Natural World

‍

Natural World is focused on ensuring the future of the physical environment through repairing ecological systems and protecting existing ones.

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Wildlife Restoration

‍Recreating a functioning ecosystem through purposeful rehabilitation.56

Positive Impacts

  • Increased local biodiversity and populations of species56
  • Improved soil quality by increasing soil stability and avoiding erosion (which brings about increased sediment and pollutants in water)56
  • Increased amount of water cycling through the system with increased plant productivity and biomass56
  • Enhanced resilience of coastal regions to sea-level rise and storm surges56
  • A co-benefit of increased biomass is the increased carbon uptake capacity

Limitations

  • Implementation can take a long time, especially to know if the restoration has been successful
  • Have to understand the full ecological system (including how humans interact with the environment) to create a successful, sustainable restoration project30

‍

Natural Environment Protection

‍Conserving and protecting existing ecosystems.

Positive Impacts

  • Increase food security9
  • Save endangered species9
  • Empower local and Indigenous communities9
  • Mitigate climate change9
  • Potential to positively impact human health through dietary health, improved air quality and environmental exposure, mental health, access to medicinal products, and more9

Limitations

  • Have to understand the full ecological system (including how humans interact with the environment) to create a successful, sustainable conservation project30
  • Can lead to the criminalization and displacement of local communities if not handled with an understanding of human-environment interactions30‍
  • Focusing on eco-tourism to protect the natural environment can lead to changing the wildlife (e.g., pulling out mangroves and building beaches; altering animal behavior)30

Circular Economy

‍

A circular economy focuses on extending the life-cycle of a product by developing production and consumption practices (like recycling, reusing, and repairing products) to reduce or eliminate waste.25 This involves all aspects of the creation of a product: design, production or manufacturing, distribution, consumption and re-use, recycling, and waste management.25 The identified sub-foci are parts of this overall process.

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Waste

‍The management or reduction of waste created by organizations.

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Recycled Materials

Using non-raw materials in the production of new products.

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Recycling

‍The process of collecting and using materials that would otherwise be waste products and making new products from them.54

‍

Because the circular economy is a holistic model for thinking about a product, a circular economy, as a whole, has opportunities and limitations that are found across the system.

‍

Positive Impacts

  • Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change55
  • Prevents pollution caused by reducing the need to harvest new raw materials8,55
  • Reduces the energy needed to make a product8,33
  • Helps sustain the environment and conserve finite resources for future generations55
  • Reduces the amount of waste and prevents waste materials from leaching chemicals into the air, ground, or water55
  • Allows products to be used to their fullest extent and extends their useful life8,55

Limitations

  • Reducing consumption and production—rather than incorporating sustainable practices into production—is the most effective way to reduce waste55
  • Making a new product—even if it incorporates circular economy thinking into its production—emits GHGs through production and transportation or distribution55
  • Many products are not made to be recycled or disassembled, increasing the difficulty of recycling56
  • Recycling takes energy33
  • Transporting materials to recycle can lead to pollution33
  • Recycling initiatives often rely on fan cooperation

‍

Water

‍

Water is centered on reducing the amount of water needed for an organization's process, as well as protecting the quality of water through sanitation or anti-pollution measures.

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Water Reduction

‍Decreasing the amount of water used through efficiencies.

Positive Impacts

  • Reducing water consumption diverts less water from water sources, which helps keep the environment healthy53
  • Can help lower the amount of energy used to treat, pump, and heat water, lowering the overall energy demand and air pollution22
  • Decreasing water consumption can help avoid strain on community water supplies53

Limitations

  • User behavior can reduce the expected water savings39

‍

Clean Water

‍Improving the quality of water.

Positive Impacts

  • Defending healthy ecosystems for wildlife
  • Could reduce the impact of climate change on organisms that live on and around the water13
  • Protecting the quantity and availability of water for human use and consumption

Limitations

  • Pollution control cannot eliminate the impact of climate change on water bodies13
  • Ensuring high water quality without reducing the amount of water used could lead to negative health and environmental outcomes due to a lack of water

‍

Energy

Neutral simply means that the growing process absorbs enough CO2 to balance the emissions released.15

‍

Energy examines the types of energy we use, as well as the efficiency with which we use that energy.

