South African-based sports business company, Gerom Media, Sports and Entertainment (Pty) Ltd (GMSE), an organiser of sports business conferences has launched Goal12 Sustainability In Sports (SIS), a project to promote a greater awareness of the impact of sport on the environment.
Goal12 SIS project is an awareness activation that aims to promote the circular economy for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) in line with Goal 12 of the UN’s SDGs, with a specific focus on lifestyle activities in sport and entertainment.
The objective of Goal12 SIS activations is to engage event organisers, attendees, host cities, local communities, sponsors, the media, suppliers and service providers, sustainability advocates, and businesses to promote the circular economy and create a positive impact for all stakeholders.
The activation will feature various activities that will encourage participants to take action towards sustainability.
Leading up to an activation, Goal12 SIS will engage the official event organisers and collaborate on the best practices around sustainable procurement with the main objective to reduce the levels of carbon emissions created by all facets of the event itself.
During the Goal12 SIS activation, partner organisations will have stalls and information kiosks along the pathways leading to the event as well as in the venue itself to engage with attendees on how they could get involved and support the circular economy.
The Goal12 SIS theme will be designed to promote eco-friendly practices and spread messages about the recycling of materials, especially plastic bottles and attendees will be encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles and to minimize waste.
A Goal12 SIS Forum will be held as part of the activation, with the main focus on sustainability and attended by sustainability advocates, sports and entertainment personalities, and industry leaders, who will share their insights on how lifestyle events can become more sustainable and eco-friendly through green procurement, renewable energy, green transportation, and waste management, etc.
The Forum will also feature interactive exhibits that will showcase sustainable products and services about eco-friendly solutions for events.
The Goal12 Awards, will be held annually and bestow recognition on individuals and entities who have shown exemplary efforts in promoting sustainability.
Overall, Goal12 SIS will be an engaging and educational activation that highlights the importance of sustainable practices in a circular economy.
It will provide a unique platform for all stakeholders to come together and collaborate towards a greener future.
The landmark project will focus on sustainable interventions in the sports industry at large, which will primarily forge partnerships with existing intermediaries in both the sporting world and the extended supply chain stakeholders doing business in the sector.
According to Gerrit Davids, MD of GMSE. “The main objective of Goal12 SIS is to create awareness campaigns on the net zero targets within the circular economy ecosystem involving both fans, spectators, clubs, federations, promoters, stadiums, and those supplying sports events with goods and services.”
“In essence, the Goal12 SIS project will seek partnerships with event organisers staging matches, tournaments, and mass participation events in particular, to lower the carbon emissions generated by sports activities at the venues and to work towards a net zero target, per se”, says Davids.
Goal12 SIS will appoint existing implementing agencies and intermediaries and partner with producers and manufacturers of disposable items used at these sports events.
They will assist with the collection and recycling initiatives of the waste left behind by both participants and spectators alike.
“Event organisers will also have the choice to donate or raise funding on the day of the match or the event, which will be used to plant trees as an offset for the levels of carbon emissions it creates,” says Davids.
Goal12 SIS will also offer organisers, the opportunity to partner with programs and educational awareness campaigns for communities located near where their sports events will be staged, to create a direct and more profound impact of supporting sustainability through support for the circular economy that will benefit both the event as well as these communities”.
Davids said, “We will also introduce the Sustainability Assessment Tool (SAT) and offer it to sports event organisers to audit their efforts of reducing carbon emissions to verify compliance with international benchmark standards as part of the certification process.”
The assessment will either be conducted as a once-off process for a specific event or in the case of those organising leagues, audits will be conducted for the duration of a season or series.
Goal12 SIS will also present regular stakeholder forums to debate the role sport could play within the broader conversation of the UN’s Sustainable Goals and stage regular educational courses and masterclasses.
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