Roland-Garros’s 15 environmental commitments

On 12 January 2017, Roland-Garros made a series of 15 environmental commitments at the signing of the Organisers of Sporting Events in France’s Environmental Charter, developed in conjunction with the French Ministry of Sport and the WWF (World Wildlife Fund).

The French Tennis Federation (FFT) underlined its commitment to green issues in 2008 by signing, in conjunction with the Ministry of Sustainable Development and the Agency for the Environment and Energy Management (ADEME), a charter seeking to reduce its environmental impact. As proof of the solidity and lasting nature of that commitment, in 2014 the French Open became the first French sporting event to receive ISO 20121 certification.

Two years later, France’s Grand Slam event went one step further in pursuing this sustainable approach by adhering to the 15 commitments framed in the Organisers of Sporting Events in France’s Environmental Charter, which has been developed with the Ministry of Urban Affairs, Youth and Sport and the WWF. The charter was signed on 12 January at the Ministry of Sport and in the presence of the organisers of 19 other major sporting events in France, among them the Tour de France, Paris 2024, the 2017 World Handball Championships...

The 15 commitments are listed here along with the targets to be achieved by 2020:

• a minimum of 50% sustainable food (50% of food supplied must comply with the WWF recommendations, i.e. 100% certified seasonal catering options are to be available, preference being given to local and regional suppliers, this being then extended to those in nearby areas)
• a minimum of 80% of journeys made using active mobility, public transport or car sharing (means any method of transport requiring physical activity: walking, bike, scooter, rollerblades, etc.)
• 80% of purchases made using CSR selection criteria (these criteria must be defined by the sponsor and have a significant impact on the choice of suppliers or contractors)
• a 25% reduction in waste and 60% of waste reused, recycled or recovered (compared to a reference event)
• 100% respect for natural sites.
• 100% of energy and water consumption controlled and optimised. This commitment may take the form of targeted objectives: no water is to be wasted, 100% of lighting is to be extinguished if there is no real necessity for light, 100% of watering is to be done using water that is not fit for drinking, zero pesticides are to be used in the management of green spaces, etc.
• (At least) 1 “environmentally responsible” innovation tested at events. The innovative element may be the development of new solutions or the adaptation of a solution already existing in the sporting events industry.
• 1 or more sportspersons nominated ambassadors for environmental responsibility for the event or for the sport concerned.
• 100% accessibility for the disabled to sites open to the public.
• an initiative promoting accessibility for all at 100% of sports events. This could be a specific pricing policy, an initiative pursued in partnership with a social services organisation, etc.
• 100% acknowledgement for volunteers. This acknowledgement is to constitute an appreciation of the role played by volunteers in the organisation of sports events (access to training; the organisation of social occasions; meeting leading sports personalities, officials or champions; donations of sports kit or equipment, etc.).
• (At least) 1 commitment given to supporting a good cause. This commitment may consist of collecting funds, making space available for publicity, implementing initiatives in the form of specific events, etc.
• (At least) 1 initiative devoted to promoting the employment of equal numbers of men and women in positions of responsibility.
• 1 “sustainable development” referent identified within the organisation. This referent will be attached to the general management
• (At least) 1 initiative or 1 plan in place for raising awareness regarding sustainable development.

Consult the full charter (PDF)