‍

Clean or Renewable Energy

‍Renewable energy, also known as clean energy, comes from energy sources that are continuously replenished (and so not depleted by use).46

Positive Impacts

  • GHG emissions are either zero (wind, solar, and water), low (geothermal), or neutralii (biomass), helping to mitigate climate change and resulting in the advantages of reduced GHG emissions15
  • Each type of clean or renewable energy has their own opportunities:
  • Solar energy can be used anywhere in the world that receives sunlight15
  • Biomass and geothermal energy can be used continuously15
  • Natural gas generates half the amount of CO2 and less particulate matter than coal14

Limitations

  • The overall environmental impact of renewable energies depends on the lifecycle of emissions15
  • Each type of renewable energy has their own limitations:
  • Hydropower dams change the ecosystem and physical characteristics of the river they sit on15
  • Wind farms do not always produce their maximum capacity and require thousands of acres of land to operate15
  • Factors such as geography, time of day, and weather all affect the amount of energy harnessed by solar power15
  • Biomass takes a long time to be carbon neutral
  • Geothermal energy may require drilling multiple wells, result in higher water usage, and release CO2 trapped in the earth15

‍

Energy Efficiency or Reduction

‍Efficiency means "using less energy to perform the same task" (for example, energy efficient lighting),23 while reduction focuses on reducing the amount of end use (for example, turning off the lights).57

Positive Impacts

  • Reduces GHG emissions, helping to mitigate climate change23,57
  • Improved energy efficiency is the cheapest—and often the most immediate—way to reduce the use of fossil fuels23

Limitations

  • User behavior impacts effectiveness: 30% of potential energy savings are lost due to social, cultural, and economic factors23

‍

LFC's Red Way

‍

Overview

  • Carbon neutral for their direct activities, with the long-term goal of reaching absolute zero carbon emissions37
  • The Club uses fully renewable energy sources for electricity and gas supplies, as well as carbon offsetting for other fuel sources37
  • LFC has worked with SC Johnson to place recycling bins on Anfield's concourses with the end goal of recycling over 500,000 plastic bottles into Mr Muscle® packaging37
  • Waste at the AXA Training Centre is diverted from landfills and waste food is minimized through a food macerator37
  • Recycled 6,500 plastic seats and 6,500 seat backs37
  • LFC's kits are made from 100% recycled polyester due to Nike's 'Move to Zero' sustainability initiative37
  • Water use is reduced at Anfield through the installation of waterless urinals, and the Academy and AXA Training Ground complex use natural rainwater for irrigating pitches throughout the site37
  • Water contaminants are prevented from getting into local drain or water courses through two closed-loop waste-to-water wash systems and oil water separators37
  • The Club's AXA Training Centre encourages biodiversity by planting 635 trees, 6,000 plants, and 1.5 km of hedging37,38

‍

Why important

  • Looking at Operations in All Locations

LFC does not focus on a singular location—such as their stadium—and ignore questions of sustainability in other areas of operation. Instead, they actively look at the operations of their stadium, training center, and academy to think about how those different locations can be more sustainable in their operations. This helps ensure that the overall impact of the organization is positive, rather than the positive impacts being diminished by negative environmental effects in other locations.

‍

Sky Sports

‍

Overview

  • Certified carbon neutral channel, which supports Sky's overall target of being net zero carbon by 203049
  • Switched all outside broadcast generators to run on Biofuel in the UK and Ireland
  • Reduced emissions through remote productions
  • Encourage production teams to use public transport or car shares and reduce the number of flights they take49
  • Sky worked with Tottenham Hotspur to host Game Zero, the world's first net zero carbon major football match, which took place against Chelsea48
  • A baseline created during a Tottenham v Manchester City match was used to identify areas to reduce emissions, highlight sources where reducing emissions would be difficult, and track overall progress. This emissions formula can now be used to continuously measure and reduce Tottenham's carbon emissions moving forward48
  • 100% renewable energy used during matchday, including that already used by Tottenham's stadium (whose electricity comes from 100% renewable energy)48
  • Encouraged fans to make environmentally friendly decisions and engaged Spurs' suppliers in reducing their carbon emissions48
  • All food was locally and sustainably sourced, with more vegetarian and plant-based options available48
  • Sky Sports reduced emissions from their production crew by 70%48
  • Any emissions that could not be cut (such as from fan travel), was offset by investing in a VCS and CCBA verified community reforestation project in East Africa48

Why important

  • Not Just About Teams and Leagues

Sky Sports' work shows how the entire sports ecosystem—including broadcasters, partners, and manufacturers—have an important role to play in making the sports industry more sustainable. While broadcasters can be segregated out from the sports industry into the media industry, they are an undeniable part of the sports ecosystem. If we just focus on the teams and leagues, there will be big parts of the sports ecosystem and industry that are not sustainable and not held accountable for their sustainability efforts. In addition, Game Zero reveals ways in which broadcast partners and sports properties can push and support each other to be more sustainable in their operations. The overall environmental impact of a game depends on all those who are involved in it: broadcasters, the teams, the concessionaires, the suppliers, etc. To make sporting events environmentally friendly, all these stakeholders need to work together, support each other, and push one another to be more sustainable. Game Zero also creates a blueprint or pathway for broadcasters and sports properties to implement sustainable practices on game days and within their infrastructure.

