SailGP Unveils Latest Purpose & Impact Report
SailGP has released its latest Purpose & Impact Report, which underlines the sustainability successes and challenges faced in sport.
Building on the foundation of its inaugural report last year, SailGP’s Season 3 Purpose & Impact Report highlights the sailing league’s ongoing commitment to embed environmental and social sustainability into the fabric of sport.
It has been developed to ‘report on progress, challenge the traditional view of sustainability in the sector and inspire other sports and businesses to take action.’
CLIMATE ACTION
SailGP has become the first sport to disclose its carbon strategy with the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) – an international non-profit organisation that works with companies and cities to manage their environmental impacts. By demonstrating its commitment to accountability, transparency and continuous environmental improvement, the league achieved a B- score (rated A to D-).
SailGP delivered five events 100% powered by clean energy in Season 3, an increase from one in Season 2. A total of 236 tonnes of carbon was saved by powering SailGP’s events by clean energy – the equivalent of shipping one F50 catamaran around the world 150 times.
SailGP also reduced its on-water support fleet carbon footprint by 13% per average event compared to Season 2 and minimised emissions relating to staff transport by 22%.
Through its partnership with global logistics company Kuehne+Nagel, SailGP reduced its freight emissions by 83% compared to Season 2 by eliminating air freight, opting for sea transportation, selecting efficient, low-carbon routes and insetting any unavoidable emissions through biofuels.
“Embedding sustainability in sport is a marathon, not a sprint, and Season 3 has been all about learning and striving for continual improvement. We’ve enjoyed some great success in key areas, and despite increasing scope 3 emissions, our commitment to a low carbon agenda remains unchanged. Sustainability in sport is not easy, especially when SailGP is a growing league and we need to minimize our environmental impact.
SailGP Chief Purpose Officer, Fiona Morgan
But at SailGP we love a challenge and we see every obstacle as an opportunity to innovate and collaborate, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. We have to continue to be brave, challenge the status quo and show the world that purpose can go hand-in-hand with driving business value.”
REDEFINING PERFORMANCE
The Impact League – sport’s first podium for the planet – aims to encourage teams to embrace sustainability as part of their high-performance mindset.
Season 3 title winners ROCKWOOL Denmark SailGP Team pioneered a number of innovative purpose campaigns and initiatives, including attracting more than 25 million views of its sustainability content series Beneath The Surface.
SailGP teams cut energy consumption by 50% through monitoring and understanding energy needs more effectively as well as leaving a lasting impact at its venues by delivering 13 local impact projects to protect, support and restore delicate ecosystems and champion clean energy solutions.
BREAKING BOUNDARIES
SailGP’s social sustainability work included The Inspire Program, a youth community, education and outreach initiative that has reached 14,665 young people through the learning, careers and racing programs since its inception.
Season 3 also saw continued progress in driving gender equity through the Women’s Pathway, with 26 female athletes racing in the SailGP championship across all teams, taking on different roles on the boat and gaining valuable experience.
You can read SailGP’s full Season 3 report here.
