Striking Gold: ParalympicsGB's Winning Environmental Sustainability Strategy
ParalympicsGB is on a winning streak. Since the very first Paralympic Games in 1960, the team have never been outside the top five position of the medal table, scooping 124 medals including 49 golds at Paris 2024 alone. While continuing to go for gold, the team is using its platform to inspire a better and more equitable world for disabled people through the power of sport.
One of the issues found to disproportionately affect people with disabilities is climate change.
Research shows that this group are two to four times more likely to be affected in climate emergencies such as heatwaves or floods.
Those living with disabilities in some cases also have reduced options to reduce their environmental impact. There is a lack of recycling information on packaging for people with visual impairments, for instance, while more sustainable travel options, such as planes and trains, are often less accessible.
When looking at the ways communities are tackling climate change, some interventions are inadvertently presenting barriers for those with disabilities, with bicycle lanes for example causing some bus stops to become wheelchair inaccessible.
Rising to the challenge, ParalympicsGB set out to develop an environmental sustainability strategy that will mitigate the negative effects of climate change on disabled communities, break down barriers to sustainability that they may face, while continuing to deliver a world-class, medal-winning team.
As an organisation focused on supporting and empowering ParalympicsGB to compete at the highest level whilst also seeking to make a meaningful difference for all disabled people in the UK, we know only too well that making the right decisions on our environmental impact can be complex.
- David Clarke, CEO of ParalympicsGB
Game plan
ParalympicsGB colloborated with to Deloitte to create the strategy that could be delivered through to the the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Experts from across our Sustainability & Climate Strategy team and the Deloitte Sports Business Group reviewed academic research, looked at the actions of peer organisations, delivered workshops and consulted athletes, members and employees, to identify the key environmental issues that the strategy would need to address.
The team mapped out many factors – such as eliminating waste, considering transport methods and policies as well as the environmental actions of organisations across the supply chain – to understand the key priorities for ParalympicsGB. The aim was to show the impact that could be made by focussing on each issue, either by reducing environmental impact or prompting new sustainable behaviours.
From there, five key topics were selected for inclusion in the strategy:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Minimising demand on materials
- Enabling athletes to educate and inspire on environmental issues
- Supporting and empower the disabled community on their respective sustainability journeys
- Accelerating positive environmental change through partnerships
Sustainable victory
ParalympicsGB is now taking a bold approach to change by committing to goals to achieve over the next three years - and even longer to ensure change.
With the strategy developed ahead of Paris 2024, ParalympicsGB reports that significant progress has already been made towards achieving its sustainability ambitions. For example, 76% of athletes and staff travelled to the French capital by Eurostar (reducing emissions by 28% compared to initial estimates). 76% of items procured for Paris 2024 were recycled or repurposed, and all competition apparel products contain a minimum of 74% recycled materials.
By 2026, it plans to have delivered sustainability training to all of its employees, along with sustainability criteria to use in the selection of all partners and suppliers and ensured that half of the athlete cohort will have undertaken sustainability or advocacy training.
For LA 2028, recycled and recyclable materials will be used for all event materials and athlete kit, with reuse and donation prioritised and travel emissions reduced.
The organisation’s ambition is to reach Net -Zero across Scope 1 and 2 by the end of 2025, and by 2040 it's looking to reach Net Zero across its Scope 3 emissions, in line with the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.
These are just some of the ambitious goals that ParalympicsGB is setting, with the aim of inspiring others such as athletes, governing bodies across the disability sports industry to take action, ensuring that its winning streak takes it beyond the podium.
It has been incredibly rewarding to collaborate with ParalympicsGB on their sustainability strategy. By working together, with the invaluable input from former Paralympic athletes, this strategy addresses the social and environmental issues of climate change, while also raising awareness for both the opportunities and challenges that exist between sustainability and disability. I look forward to seeing the positive impact the strategy will make, particularly on those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
- Merlyn Gregory, partner and sustainability and climate strategy lead, Deloitte.