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Adidas' Recycling Focus

‍

Overview

  • Publicly committed to ending plastic waste and announced plans to eliminate virgin polyester by 202427,60
  • Created a new tennis apparel line, which is made from plastic waste prevented from entering the water and recycled materials; Adidas' goal is to keep 8 million tons of plastic out of the oceans every year27
  • Used more than 60% recycled polyester in its products in 202160,3,5 
  • Incorporate other recycled materials into their production: recycled nylon, recycled polystyrene, and various other materials (such as inlay soles, textiles, metals, plastics, packaging and rubber)5
  • By 2025, 90% of their products will incorporate sustainable design, technology, or material27
  • Reduce or avoid packaging, use recycled/recyclable materials, and design the packaging to improve recyclability in their efforts to make transportation and packaging more sustainable5
  • Encourage customers to send used products from any brand to Adidas to be reused or resold through the Choose to Give Back program and recycle excess pre-market product4

‍

Why important

  • Depth in a Specific Area
  • Brand Leadership

Adidas seems to have a sustained focus on circular economy and how a circular economy can support the other categories of environmental action. Importantly, this focus has not limited the number of ways and thoroughness with which they are considering how to implement a circular economy. Adidas has incorporated sustainability and circular economy thinking throughout the lifecycle of their products (design, materials, production, distribution, collection), which is a true enactment of a circular economy. Such operational implementation also creates the maximum positive impact, as it considers the environmental effect that a product has throughout its lifetime.

Brands and manufacturers have a role to play in the sports ecosystem and the overall sustainability in the industry. Manufacturers and brands create the wide variety of equipment and clothing used by the sports industry at every level (from grassroots to professional). If only professional teams and leagues are enacting sustainability agendas, we miss a huge part of the sports industry that is having an impact on the environment. Adidas is showing a pathway for manufacturers to use waste materials as recycled materials and to more broadly implement a circular economy.

‍

Formula E

‍

Overview

  • Received ISO 20121 re-certification in August 2021, remaining the only motorsport series to receive this certification since 20161
  • First sport to join the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) to address global warming, the first certified net-zero carbon emission sport from inception2
  • Committed to reducing the Championship's emissions from 2019 by 45% by 20302
  • Reduced absolute carbon emissions in Season 7 by 500 t (metric tons) CO2 -eq per race, despite the addition of 4 races to the schedule2
  • All unavoidable emissions from Season 7 were offset by a Mexico-based renewable energy project that socially benefits local communities1
  • All car parts (tires, batteries, broken chassis) are recycled at the end of their life, and the most efficient modes of transporting the broken chassis back to their UK headquarters are used2
  • Tire allocation was reduced by 25% for single races and up to 50% in double-headers in Season 7, resulting in a 29% reduction in emissions1
  • The Championship is also phasing out single-use plastics through hydration stations and providing staff, spectators, and fans with reusable water pouches2
  • 52% of the Championship's waste globally is recycled, with that number jumping to 90% in the EU and the U.S.2 
  • Formula E is working towards a 100% renewable energy target2 
  • Supply chain management is an important part of Formula E's sustainability initiatives, with a Sustainable Procurement Policy in place, assessments on-site, and a post-race performance evaluation2

‍

Why important

  • Operational Sustainability
  • Squaring Business Growth with Emissions Reductions

These efforts are highly operational, addressing everything from the cars and racing equipment to transportation of these materials, as well as staff travel, event operations, and supply chain management. This includes considering the environmental impact of their sustainability initiatives: the Championship considers the environmental cost of transporting broken car parts for recycling. This maximizes the overall positive impact that the Championship can have by considering all the component parts that go into their operations, events, and equipment. These efforts are not created as an add-on to the marketing department's promotion of the event but, rather, are central to how the Championship functions. This ensures that sustainability initiatives are prioritized instead of being pushed aside.

This use case also highlights the importance of considering absolute carbon emission reductions, especially as an organization looks to grow. With the expansion of the schedule to fifteen races and eight cities, the Championship was able to reduce their absolute emissions from 20,000 t CO2 -eq to 19,600 t CO2 -eq. This accomplishment appears closely tied to the operational consideration of sustainability and measuring scope 3 emissions. The operational considerations enable the organizers to examine all aspects of their work to see where efficiencies, reductions, and offsets can be utilized to ensure an overall absolute reduction. In addition, measuring scope 3 emissions gives Formula E a full understanding of their carbon emissions, which allows them to truly mitigate and reduce their environmental impact as they grow.

