DECATHLON joins the european union's green consumption pledge

At Decathlon, we aspire to responsible growth that benefits both people and the planet. Acting within the framework of a regenerative economy is part of our corporate vision, and our Transition Plan 2016-2026 reflects this commitment. We share the objectives of the Green Deal and fully support the European Commission in proposing solutions to ensure that products sold on the European market adhere to increasingly stringent sustainability criteria. That is why we decided to get involved in the "green consumption" pledge.

We are currently working on the GHG protocol. We are committed, by 2023, to analysing the convergence of our current carbon footprint measurement with the OEF (Organisation Environmental Footprint) method to assess our environmental impacts.

We are actually working on drafting a climate strategy and a CO2 -eq trajectory that are compatible with the Paris Climate Agreement (limiting temperature rises to +1.5°C) based on the Net Zero Standard suggested by the  Science Based Target (SBT) initiative.

As part of this contribution to the worldwide carbon neutral objective set out in the Paris Agreement, we will contribute to reducing CO2 emissions by 2050, going even further by curbing the emissions of others and developing carbon sinks for the remaining emissions.

Why has the commitment shifted from 2030 to 2050?
Scientific commitments to delivering the contribution to net zero target 2050.To be aligned.
Today our absolute emissions are increasing. We are working to reduce our footprint upstream before targeting the contribution to net zero.
Working at source first. In line with the IPCC's trajectory/progressiveness as opposed to a short-term acceleration. First stage: reducing the footprint.

Breaking this trajectory down into intermediate targets. Pending the completion of this work, we are still fulfilling our commitments approved by the SBTi in 2021:
1️⃣ 90% reduction in our emissions in absolute value terms (tCO2e), for tiers 1 and 2¹, between 2016 and 2026,

2️⃣ a reduction of 53% in its carbon intensity (added value in Eur/tCO2e) for tiers 1, 2 and 3 between 2016 and 2026, (we initially set an objective of -40% per product sold. By changing the calculation measurement unit, we shifted to this goal of -53% per Euro of added value (which more or less corresponds to the margin rate). Changing the unit of measurement lets us report a more ambitious and consistent decrease with the broad variety of products sold at Decathlon. The SBTI did not approve this objective in the previous version, which is now the case. 

Intermediate target for 2022 : - 15%.
At December 31, 2022, we were at - 5.64%.

3️⃣ Get the suppliers, representing 90% of emissions linked to product and service purchases, to define their reduction trajectory in line with the science.

¹ TIERS 1: direct emissions; TIERS 2: indirect emissions linked to the purchase of electricity; TIERS 3: other indirect emissions (building and operation sites, product transport, staff and customer travel, raw material extraction, manufacturing, product use and end-of-life).

We are working on an OEF methodology to assess our environmental impact, and are committed to updating our 2016 global OEF environmental footprint analysis by 2023.

We will contribute to the neutrality objective of the Paris Agreement by reducing, by 2030, our own CO2 emissions, and go even further by curbing the emissions of others and developing carbon sinks for the remaining emissions (we participate Net Zero Initiative).

We have decided to reduce our carbon footprint in the following way:

- To reduce by 90% absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions (tCO2e) by 2026 from a 2016 base year
- To reduce by 53% scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions intensity (tCO2e/Eur value added) over the same time frame
- To engage 90% of suppliers by emissions covering purchased goods and services, in having science-based targets by 2026

We have defined the absolute value of reduction targets based on the Science Based Target (SBT) initiative, which has endorsed them as contributing to limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5°C.

Commitments for 2023:
- reduce absolute emissions by 90% (tCO2e) in scopes 1 and 2 by 2026 from a 2016 base year;
- reduce carbon intensity by 53% (tCO2e/euro value added) in scopes 1, 2 and 3 over the same time frame
- engage suppliers accounting for 90% of emissions associated with purchased goods and services to define their own reduction trajectory in line with science.


