January 17: Let’s start talking about the environment:
Decathlon India has spent over a decade providing Indians interested in sports with a world-class range of sports equipment and gear at affordable prices. With over 100 stores across India and having a powerful online presence, Decathlon India offers a gratifying shopping experience to all sports enthusiasts.
Sports and the earth are undeniably linked. Climate change is the biggest existential threat that looms over people’s enjoyment of sports outdoors. To benefit people and the planet and on a mission of making sports sustainably accessible to many, Decathlon feels the responsibility to reduce its footprint to protect the future of sports.
Quote by Decathlon:
“As sportsmen and women, we are aware of the impact and the footprint that we create and our responsibility. Preserving the environment is one of our commitments. It is a value shared by all our teams, especially those who design our products. By 2026, we want to eco-design 100% of our products and reduce by 53%.”
Decathlon is transforming how they make their products; today, more than 23% of their turnover is from eco-designed products. Eco-designed products include sustainable materials and processes: recycled polyester, recycled cotton, organic cotton and cold patch batch and dope dye technology. 60% of Decathlon products are Made in India, offering an additional opportunity to shrink their environmental footprint while engaging with local communities.
Decathlon is one of the 32 companies in the fashion and textile industry to pledge to work towards shared and concrete goals in three areas: Climate, Biodiversity and Oceans being a part of the Fashion Pact.
Decathlon India also opened their first Green Building Store in Vasant Kunj, Delhi, certified by Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). This site preserves all-natural features with rainwater harvesting, wastewater recycling, use of renewable energy and a passive cooling strategy. The building uses locally sourced sustainable green materials.
More Green Buildings, including their stores and distribution centres, are in the pipeline for 2022. In addition to that, 16 Decathlon Stores and warehouses now have solar rooftops. By the year-end, they aim to cover about 25 Stores.
RE100 is a global initiative bringing together the most influential businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity. Decathlon India has been RE100 since 2019. They will be RE 100 with 90% of their Suppliers by the end of 2022.
Another upcoming project started at the Decathlon Anubhava store in Bangalore, now available in Atrium Hyderabad, Brigade Chennai, Thrissur, Kalamassery in Kerela and Hosur Road, Bangalore, is around second-hand bikes. Buyback of old bikes and e-commerce returns are now available for customers to purchase at a lower rate. Extending the life of old bikes helps to reduce carbon footprint. The plan is to spread this program to a minimum of 12 stores in early 2022.
As a designer and distributor of sports products, Decathlon takes responsibility for reducing their CO2 emissions in line with the recommendations of the scientific world. They firmly believe that the best way to do this is to chart a course backed up by science. That’s why DECATHLON has chosen to ground itself in the Science-Based Target (SBTi) initiative, which has approved its climate-related commitments, intended to :
– To reduce by 90% scope 1 and 2 GHG absolute 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
Quote by Annie:
“Climate change is happening even more quickly than we realise. We are accelerating our Sustainability commitments by working in collaboration with our stakeholders. This will help us not just fulfil our commitments but also strengthen our methodologies and contribute to a collective impact.” – Annie George, Sustainability Leader, Decathlon India.
There are many more initiatives introduced by Decathlon around waste segregation, reducing plastic in packaging and more. You can visit their Instagram handle @decathlonsportsindia to follow the “Preserve Our Playground Campaign” closely.
Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOCUG_8gAB8
Vaishnavi Prakash
