Salomon's 2023 Impact Report, Caribbean Paralympics Movement, and Bayern Munich Going Green
Welcome to this edition of the Purposeful Partnerships Report, the weekly newsletter highlighting purpose-driven partnerships in the sports industry. This week we look at Salomon's 2023 Impact Report, the push to promote paralympic sports in the Caribbean, and FC Bayern's sustainability efforts. Let’s dive in!
Salomon Unveils 2023 Impact Report, Highlighting Sustainability Progress
Salomon has published its 2023 Impact Report, marking the second annual review of the brand’s comprehensive sustainability strategy. The report showcases the progress made towards Salomon’s emissions reduction and circular product innovation goals, while also highlighting key milestones in reducing the brand's carbon footprint and expanding community-led sustainability initiatives.
Key 2023 Highlights:
- Salomon reduced its carbon footprint by 7% from 2022, making carbon emissions a central company KPI.
- The brand introduced new recyclable products, including the INDEX.02 and INDEX.03 running shoes and the Brigade INDEX recyclable ski helmet.
- Salomon's ASF 4.0 factory in France produced its first locally made trail running shoes, the Metacross 1 & 2.
- The Salomon Foundation expanded its mission to support inclusivity in outdoor sports, assisting 17 beneficiaries across Europe, the U.S., and Mexico.
- The Adaptive project launched Salomon's first Para-Team of 7 athletes, with a focus on inclusive product design through collaborations between athletes and Salomon designers.
Looking ahead, Salomon remains committed to sustainable growth. For 2024, the brand is intensifying its climate strategy, expanding circularity efforts, and working toward Fair Labor Association accreditation for its supply chain. Additionally, the Salomon Foundation will deepen its community impact, and the brand will continue promoting sustainability through internal training programs and increased sustainable mobility initiatives.
Although Salomon is primarily an apparel and equipment company, their awareness of their role in the supply chain and broader sports community is something more brands and teams should strive to recognize. This Impact Report not only highlights the impressive strides Salomon has made but also outlines their plans for future improvement. Their commitment to accountability is bold, but it's a commendable approach that will hopefully continue to push boundaries and elevate the entire industry. With a deep connection to the outdoors, Salomon’s focus on protecting and preserving the environment for future generations is both natural and necessary.
To read the full impact report, visit Salomon 2023 Impact Report
AmPC, Bank of Latin America, and the Caribbean Forge Historic Partnership to Promote Paralympic Sports
Building off of a globally successful 2024 Paralympics, the Americas Paralympic Committee (AmPC), the Bank of Latin America, and the Caribbean have teamed up to promote Paralympic sports in Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago. This partnership will spearhead developmental programs to boost Paralympic sport infrastructure and opportunities across the three nations.
The collaboration focuses on several key objectives: establishing a cadre of internationally certified classifiers, technical officials, and coaches; enhancing the pool of athletic talent in targeted sports; developing a customized administrative model and infrastructure network; and refining policy-making processes. These initiatives will provide crucial support to the national Paralympic committees of the involved countries.
The initiative will feature a structured approach, incorporating stakeholder consultations and collaborative goal-setting to ensure successful outcomes and measurable progress in para-sports development. With the AmPC serving as the central body for 32 national Paralympic committees across the Americas and the Caribbean, this partnership marks a significant step toward the sustainable growth of Paralympic sports in the region. I am looking forward to seeing this program develop.
FC Bayern and MAN Launch Innovative E-Mobility Charging Hub at Allianz Arena
FC Bayern Munich and MAN Truck & Bus have joined forces to create a groundbreaking charging hub at the Allianz Arena in Munich, aiming to contribute to climate neutrality and electrification in transportation. This project will feature 30 charging points, developed in three phases, capable of charging up to 500 electric buses and trucks daily on non-matchdays, setting a new benchmark for sustainability in football.
The Allianz Arena's location near the Munich-North motorway junction, one of Germany’s busiest with 10,000 lorries passing daily, makes it a prime location for this e-mobility initiative. The European Union's target of reducing CO2 emissions from heavy vehicles by 90% by 2040 further underscores the significance of this project.
The charging hub stands as an international flagship project, aligning with European efforts to develop a robust commercial vehicle charging network, which is expected to require 55,000 high-performance charging points by 2030. FC Bayern’s initiative is a vital step toward the electrification of long-distance transport across Europe.
I’m always excited to see programs like this, as they leverage a team’s existing infrastructure to drive meaningful social and community impact. It’s a straightforward yet powerful value-add that I hope more teams will embrace and integrate into their initiatives.
That brings this edition of the Purposeful Partnerships Report to an end. I hope you enjoyed the read. Stay tuned for the next edition, where we will be completing a recap of the 2024 Paralympics!
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