LEADING THE CHARGE IN CARBON FOOTPRINT REDUCTION

A PLEDGE FOR A BETTER FUTURE

This year, alongside ChangeNOW, we were proud to launch the Sport Sponsors Climate Pledge, an initiative focusing on one of the biggest players in sports: the sponsors. This pledge correlates sponsorship — and therefore, finances — to carbon reduction targets that align with the Paris Agreement. We’re proud to have signatories including Accor, EDF, Orange, and Sodexo Live!, along with a number of individuals and athletes.

THE 17 SPORT B CORP JOURNEY

At 17 Sport, we’ve been a Certified B Corporation for a year. As part of this certification process, and as our own goal to create a positive difference in the world, we are committed to carbon-conscious business operations, including calculating our carbon emissions with the UN carbon footprint calculator.

As a remote-first company with our team spread across the globe, we face challenges that make a variety of metrics harder to precise, such as office energy use or waste. As an EU-based SME of less than 250 people, there are currently no legislative obligations on environmental reporting, but we remain committed to doing so and finding solutions to our larger emissions. By asking each employee to report on their numbers and take collective responsibility for tracking, we are taking steps towards being able to have clearer insights into our carbon footprint, allowing us to improve year over year as we see the areas where we can have the biggest impact.

In addition to tracking and reduction, since the creation of 17 Sport, we’ve committed to offsetting our carbon footprint yearly. While we know that offsetting is not an instant or ultimate solution, we feel it is better than taking no action at all, especially for our unavoidable emissions. We continue to support the REDD+ Mai Ndombe project in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which uses sports as one of the tools to educate on climate action.

Women and children dancing at a community event in Mai Ndombe

Another way we aim to improve our carbon footprint is similar to the Sport Sponsors Climate Pledge by prioritizing partnerships with sustainable-focused organizations. We have been developing enhanced client screening criteria to help ensure our partners are genuinely committed to driving tangible impact in line with the UN SDGs, such as working in B Corp guidance on controversial issues. Setting our own example is the first step, but finding partners who will enhance and encourage this change is crucial for moving forward.

A WORLD WHERE ALL BELONG

As our name signifies, calling back to Sustainable Development Goal 17, we truly believe in the power of collaboration to build a better world, which is why we believe this pledge and our own actions are steps towards a better future for all. As we continue to transform the sports industry, join us in keeping our relentless optimism and solving global challenges through sports.

For more on how 17 Sport can help your organization make a positive impact on the planet through sports, get in touch today.