Sustainability Award
The creation of a Carbon Emissions Reporting Tool (CERT) and a Sustainable Sourcing Framework for World Rugby to enable carbon-conscious procurement and reduce the carbon footprint of major tournaments. A genuinely trailblazing sustainability project that sets an example to both the wider rugby game and the broader international sporting world.
From an environmental sustainability perspective, major sporting events sit in the ‘hard to abate’ category. They involve energy-intensive stadiums, global travel and mass fan engagement, creating a colossal carbon footprint. Mega-events like the Rugby World Cup generate emissions on par with entire countries. Switching to greener alternatives demands significant investment, systemic change and industry-wide commitment. The challenge isn’t just about reducing environmental impact of major tournaments – it is about reimagining how sports operate, without losing their global appeal.
World Rugby’s Environmental Sustainability Plan 2030 and associated roadmap set out its ambitions to lead from the front on this.
Capgemini recently partnered with World Rugby in its efforts to measure its environmental impacts and lay the groundwork for climate action, via two parallel activities. These align directly with UN Sustainable Development Goals around sustainable consumption and production patterns (Goal 12); actions to limit climate change (Goal 13); and harnessing global partnerships to drive sustainability (Goal 17). They were:
To create a Carbon Emissions Reporting Tool (CERT) that quantifies and breaks down the carbon emissions associated with World Rugby tournaments, with forecast estimates that can be updated during the planning, as well as actual performance reporting.
To develop a Sustainable Sourcing Framework for World Rugby to encourage carbon-conscious procurement through its supply chain (the logistics of international events rely heavily on suppliers and partners).
The two initiatives complement one another. The CERT tool allows World Rugby to forecast estimated carbon emissions for any sporting event, while the Sustainable Sourcing Framework gives the organisation options for reducing them. The partnership exemplifies strong strategic collaboration between a global leader in major sporting event delivery and a global leader in practical sustainability solutions and services. The project required exceptional focus, coordination and sensitivity towards the other demands on the client’s time; during the initial phase the client team was busy delivering Men’s Rugby World Cup 2023.
The tool is now being used to forecast carbon emissions from Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, gathering data from across the tournament’s various functional areas to provide valuable insights which then enable organisers and suppliers to take action.
Benefits include:
- Greater visibility and understanding of the carbon emissions associated with World Rugby tournaments and events.
- The ability to identify carbon hotspots to support more carbon-friendly choices.
- More accurate emissions figures for reporting.
Associated operational efficiencies, cost savings and potential revenue streams. (Through the ability to help pinpoint carbon-intensive activity, for instance, the tool could pave the way for new partnerships – e.g. with Official Water/Waste/Clean Energy Partners.)
Meanwhile, the Sustainable Sourcing Framework is encouraging event planners and managers to factor in sustainability in all their procurement decisions.
This was by necessity a complex engagement, requiring far-reaching, sensitive collaboration to maximise success over the long term, and is genuinely trailblazing. Most governing bodies have not yet thought about sustainability holistically, nor with the level of detail and clarity here.
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