Practising What We Preach
Sustainability isn’t a bolt-on for Sport Positive Summit, it’s the way we think and the foundation of everything we do. As a community dedicated to accelerating climate action in sport, we believe the way we convene must reflect the change we want to see. That means continually challenging ourselves to reduce impact, increase accessibility, and rethink what a global event can look like.
A New Model for Lower Impact
From 2026 onwards, Sport Positive Summit alternate between being:
- Entirely virtual (beginning in 2026) with in-person local gatherings
- In-person, with a virtual option (beginning in 2027)
This shift is one of the most significant steps we’ve taken to reduce our environmental impact. By moving to a biennial in-person model, we are:
- Reducing travel-related emissions at scale
- Creating more equitable access globally
- Designing a Summit that reflects climate realities, not ignores them
Our virtual events are not a compromise, they are an opportunity to bring more voices into the conversation, with a significantly lower carbon footprint.
Measuring What Matters
We are committed to measuring and improving our impact. Our most recent in-person Summit footprint was just over 150 tonnes CO₂. For context, a single UK football match can generate 800–900 tonnes CO₂e. While we are proud of this relative impact, we are focused on continuous reduction, not comparison. For all in-person events, we:
- Measure emissions across travel, accommodation, venue, food, and production
- Prioritise reduction first (outlined below)
- Compensate only for unavoidable emissions caused
In-Person Summit Sustainability Efforts
When we meet physically, we do so with intention. We select venues with strong, credible sustainability credentials and we work closely with partners to reduce energy, waste, and operational impact.
Transport, Travel & Accommodation
- We track attendee and speaker travel to measure total impact
- We prioritise local and regional speakers where possible
- We encourage lower-carbon travel choices
- We account for and compensate unavoidable travel and accommodation emissions
- We prioritise local suppliers to reduce logistics-related emissions
Food & Catering
- All catering is 100% plant-based
- Seasonal and locally sourced ingredients are prioritised
- Portion control is used to minimise food waste
- Inclusive catering ensures all dietary needs are met
Materials & Production
- No single use plastic drink containers, only reusable crockery and cutlery
- Minimal signage with as little year-specific content on as possible, designed for reuse and recycling
- Sustainable stage design using existing materials where possible
Waste & Circularity
- A largely paperless event, supported by our event app
- Recyclable paper badges and reusable lanyards (with a 99% return rate)
- All materials diverted from landfill wherever possiblee
- No single use material for food or beverages. Encouragement of reusable water bottles (with alternatives provided)
Virtual Summit Sustainability
Lower Carbon, Greater Reach
Our virtual Summits are designed to dramatically reduce environmental impact while increasing participation.
Key benefits include:
- Elimination of travel-related emissions
- No venue, catering, or physical production footprint
- Significantly reduced overall carbon impact
But sustainability is not just environmental. Our virtual model also enables:
- Global accessibility without geographic barriers
- Live translation into multiple languages
- Flexible participation across time zones (“follow the sun” format)
- Extended content access, reducing the need for repeat travel to multiple events
Beyond Carbon: Accessibility & Inclusion
Sustainability includes people.
We are committed to creating both in-person and virtual experiences that are:
- Accessible to those who cannot travel
- Inclusive of different languages and cultures
- Supportive of diverse needs, both in-person and online
- Closed captioning on content for those who are hard of hearing – and we’re working on how to support for networking too
For in-person events, we provide:
- Step-free access
- Quiet spaces for those who are neurodivergent, prayer rooms, and private facilities for pumping
- Visual and audio assistance
- Closed captioning on content for those who are hard of hearing
Continuous Improvement
We know we won’t get everything right every time, but we are committed to doing more and getting better every year. We actively:
- Review and evolve our approach annually
- Listen to feedback from our community
- Work with partners and venues to improve standards
Be Part of the Solution
Sustainability is a shared responsibility. Whether you are joining us on an in-person or virtual year, your needs matter, and we want to hear from you to continue to improve and progress.
Do you have ideas or feedback? We’d love to hear from you. Email [email protected]