‍

Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational (GLBI)

‍

Overview

  • The 2019 Dow GLBI was the first tournament on the LPGA Tour to become GEO Certified20
  • The carbon footprint of the 2019 event was comprehensively measured to establish a baseline to plan against in the future19
  • Carbon offsets were used to mitigate the event impact in areas that were not within the organizers' direct control, such as spectator emissions19
  • 68% of waste was recycled or reused19
  • 80% of event signage was reusable in future events19
  • Over 1,000 pounds of unused food was donated to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan19
  • 1,500 pounds of carpeting was donated to Habitat for Humanity19
  • Mesh material was recycled into post-consumer resin and golf tees20
  • Hydration stations reduced the demand for single-use plastic19
  • Native plant species were protected by the installation of a walking bridge and rerouting spectator traffic19
  • Invasive species of trees on the property were identified to replace them with indigenous ones through a Tree Legacy Program19
  • The Dow GLBI used two hybrid power generators, which each use 40% less fuel and generate far fewer emissions than the traditional diesel generator19

 

Why important

  • Continual Improvement
  • Sponsor Leadership

The measurement of the 2019 carbon footprint has created a baseline against which the Dow GLBI event can understand its impact and enhance its sustainability initiatives into the future. This continual improvement through 2023 has already been operationalized into the way the organizers plan the event; with the creation of a Sustainability Strategy Plan on how to expand previous efforts, the use of an environmental walk-through assessment in 2020, an Energy & Carbon Management Plan that explicitly outlines strategies for reducing the carbon footprint in the future, and the purchase of carbon offsets. All these elements show the commitment to becoming a better event for the environment over time and to making a true impact on the environment.

This use case exemplifies the impact that a sponsor can have on a sports organization or event. As the title sponsor of the event, Dow has led the event to be sustainable and provides tools and support that enable the Invitational to have a minimal environmental impact. The event shows the power that sponsors and partners can have to push sports organizations and sporting events to adopt sustainable practices. Sponsors are looking to associate themselves with sustainable and socially responsible entities, but here we also see their power to create a tangible impact.

‍

NBA & Senegal

‍

Overview

  • In 2018, the NBA opened an elite basketball training facility in Saly, Senegal to serve as its primary training location for NBA Academy Africa and prospects across the continent42 
  • The facility has been built out of repurposed shipping containers, large-span steel trusses, and fabric roofing42
  • Repurposed shipping containers were used to build the facility,42 reducing the need to source and produce virgin materials to create the building, which lead to fewer emissions and other environmental damages 
  • Engineered fabric roofing can reflect sunlight, absorb less heat, and provide light during the daytime, which reduces energy needs34

Why important

  • Enterprise-wide and Global Efforts

The NBA's project in Senegal highlights the opportunity for sports organizations to incorporate sustainability into the construction or renovation of sports infrastructure. It demonstrates a way in which we can think creatively about using recycled materials in building to lessen the environmental impact. Traditional raw materials can lead to huge energy use and emissions through the creation of these materials, so finding ways to reduce or eliminate that impact in building is vital. As discussed in this report, the infrastructure associated with the sports industry has a massive impact on the environment: if we are able to mitigate the impact that our buildings have, we can substantially reduce the effect we have on our world.

Beyond this single building, the implementation of sustainable thinking into the business practice of growing NBA markets (in this case, markets in Africa), indicates an enterprise-wide approach to sustainability. Rather than separating their business operations around growing the sport from concerns with sustainability, the NBA considered sustainability in these operations. The league has not only considered this issue in their traditional markets as a marketing tool but brought those sustainable efforts to their global endeavors, incorporating sustainability enterprise-wide. This also indicates that the NBA is taking into consideration their global environmental impact, not just emissions in the U.S. This practice is the only way to truly understand an organization's impact: focusing on specific locations or business lines only tells you about that specific location or business line.

