Earth5R

ESG & CSR For Sports & Lifestyle Industry

Case Study: Decathlon’s Sports-Driven Carbon Footprint Reduction Initiative with Earth5R

INTRODUCTION

Decathlon, a global leader in sports retail, sought to reduce its carbon footprint by promoting sustainable, health-focused lifestyle choices such as cycling, walking, and running. To drive this initiative, Decathlon partnered with Earth5r to launch a large-scale community engagement program aimed at reducing carbon emissions through active, healthy lifestyles. This case study highlights how the project mobilized citizens to take up sports and outdoor activities, reducing their carbon footprints while enhancing personal health.

THE PROBLEM STATEMENT

As a leading sports company, Decathlon recognized the increasing environmental concerns associated with modern lifestyles, particularly in urban areas where reliance on motor vehicles contributes significantly to carbon emissions. The company sought to promote healthier, more active alternatives such as walking, cycling, and running, both to reduce emissions and to encourage a more sustainable way of life.

EARTH5R’S INTERVENTION & SOLUTION

Earth5r collaborated with Decathlon to design a comprehensive program that merged environmental goals with personal health benefits. The project focused on reducing carbon emissions by encouraging lifestyle changes:

  1. Community Challenge: Walk, Cycle, Run: Earth5r and Decathlon launched a city-wide challenge through the Earth5r app, encouraging citizens to cycle, walk, or run instead of using motor vehicles. The app tracked participants’ activities and calculated their personal carbon savings based on the distance covered.
  2. Monthly Award Ceremonies: Each month, Decathlon hosted award ceremonies at its stores to celebrate participants. Those who logged the most kilometers walking, cycling, or running were invited to the store, where they were given prizes such as bicycles, t-shirts, and sports gear. This created excitement around the challenge and encouraged ongoing participation.
  3. Carbon Offset Calculation: The Earth5r app provided real-time data on how much carbon participants had offset by choosing to walk, cycle, or run instead of driving. This data was also used by Decathlon to report on the environmental impact of the program, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.
  4. Incentives for Participation: All participants, regardless of whether they completed the challenge, received discount coupons from Decathlon. These coupons could be redeemed both online and in-store, making it easier for citizens to continue engaging in sports and outdoor activities. This approach helped build a large, active community around sustainability and fitness.

OUTCOMES

  1. Carbon Footprint Reduction:
    • Through the challenge, participants collectively walked, cycled, and ran enough kilometers to offset 1,500 tons of carbon emissions—equivalent to taking 500 cars off the road for a year. This initiative not only reduced emissions but also promoted the benefits of a healthier, more active lifestyle.
  2. Improved Health and Well-being:
    • Thousands of citizens, including college students, working professionals, and families, participated in the challenge. By promoting regular physical activity, Decathlon and Earth5r encouraged people to adopt healthier habits, improving physical and mental well-being.
  3. Community Engagement:
    • The monthly award ceremonies, hosted at Decathlon stores, created a sense of achievement and excitement around the challenge. Top participants were awarded bicycles, t-shirts, and sports gear, motivating others to continue their efforts. This engagement helped Decathlon strengthen its brand image as a champion of both sustainability and community health.
  4. Sustainability Leadership:
    • By combining lifestyle changes with sustainability goals, Decathlon demonstrated its leadership in the sports and outdoor activity sector. The project positioned the company as a brand that promotes both environmental responsibility and health, aligning with consumer values around well-being and sustainability.

THE ROAD AHEAD

With the success of this program, Decathlon plans to expand its “Walk, Cycle, Run” initiative across more cities and regions. By leveraging Earth5r’s platform, Decathlon aims to further reduce carbon emissions while fostering a healthier, more active society. This partnership is set to continue driving both environmental and social impact.

About Earth5r

Earth5r is an ESG and CSR “Action” platform that helps companies like Decathlon mobilize citizens for meaningful climate action. With its innovative community engagement tools and sustainability tracking, Earth5r enables businesses to make a positive environmental impact while promoting healthier lifestyles.