Decathlon ups sustainability push with science-based emissions target

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Oct 9, 2019

Decathlon has committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by 75% by 2024 and signed the UN’s Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action.

The sports retailer, one of the biggest in the world, announced its new commitment to science-based targets in line with the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement on Tuesday.

The new goals have been approved by the Science Based Target (SBT) initiative.

In addition to reducing both direct and indirect CO2 emissions by 75%, the company said it will get its main suppliers to set their own science-based targets.

And this will be supported by a pledge to reduce CO2 emissions per product sold by 40% between 2016 and 2026 for all sports categories, Decathlon announced.

In order to meet these goals, the French company founded in 1976 is focusing on a number of sustainable strategies, such as using 100% renewable electricity by 2026 in all warehouses and stores – including its 45 in the UK.

Additionally, Decathlon said 100% of new products will be “eco-designed” by 2021, and will look into developing the sale of second-hand products in store.

The new pledge comes as the company reveals it has signed the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, an industry-led initiative under the aegis of UN Climate Change.

Decathlon sustainability chief officer, Isabelle Guyader, said: “As a global sports apparel and equipment manufacturer and retailer, we have a responsibility to bring our emissions down in line with what the science tells us is needed.

 “We think we can do this best by adopting formal science-based targets and by working with others across the apparel and fashion sector under the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action Framework.”
 
Adrien Jouvinier, who is in charge of managing Decathlon’s CO2 trajectory in relation the company’s supply chain, said: “Signing the Charter will enable us to join the other industry signatories and organizations to act collectively in combating climate change.”
 
“Taking part in the Charter’s working groups can help us define tools and methods that are best suited to reducing our impact with our suppliers.”