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End Notes

  1. ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. “Formula E Publishes Annual Sustainability Report,” December 22, 2021. https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2021/december/season-7-sustainability-report.
  2. ———. “Race for Better Futures: Season 7 Sustainability Report 2020/2021,” 2021. https://assets-prd.formulae.cloud/-/media/files/pdf/sustainability/season-7-report-201221.pdf?modified=20211221100853.
  3. Adidas. “Adidas: In 2021, For The First Time, More Than 60 Percent Of All Products Will Be Made With Sustainable Materials.,” December 28, 2020. https://www.adidas-group.com/en/media/news-archive/press-releases/2020/adidas-2021-first-time-more-60-percent-all-products-will-be-made/.
  4. ———. “Launching ‘Choose to Give Back’, a Resale Program Enabled by ThredUp,” October 7, 2021. https://news.adidas.com/made-with-recycled-materials/launching--choose-to-give-back---a-resale-program-enabled-by-thredup/s/ffbe00bd-0507-4262-8457-1c6f2ac9de08.
  5. ———. “More Sustainable Materials And Circular Services,” n.d. https://www.adidas-group.com/en/sustainability/environmental-impacts/more-sustainable-materials-and-circular-services/#/.
  6. Aldred, Tanya. “Cricket Must Make Bold Climate Choices in Post-Covid World.” The Guardian, December 2, 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/dec/02/cricket-must-make-bold-climate-choices-in-post-covid-world.
  7. Alves, Alice, Marjorie Beckman, Jeff Beer, Nate Berg, Joe Berkowitz, Jill Bernstein, Adam Bluestein, et al. “The World’s 40 Most Innovative Companies 2022.” Fast Company (blog), 2022. https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/list.
  8. BBVA. “Advantages and Disadvantages of the Circular Economy,” May 14, 2021. https://www.bbva.ch/en/news/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-the-circular-economy/.
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  15. ———. “Renewable Energy.” Accessed February 15, 2022. https://www.c2es.org/content/renewable-energy/.
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  19. Dow. “INtersections: 2020 Environmental, Social and Governance Report,” 2020. https://corporate.dow.com/documents/about/066-00338-01-2020-esg-report.pdf.
  20. Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. “Welcome to the First GEO Certified Tournament in LPGA History.” Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. Accessed February 15, 2022. https://www.dowglbi.com/sustainability.
  21. Edmonds, Charlotte, and Amy O’Kruk. “Climate Change Could Limit Number of Winter Olympic Hosts: Study.” NBC Bay Area, January 19, 2022. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/beijing-winter-olympics/climate-change-could-limit-number-of-winter-olympics-hosts-study/2781744/.
  22. EnergyStar. “Saving Water Helps Protect Our Nation’s Water Supplies.” EnergyStar.gov. Accessed February 15, 2022. https://www.energystar.gov/products/saving_water_helps_protect_our_nations_water_supplies#:~:text=It%20can%20also%20reduce%20water,which%20helps%20prevent%20air%20pollution.
  23. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. “Energy Efficiency.” Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Accessed February 15, 2022. https://www.eesi.org/topics/energy-efficiency/description.
  24. EPA Center for Corporate Climate Leadership. “Target Setting.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, October 21, 2021. https://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/target-setting.
  25. European Parliament. “Circular Economy: Definition, Importance and Benefits,” March 3, 2021. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/economy/20151201STO05603/circular-economy-definition-importance-and-benefits.
  26. Fisher, Dan. “Sports Partnerships Can Drive Sustainability and Boost the Bottom Line.” Sportico, February 17, 2022. https://www.sportico.com/business/commerce/2022/sports-partnerships-can-drive-sustainability-1234661596/#recipient_hashed=b54e4914f6bfad11fe2f40708fee3b292d4d351418be5babaac1f0249075aef8.
  27. Gilchrist, Ava. “A Full-Size Tennis Court Has Popped Up On The Great Barrier Reef, And It Comes With A Sustainable Message.” Elle Australia, January 11, 2022. https://www.elle.com.au/fashion/adidas-tennis-tennis-apparel-australia-great-barrier-reef-26490.
  28. Green Business Bureau. “Measuring Sustainability as an Internal Process of a Company,” March 9, 2021. https://greenbusinessbureau.com/topics/green-team/measuring-sustainability-as-an-internal-process-of-a-company/.
  29. Hamilton, Kirk, Milan Brahmbhatt, and Jiemei Liu. “Multiple Benefits from Climate Change Mitigation: Assessing the Evidence.” The London School of Economics and Political Science, n.d. https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/publication/multiple-benefits-from-climate-change-mitigation-assessing-the-evidence/.
  30. Hill, Amelia. “Wildlife Conservation Projects Do More Harm than Good, Says Expert.” The Guardian, July 29, 2010. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/jul/29/wildlife-conservation-projects-more-harm.
  31. Jagemann, Hans. “Sports and the Environment: Ways towards Achieving the Sustainable Development of Sport.” Speech presented at the 4th Pierre de Coubertin School Forum Arenzano (MUVITA), September 22, 2003. https://thesportjournal.org/article/sports-and-the-environment-ways-towards-achieving-the-sustainable-development-of-sport/.
  32. Jordan, Rob. “Allowing Polluters to Offset Carbon Emissions by Paying Forest Owners Effectively Reduces Greenhouse Gases, Stanford Study Finds.” Stanford News (blog), August 14, 2017. https://news.stanford.edu/2017/08/14/carbon-offsets-wide-ranging-environmental-benefits/.
  33. Josephson, Amelia. “The Pros and Cons of Recycling.” SmartAsset (blog), May 21, 2018. https://smartasset.com/insights/the-pros-and-cons-of-recycling.
