor sugarcane farm. Atmospherically lit and an arresting sight.
Beyond this, we arrived at a maze of sorts. A twisting passage upon the walls of which was inscribed facts and statistics that shed light upon the truly enormous scale of the environmental catastrophe currently threatening the planet and its people.
Following the maze, we were introduced to the full range of Unity products being launched that day – personal care and hygiene items with eco-friendliness at the forefront of their design, production and distribution.
The blue plastic nightmare room; probably the only indoor sugarcane micro-farm in central London; the maze construct; the Unity products artfully displayed upon bamboo plinths; the long-since-drained fizzy rhubarb juice – they all led to the protagonist of the day, the former Arsenal midfielder, Mathieu Flamini.
The Frenchman, along with current Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, founded Unity.
In a mocked-up living room set, beneath the busy streets of the capital, Football FanCast sat down with Flamini to discuss the brand, his ambitions, and his life in and out of the game.
“The idea was with Unity to create a brand with purpose. I have been close friends also with Mesut [Ozil] now for many years on and off the pitch.
My background is towards sustainability. I have been involved in sustainability for the last 10 years.
Mesut has been involved now in social equality now for many years.
We have maybe two different definitions of fairness. Fairness for me is going to be towards the planet, for him fairness is going to be towards the people, and together, we said ‘okay then, let’s create and do something together. Let’s create a brand which will be respectful to the people and to the planet.’ That’s how decided to create Unity.”
Flamini’s passion for addressing environmental issues is certainly nothing new. Having co-founded biochemicals company GF Biochemicals in 2008, he has become an industry pioneer in developing sustainable alternatives to oil-based products.
“For me it started ten years ago. When I started to be involved in the biochemical industry I was 24. When I decided to move forward in that direction I had the chance to meet incredible people, passionate people about the problem of climate change and sustainability and research scientists and organisations.
These people hold the facts and they hold the solutions also to be able to one day find a solution to these problems, but they don’t have the access to the people. At the end of the day, it’s the people that want the solutions. If they understand the problem and understand what are the solutions, everyone, at their own level, can have a major impact.
What we are trying to do, between these people who are scientists and who own the facts, is to try to push these facts and educate the people out there that we can’t react in 15/20 years, we have to react today to be able to build a bright future for the next generation.”
Flamini, along with his Unity co-founder, Ozil, believes that they are uniquely placed to aid this process of delivering both eco-friendly products and raising awareness of environmental issues.
“We have the possibility today to speak to all people, to speak to the people through social media and through this platform and what wanted is to create awareness, to educate and also inspire. We are followed by many young people and I think it is our responsibility to take the lead and to be able to inspire them and have a positive impact.”
Sharing a sofa with the Gunners’ former midfield enforcer, and listening to him passionately explain his involvement in and vision for Unity, it is clear that his energy and enthusiasm for this venture is genuine.
Cynicism demands jaded scepticism in this scenario, but Flamini and Ozil are two very well-off footballers who look to have come together with an ambitious plan to do a good thing.
“Football has no borders. I think it’s probably the sport that has the largest reach all around the planet, and I think it’s important for athletes to stand up for their beliefs and become leaders. We have a responsibility to show the right example.
That’s what we’re trying to do, and I believe more and more athletes are trying to do that. For me everything started with friendship. I’ve been very close with Mesut and for many years we’ve wanted to do something together.
So, that’s what excites me and hopefully Unity will be a larger brand that will be able to do much more for the people and for the planet. That’s the idea.”
Conversation then segues into Flamini’s playing career, which he is insistent, despite having left Getafe in the summer, may well not be over yet.
“Let’s say, I’m at the stage of my life and of my career when it’s not about that it’s necessary to play. It’s more about the project, the experience, and it’s also about the fact that I love football. That has been my passion for many years. I still feel good, so, if there is the right project, the right experience, why not? I haven’t turned the page.”
Whilst his time on the pitch may not be over, the 34-year-old already has a long career at the top level to look back fondly upon. Having come through the academy and established himself in the first team at Marseille, Flamini was brought to Highbury in 2004.
He went on to enjoy two spells with Arsenal – picking up three FA Cups and becoming a Champions League finalist with the club – either side of a spell at AC Milan, where he won a Serie A title. The Frenchman also represented his country on three occasions.
“It’s difficult to pick one memory, but what I want to say is, to have the chance to play for the biggest clubs and to share that with incredible people like Mesut, and to be able to not only be partners on the pitch but partners in life, and to experience all this with great individuals, for me, has been incredible.
When you go on the pitch, where we have the chance to play in front of 60,000 people, and all of these people are passionate and give everything to the club, it’s a sort of inspiration. For us, with all these experiences through the years, we want to give back to these people because they gave us so much.
Now it’s maybe our turn. It’s time for us to try to give back and that’s an opportunity we have and want to take.”
Flamini’s former teammate and current business partner, Ozil, still represents Arsenal. However, plenty has changed since our interviewee’s time at the Emirates Stadium, not least the summer departure of the man who first brought him to England, Arsene Wenger.
“He was inspiring. Definitely, I learned a lot by having the chance of working on his side. He’s the one who took me from Marseille, brought me back from Milan, and, of course, for me he’s been a mentor.
He has done so much for the club. So, obviously, I think it’s a bit weird for everyone to see Arsenal without Arsene, but it has been an incredible time for me to work with him.”
The long-serving Frenchman’s successor, Unai Emery, has made a fine start to life in the Premier League. The Gunners are currently enjoying a 17 game unbeaten run in all competitions under his stewardship.
“I think he has been doing very well up to now. It is important to give this opportunity for the new manager to prove that he is going to do well for the club, and he has been proving it until now because I think the results are speaking for themselves. I am glad that Arsenal is doing well and I really hope it will be a very exciting year for everyone.”
Things are certainly about to get tougher for the Spanish coach, as he prepares for his first ever north London derby. This fixture – of great significance to all with Arsenal or Spurs connections – returns fond memories to Flamini.
“I scored at White Hart Lane, which is a big emotional moment, of course, because I’m quite old fashioned and the derby is a big game with a lot of emotions. That’s one of the great memories I have, because I am not in a position to score every game – I’m more on the defensive side – so for me to score two goals over there was a big moment.
So, I will definitely follow this game and fingers crossed everything goes well because there will be a lot of emotion around this game.”
Arsenal’s aim for Emery’s first season shall be to keep pace with their neighbours, and hopefully triumph in the race for Champions League qualification. Flamini is certainly optimistic about his former club’s chances of a successful campaign.
“I remain an Arsenal fan. I still have a lot of friends playing for that club and I’m really tied to this club still.
I mean, I want to say right now we are competing for the title, so hopefully we will still say that at the end of the year. Anything is possible. Football can go very quickly one way or another. As an Arsenal fan, I hope we will be competing for the title until the end. That’s my wish.”
Flamini’s positive outlook on the Gunners’ fortunes reflects his countenance. As eager to listen as to speak, he has taken great care and attention in every detail of Unity’s formation, including being very generous in the time he afforded us at Football FanCast.
To learn more about Unity and their mission, and to explore their products, visit their website here.