Because we are well aware that our activities have an impact on the environment, we must actively play our part in making change happen. But it's far from simple: fighting climate change is presenting us with numerous challenges. Discover how we are trying to rise to the challenge, in particular to reduce our CO2 emissions.
Climate change is the global climate's transformation that is modifying the weather and ecosystem's long-term equilibrium. To start with, it's a naturally occurring phenomenon and caused by the greenhouse effect, but which has been destabilised by human activity and more specifically by its CO2 emissions.
As sportsmen and women, the world is our playground. We are conscious that manufacturing, transport and the use and distribution of our products have an impact on the planet. It's why we are duty-bound to take action and act fast.
In September 2021, the Science Based Targets initiative officially validated DECATHLON’s commitments on three lines of action:
- 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
To give you a quick idea, today, on average, a DECATHLON product is 8.7 kilos of CO2 emitted.
The worldwide goal, as defined during the Paris Agreement, is to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. But what does this mean in practical terms?
It was at first critical for us to choose the right method to get there. We decided to join the Net Zero Initiative, which published a framework for companies' carbon neutrality. We, therefore, aligned ourselves with this project.
It's important to point out that the expression “carbon neutrality” (or “net zero”) only refers to the worldwide goal of having a balance between emitting and absorbing CO2. It doesn't apply to an organisation! We think that in this context, we can't just compensate, but we have to also contribute to this equilibrium.
And to get there, we are relying on three levers:
Cutting down our own direct and indirect emissions
Use electricity from a renewable source, eco-design our products, extend our products' lifespan, limit the use of air transport, support sustainable forms of transport ...
The reduction of others' emissions
By directly funding, for example, low carbon projects outside DECATHLON such as production equipment that consume less energy.
Increase carbon sinks to absorb CO2 emissions
With the purchase, for example, of carbon credits related to reforestation projects or the development of renewable energy, funding innovative carbon sequestration projects...
Until now, our actions were focused on cutting our emissions. And we're just at the beginning regarding others’ reduction of emissions and increasing carbon sinks.
We calculate everything! From our commuting journeys to the distribution of our products, by way of manufacturing: nothing's left out. It's a substantial amount of work, we do each year, constantly adapting our efforts in the right direction.
We also work on other environmental impacts such as biodiversity, or the impact of our products on water and air pollution, and the depletion of natural resources.
Note: The impact of product end-of-life is calculated using the Product Environmental Footprint methodology. It includes avoided emissions through the use of the Circular Footprint Formula, a methodology that is not directly compatible with the international GHG Protocol. Decathlon is working towards compliance for 2023.
As you can see, the impacts are shared among all our activities.
But the large majority is down to manufacturing. Our sustainable development strategies, such as eco-designing our products, stems in part from this analysis.
We've signed up to the ACT (Assess Low Carbon Transition) initiative launched by the ADEME (French sustainable transition governmental agency) to evaluate our climate strategy. This assessment will be conducted in 2020 with the view to clearly identifying areas for improvements. Among these areas, we want to go ahead with measures extending our products' lifespan (second-hand products, product hire, repair, recycling) to continue reducing our environmental impact.
We want you to understand our way of operating but it's not easy trying to get the balance right between keeping explanations simple and wanting to explain everything in detail. If you want to find out more, feel free to have a look at our Non-Financial Reporting Declaration since 2013. It's an inventory, published each year, of all the initiatives that are leading to sustainable progress.