  34. Kumpula, James. “Engineering Fabric-Covered Buildings for True Sustainability.” Construction Canada (blog), September 11, 2017. https://www.constructioncanada.net/engineering-fabric-covered-buildings-for-true-sustainability/.
  35. Lacey, Natalie, and Jessica Long. “The Sustainability Imperative: The Case for Building Sustainable Businesses Has Never Been Stronger.” Ipsos, November 2020. https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/publication/documents/2020-11/the-sustainability-imperative-ipsos-2020.pdf.
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  37. Liverpool Football Club. “Our Planet.” Liverpool Football Club. Accessed February 15, 2022. https://www.liverpoolfc.com/theredway/our-planet.
  38. ———. “The Red Way Points to Sustainability.” Liverpool Football Club (blog), January 12, 2021. https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/community/422474-the-red-way-points-to-sustainability.
  39. Maven. “The Unintended Consequences of Water Conservation.” Maven’s Notebook (blog), July 18, 2021. https://mavensnotebook.com/2018/07/18/the-unintended-consequences-of-water-conservation/.
  40. McCormick, Gannon, and Andrew Mang. “Decarbonization Series: The Pros and Cons of Carbon Offsets.” Inogen Alliance (blog), December 21, 2021. https://www.inogenalliance.com/blog-post/pros-and-cons-carbon-offsets.
  41. Nasralla, Shadia, and Susanna Twidale. “Factbox: Carbon Offset Credits and Their Pros and Cons.” Reuters (blog), February 25, 2021. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-change-carbon-offsets/factbox-carbon-offset-credits-and-their-pros-and-cons-idUSKBN2AP1FZ.
  42. NBA Green. “NBA Opens Eco-Friendly Academy in Senegal.” NBA Green, November 26, 2018. https://green.nba.com/the-nba-academy-africa-opens-new-facility-in-saly-senegal/.
  43. Nielsen Sports. “Brands Aren’t Sitting on the Sidelines: The Social Solidarity of Sports Sponsorships.” Nielsen Sports, April 2021. https://nielsensports.com/brands-arent-sitting-on-the-sidelines-the-social-solidarity-of-sports-sponsorships/.
  44. Oppenheim, Jeremy, Olivia Boyd, Gina Campbell, Nishita Dewan, Alex Evans, Melinda George, Saira George, et al. “Better Business, Better World: The Report of the Business & Sustainable Development Commission.” Business & Sustainable Development Commission, January 2017. https://d306pr3pise04h.cloudfront.net/docs/news_events%2F9.3%2Fbetter-business-better-world.pdf.
  45. Serafeim, George. “Social-Impact Efforts That Create Real Value: They Must Be Woven into Your Strategy and Differentiate Your Company.” Harvard Business Review, September 2020. https://hbr.org/2020/09/social-impact-efforts-that-create-real-value#the-boards-role-in-sustainability.
  46. Shinn, Lora. “Renewable Energy: The Clean Facts.” NRDC (blog), June 15, 2018. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/renewable-energy-clean-facts.
  47. Siegel, RP. “The Pros and Cons of Carbon Offsetting.” Means & Matters from Bank of the West (blog), October 19, 2020. https://meansandmatters.bankofthewest.com/article/sustainable-living/taking-action/the-pros-and-cons-of-carbon-offsetting/.
  48. Sky. “GameZero: Changing the Game.” Sky Group. Accessed March 15, 2022. https://www.skygroup.sky/game-zero.
  49. ———. “Sky Sports News Receives Albert Certification for Carbon Neutral Status.” Sky Sports (blog), January 31, 2022. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12529733/sky-sports-news-receives-albert-certification-for-carbon-neutral-status.
  50. Subbaraman, Nidhi. “Impacts of Climate Change Now Severe and Widespread, U.N. Panel Says.” The Wall Street Journal, February 28, 2022. https://www.wsj.com/articles/impacts-of-climate-change-now-severe-and-widespread-u-n-panel-says-11646046000.
  51. Tangen, Jan Ove. “Is Sport Sustainable?—It Depends!” Frontiers in Sports and Active Living 3 (October 28, 2021): 679762. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.679762.
  52. Timms, George. “English Football Reckons With Its Role in the Climate Crisis.” Global Sports Matters, January 20, 2022. https://globalsportmatters.com/health/2022/01/20/english-football-confronts-role-climate-crisis/.
  53. United States Environmental Protection Agency. “How We Use Water.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, September 3, 2021. https://www.epa.gov/watersense/how-we-use-water.
  54. ———. “Recycling Basics.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, December 21, 2021. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics.
  55. ———. “Reducing and Reusing Basics.” United States Environmental Protection Agency, March 25, 2022. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-and-reusing-basics.
  56. University of California Berkeley. “Habitat Loss / Restoration.” Understanding Global Change. Accessed March 1, 2022. https://ugc.berkeley.edu/background-content/habitat-loss-restoration/#:~:text=Habitat%20loss%20and%20restoration%20impact,local%20biodiversity%20and%20species%20populations.
  57. U.S. Energy Information Administration. “Use of Energy Explained: Energy Efficiency and Conservation.” U.S. Energy Information Administration. Accessed March 1, 2022. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/use-of-energy/efficiency-and-conservation.php.
  58. Vanos, Jennifer. “How Extreme Heat, Pollution Affect Athletes' Bodies.” Global Sport Matters, April 5, 2022. https://globalsportmatters.com/health/2022/04/05/extreme-heat-air-pollution-create-uneven-risky-playing-field/.
  59. Wynes, Seth. “COVID-19 Disruption Demonstrates Win-Win Climate Solutions for Major League Sports.” Environmental Science & Technology 55, no. 23 (December 7, 2021): 15609–15. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c03422.
  60. Zilber, Ariel. “Adidas Serves up Floating Tennis Court in Great Barrier Reef.” New York Post, January 18, 2022. https://nypost.com/2022/01/18/adidas-serves-up-floating-tennis-court-in-great-barrier-reef/.