¹ SCOPE 1: direct emissions; SCOPE 2: indirect emissions linked to the purchase of electricity; SCOPE 3: other indirect emissions (building and operation sites, product transport, staff and customer travel, raw material extraction, manufacturing, product use and end-of-life).

In order to adopt an appropriate frame of reference for calculating our carbon footprint, we based ourselves on 3 main criteria:
- To have a benchmark adapted to the company's geographical perimeter and to the resulting environmental legislation. By way of example, the future CSRD* climate standard mentions the GHG Protocol several times.
- To have a reference framework that is widely recognized and approved by organizations. This implies that the classification adopted by the benchmark would be suitable for a large number of reports: this would simplify comparison, enable public commitments to be made, and be consistent with the work of rating agencies.
- Lastly, the chosen benchmark must be best suited to the type of activity of the reporting company, and must evolve to cover the future sources of emissions required.

After studying a number of different standards, the GHG Protocol was chosen as the most suitable for DECATHLON. It is now widely used by companies internationally, enjoys broad recognition among reporting frameworks, and contains 20 emissions categories that correspond to Decathlon's business. Moreover, using the GHG Protocol will enable us to better meet the new obligations of the CSRD.

DECATHLON does not rule out measuring the company's environmental footprint using the OEF methodology, as this would provide additional elements to the carbon aspect. Nevertheless, in the short term and in order to meet the various legal obligations, the company has chosen to move towards the GHG Protocol as a first step.
Here are the figures for 2022:

-5.6% CO2 eq. emissions per quantity sold compared with 2016,
-26% CO2 eq. emissions per euro of pre-tax sales compared with 2016,
-66.6% CO2 eq. emissions on scopes 1 and 2 in absolute terms (compared with 2016, -64.7% in 2021) [market-based approach],
44% of the electricity consumed by the production sites of Decathlon suppliers involved in decarbonization is of renewable origin (compared with 33% in 2021),
44% of the electricity used by the production sites of Decathlon suppliers managed on decarbonisation issues comes from renewable sources (33% in 2021).


*Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive introducing a new sustainability report.

Our products account for 80 % of our CO2 emissions worldwide.
By 2020, 77% of our own brand products are assessed using life cycle analysis.

From 2021, our life cycle analysis will comply with PEF (Product Environmental Footprint).

By December 31, 2022, 96% of sales at the end of 2022 are calculated using the PEF method.

● in 2026, 100 % of products sold by DECATHLON will be calculated according to the PEF method.
By December 31, 2022,  we are at 84% of sales.

● reduce by 53% scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions intensity (tCO2e/Eur value added) over the same time frame.

In 2020, Decathlon's turnover from Eco-designed² products represented almost 5% of our total turnover. We have decided to accelerate this share:
● 30% of our own brand products are based on an eco-designed process in 2022.
By December 31, 2022, we are at 23%.

● 100% of our products will be based on an eco-designed process in 2026.

As our eco-design methodology is based on continuous improvement, we will illustrate how some iconic designed products have evolved. These products have a specific improvement of eco-design: a better impact on carbon emissions, natural resources, water eutrophication, etc.

² Our definition of eco-design is in line with the European Directive 2009/125/EC.

At DECATHLON, we accurately explain our sustainable approach to our consumers with sincerity.
To make them aware of the consequences of their purchases, we already use environmental labels and logos, and we are also committed to:
● In 2021, we devoted a media budget of 3M Euros to French advertising campaign, for a repairability, Ecodesign and second-hand.

Building on tour experience of World Clean up day, we are committed to:
● in 2022: 100% of the Decathlon countries will raise awareness for the preservation of our playgrounds.
(organising events such as eco-walks, world cleaning day, promoting eco-mobility of affordable and repairable products...).

By December, 31, 2022, we are at 45 countries for 1453 events (and 45 000 participates).

We will publish each year:
● on this website, dedicated to sustainable development, our commitments and concrete actions (also available in English, Italian and Portuguese),
● our extra-financial reporting  and our transition plan to our various stakeholders of which our consumers,
● our  Carbon Disclosure Project survey to publish data on our carbon footprint.