Our commitments to meet the challenge of climate change

DECATHLON is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout its value chain to zero by 2050.

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.

Understanding the challenges of the climate crisis

What is climate change?

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.

This disruption of the climate system threatens to exceed planetary boundaries, the critical thresholds beyond which the Earth's natural balances risk collapsing. Among the feared consequences are rising sea levels, intensified extreme weather events, disruption of water cycles and loss of biodiversity.

According to the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to limit global warming to 1.5°C, achieving carbon neutrality by the middle of the 21ᵉ century is essential. This objective is defined in the Paris Agreement signed by 195 countries. It is in this global context that DECATHLON is implementing a climate strategy.

DECATHLON's carbon footprint

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.

We use the GHG protocol as the standard for calculating our carbon footprint. It defines the scopes and categories of GHG emissions to be reported, and helps to improve the allocation of responsibilities within DECATHLON. The GHG protocol is one of the most internationally recognised standards and is compatible with many reporting frameworks.

Our commitments to meet the challenge of climate change

Our contribution to the goal of carbon neutrality

DECATHLON is creating new medium- to long-term reduction trajectories to contribute to the global goal of “net zero emissions” by 2050. These trajectories aim to reach the reduction targets submitted to the Science Based Targets initiative in 2023 and validated in March 2024.

For the second consecutive year, the company succeeded in reducing its absolute carbon emissions while increasing sales.
DECATHLON joined the Climate Dividends association to help develop a framework for companies to calculate their avoided emissions.

The Group maintained its commitment to international initiatives (RE100, UNFCCC1 Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, Net Zero Initiative, etc.) to combat climate change collectively.

"Net Zero" means that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to as close to zero as possible, with the remaining emissions in the atmosphere being reabsorbed, by the oceans and forests for example. Specifically, for Decathlon, when we use the term Net Zero according to SBTi, we mean that we are aiming for -90% absolute emissions with a neutralisation of residual emissions to contribute to global carbon neutrality.

DECATHLON's carbon footprint

How do we calculate our impact?

At DECATHLON, we calculate everything to assess our environmental impact! From travel to the distribution of products, not forgetting their production: nothing is forgotten.

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.

Scope 1, 2 and 3: what are they?

To carry out a GHG assessment, companies need to analyse the GHG emissions from their own activities and those of third parties. The perimeters within which GHG emissions are analysed are known as scopes. There are three main types of scope: Scope 1, 2 and 3.

Scope 1: direct emissions, for example the combustion of gas on DECATHLON's premises.

Scope 2: indirect emissions linked to the production of electricity consumed by DECATHLON.

Scope 3: other indirect emissions (extraction and transformation of raw materials, transport, use, end of life, etc.).

DECATHLON's sustainable development objectives

In 2022, DECATHLON defined a target for its entire value chain, aligned with the global trajectory of limited warming to 1.5°C, the IPCC's most ambitious reference scenario. In line with the Corporate Net-Zero Standard and the global objective of carbon neutrality, in 2023 the company has also built new medium- and long-term trajectories, aiming to : - reduce its absolute CO2 emissions by 42% by 2030 on the basis of emissions measured in 2021 (scopes 1 and 2 + scope 3), - reduce its absolute CO2 emissions by 90% by 2050 on the basis of emissions measured in 2021 (scopes 1 and 2 + scope 3), - neutralise residual emissions to help achieve global carbon neutrality.

DECATHLON has set itself the objective of making its activities compatible with the global climate challenges as defined by science and thus contributing to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. To achieve this, the Group is taking its inspiration from the Net Zero Initiative (NZI), which recommends that the private sector act on three complementary pillars:
1. Reducing direct and indirect emissions caused by the company's activities
2. Reducing emissions outside the Group's value chain (or avoided emissions) by offering products and services or financing reduction projects
3. Increasing carbon sinks (or sequestration)

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...

- Decarbonising our activities by focusing in particular on DECATHLON's most emissive activities, i.e. the production of our products, the operation of our sites and transport

- Optimising our service and product offering by designing products that last over tim

- Bringing circular business models to scale

What can we do to meet these climate ambitions?

74.8%* of DECATHLON's impact is linked to the extraction of raw materials and the production of our products. These are the most impactful phases that DECATHLON is prioritising.

*at 31.12.2023

Raw materials

- Investing in more sustainable raw materials, which have a high potential for reducing CO2 emissions, particularly in the metal, textile and footwear sectors

- Designing with fewer raw materials (e.g. functional and technical optimisation, minimal waste design)

- Increasing the recycled content of the raw materials used in our products (up to the technical maximum, without compromising on product quality).
The example of cotton.

Reducing energy consumption in production and the carbon impact of suppliers' energy mixes

- Working with suppliers to improve energy efficiency

- Designing products that require fewer processing stages (e.g. simpler shape, functional analysis)

- Favouring processes that consume less energy (e.g. innovations in our dyeing methods)

- Ensuring a transition to a lower-carbon energy mix by eliminating all use of coal and using renewable energies.

Product transport

- Optimise upstream logistics operations (reduce the number of kilometres travelled per product)

- Work with international transport suppliers to use less carbon-intensive fuels

- Work with downstream transport suppliers to develop solutions that emit less greenhouse gas.

DECATHLON sites

- Renewable energy sources and energy efficiency strategies

- Favouring the refurbishment of existing buildings over the construction of new shops

- Encouraging soft and active mobility

Experimenting with a new business model

- Design durable, repairable and recyclable products that are suitable for rental and second life

- Develop our second life, rental and repair offer.

Exerting a more responsible influence

- Train team members in environmental issues (e.g. via Climate Frescoes) to get them involved in the environmental transition

- Encourage soft mobility among customers and team members

- Raise awareness and support customers towards more enlightened consumption

- Take part in international initiatives (e.g. all DECATHLON sites worldwide are encouraged to organise environmental awareness events such as World Clean Up Day).

Discover our other commitments

Climate change: moving beyond carbon tunnel vision

Carbon has become the symbol of the fight for the environment. However, in light of this challenge, there are many others, often much less highlighted...

Designing our products to reduce their environmental impact

Our ecodesign approach integrates environmental considerations into product development, with the aim of reducing the impact throughout their life cycle. It serves as a playbook for our design team to develop performance-driven, sustainability-focused solutions.

Our manufacturing responsabilities

At DECATHLON, we design our products. To this end, we are also at the origin of their production. In other words, we put in place a large-scale manufacturing system to make these products available all over the world and in larger volumes.

Distribution : our commitments around the world

DECATHLON is committed to reducing its environmental impact on a worldwide scale. To get there, our teams have identified two key areas: renewable energy and transport. Here are our measures and goals for the coming years

A long-lasting relationship

Getting your feedback, talking to each other, sharing a passion we have in common, supporting, motivating and helping… Experiencing DECATHLON doesn't stop at buying a product. We want to develop a long-lasting relationship with you, the sports users.

Climate: what is the difference between mitigation and adaptation?

We often talk in terms of a "fight" against climate change, a fairly all-encompassing term that actually hides two distinct realities: mitigation

Decarbonising the transportation of goods

In a changing global environmental, economic and geopolitical context, optimising and decarbonising transport circuits for finished products represents significant opportunities for companies.