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The Need and the Opportunity

The world needs climate action.

The Social Case for Sustainability

Over 3.3 billion people—nearly half the world's population—are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to the circumstances in which they live, according to a new U.N. report.50 Unless we make a concentrated effort to transition to low-carbon economies within the next five years, we will not be able to stay beneath the danger threshold set at two degrees.44

Sports, as an industry impacting and impacted by the environment, has a responsibility to lead on this charge. Because of the complexity and interconnectedness of climate challenges, there are countless examples of how sustainability considerations are important to sports:

The Business Case for Sustainability

Beyond the critical need for climate action, there is a business case for engaging in more sustainable practices. Sports fans, especially younger fans, expect and reward businesses and brands for acting sustainably:

Unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, only one out of 21 former hosts of the Winter Olympics would still be a reliable site for the Games by the end of the century21

Non-renewable resources and harmful substances emitted during the building and use of the sports facilities needed for elite or professional sports negatively impact the environment31,16

Mega events, such as the Olympics, may emit as much as 3.4 million tons of CO2, and the global soccer industry produces nearly ten times that amount (30 million tons)—approximately the amount of a country Denmark's size52

Travel for sporting events—by spectators, amateurs, and professionals—contributes to emissions.31,16 In fact, air travel by the NHL, NBA, MLB, and NFL (the four largest North American sports leagues) created an estimated 122,000 tons of CO2 emissions in 201859

Sports events generate approximately 39 million pounds of trash each year26

Sports equipment can contribute to environmental damage throughout its life cycle31

Increasing temperatures could make participating in outdoor sports more dangerous58

69%

of sports fans between the ages of 16 to 24 support environmental change and expect brands, athletes, and teams to support their values18

60%

of consumers want businesses to create change on carbon emissions, societal issues, and supply chain26

74%

of soccer fans care about their club's sustainable impact, according to a 2019 study16

87%

"Prosumers" are "leading influencers and market drivers" whose behaviors will be followed by mainstream consumers within 6 to 18 months, as defined by Havas Sports & Entertainment and advertising agency BETC.12

of "prosumers"i think that mega events need to account for ecological issues more seriously, while 89% think that sporting goods—kits and other equipment—need to be more sustainable12

90%

of consumers are likely to switch to more eco-friendly brands,44 showing that consumers and brands are paying attention and will cut ties with organizations that are not acting sustainably

Businesses who are acting sustainably are achieving positive performance indicators and cost savings. Nielsen projected an 11 percent revenue growth for rights holders with a sustainability agenda over the next three to five years.43 These revenue potentials are heightened by the opportunity for large cost savings. Oxford University and investment management firm Arabesque Partners discovered that 90 percent of studies found that high environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards reduced companies’ cost of capital.44

The Time is Now

Climate action is needed to protect our planet, people, and future. The support of consumers and other stakeholders creates the opportunity for the sports industry to lead on issues of sustainability.

In general, any companies that don’t comply with ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria will simply disappear. . . It’s the same for sport. First they will lose sponsors and then they will lose fans because they don’t want to be part of a community that hurts the planet. If you don’t help reduce global warming, your sport will be out of business.

Yannick Bollore
CEO of Havas, speaking to
‍The Sustainability Report

Sports Must be a Leader in Sustainability

'Sustainability' is a broad term, encapsulating multiple topics. It encompasses not only environmental, but also social and governance issues. One well-known definition of sustainability or 'sustainable development' is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."51 This sentiment is echoed in the mission of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which include social and economic goals (for example, ending poverty, reducing inequality, and spurring economic growth) and environmental goals (tackling climate change and working to preserve oceans and forests).17

The different areas of sustainability—environmental, social, and governance—are intertwined, and it is important to realize the interconnectedness of these issues. The Business & Sustainable Development Commission emphasizes that "the environmental goals [of the UN Sustainable Development Goals] cannot be delivered without the social goals and vice versa," and that making "progress towards the two degrees warming limit and the Global Goals will together in effect “reboot” the world’s economic systems, making normal business activity intrinsically sustainable, socially fair and environmentally stable."44

While recognizing the importance of holistic thinking about sustainability, for the purpose of this report, we will focus on environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability is changing how people and businesses interact with the world to conserve resources, protect global ecosystems, and keep the planet within safe environmental bounds. This is a broad definition, encapsulating the widespread ways of talking about environmental sustainability, which reveal the many different approaches an organization could take.

Environmental sustainability is changing how people and businesses interact with the world to conserve resources, protect global ecosystems, and keep the planet within safe environmental bounds.

Where the Industry Must Focus

Just as sustainability itself is a broad term, the sheer number of ways that environmental sustainability could be approached can feel daunting. By interviewing experts in the field of environmental sustainability and conducting research on the sports industry, we have identified five Sustainability Areas of Focus within the sports industry: Carbon & Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions, Natural World, Circular Economy, Water, and Energy. These focus areas are tightly interconnected, where acting on one focus area impacts another, which creates a hierarchy of initiatives. Carbon & GHG Emissions and Natural World are of peak concern when we think about the changing climate and addressing the environmental emergency the world is in. However, initiatives that are concerned with Circular Economy, Water, and Energy can impact these higher-level goals.

We have defined these areas of focus and their associated sub-foci. In this, we have included both the positive impacts and potential limitations. The goal here is not to create paralysis for fear of doing something wrong, quite the opposite. By arming you with all the information, we want the sports industry to feel empowered to act and knowledgeable about the considerations that have to be taken into account.

The above pyramid highlights each of the impact areas within sustainability; click on a category for more information.

Leaders Say

What is Happening

Of the many types of sustainability initiatives, some are comprehensive, encompassing the whole of day-to-day operations of a sports organization; others are event-focused, examining holistic aspects of an event to ensure that it has a minimal impact on the environment; and some are focused on specific initiatives, where sustainability-focused projects are undertaken to have a positive impact on a specific focus area. The use cases identified here are chosen to illustrate the different action opportunities that exist, both on a comprehensive and highly focused level.

It’s important to note here, that no initiative is perfect, and in fact, the cliché holds that perfect can be the enemy of good. What’s most important is that real, substantive steps are taken to do and be better. As highlighted before, there are important questions to consider when approaching any sustainability project to ensure that the overall impact is positive—but they are important in their own ways, nonetheless.

How to Move Forward

Although there are no perfect solutions, there are best practices to support an organization's efforts to act sustainably and create positive impact.

Discrete ownership of sustainability responsibilities is important.
Efforts should be operational and enterprise-wide.
Measure in order to achieve.
Consider the cost of technology.

The Time is Now

To meet the global need for climate action, we need a collective commitment, where leaders in every industry—including the sports industry—work towards sustainable solutions.44 Sports, in particular, has the opportunity to not only foster positive change across their industry, but to also be a shining example for industry and the world at large to look toward. The language of sports crosses societal and geographic barriers and can be used to promote both the necessity and the best practices for climate action on a global scale. 

Sports depend on a team working together—not just on the playing surface, but across all stakeholders involved in sports at all levels. The collaboration that exists in sports lays a powerful foundation to use these partnerships in environmentally responsible ways.16 There is the opportunity to enact sustainable solutions operationally, while also considering the intersection of the three areas of sustainability: environmental, social, and governance. Without action, environmental issues will continue to heavily impact the reach and availability of sports, especially at the grassroots level.21 

The changing environment already affects the availability of safe and consistent conditions for training and competition in a wide variety of sports, from snow to support winter sports to green grass for sports such as golf and baseball.21 As conditions continue to change, fewer individuals will have the opportunity to play.21 Eventually, such a lack of accessibility threatens the future of the sport itself.

By implementing holistic, operational solutions, the sports industry can help ensure that the world is safe and enjoyable for future generations. The sports industry must champion sustainability to their stakeholders, partners, fans, and government, while internally implementing concrete actions to improve the sustainability of sports.44 Sports have the power to make these changes, and leaders should be prepared to commit to this for the long term. This endeavor should become part of the industry's long-term identity, and as global citizens, we must keep pushing ourselves to do more.

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